Back to the Basics
This is the first frame I shot from an impromptu and short shoot I had with Cassandra on Sunday. She had an MUA and photographer cancel on her last minute and was still in shooting mode. We met up and quickly threw together a simple concept and literally drove 2 blocks from her place and shot this image in a tree covered bend of a lightly traveled road.
What strikes me most about this shot was that I had just metered the scene before we started actually shooting. I was framing the shot and told Cassandra to look up at me and fired this first frame. I immediately went to look at the back of my screen and laughed at myself. My LCD screen on the back of my camera was rendered completely useless a couple months ago after my camera was hit by a stray skateboard at a NikeSB Mobile App party I was shooting. This first frame would have been my normal “test” shot just to double and triple check what my light meter always tells me is correct. It was the greatest reminder that I used that LCD screen as the biggest crutch in my photography.
I honestly have no plans to repair the LCD screen on the back of my camera. I don’t need that little LCD screen to tell me if I shot a good frame. Learn to trust your instincts and training and knowledge. Since that silly screen was cracked, I honestly feel that my work has grown and evolved and made me a better photographer again. I now spend more time composing, framing, coaching poses, connecting with my subjects and getting everything right in camera before I press the button and watch the viewfinder go black for a split second….
