It
may appear like a lazy, or “quick
and dirty way” of photographing
landscapes or landmarks, but this roving
method offers several unique advantages.
A vehicle allows you to cover a greater
distance and wider range of subjects
than you normally would encounter on
foot. Of
course, you needn’t go on a road
trip just to take photos. Whether you
are travelling outstation on holiday
or for work, keep your camera by your
side and look out for out-of-the-ordinary
subjects. The interesting subjects are
usually the ones that appear unexpectedly.
If
you are doing the driving yourself,
do not attempt to operate the camera
on the move. If you spot something appealing,
stop the vehicle at a safe spot. If
there is adequate clearance from passing
traffic, manoeuvre your car slowly until
you get a good vantage point. Switch
on the hazard lights; engage the handbrake
and/or parking gear. If
you have driven way pass something you
fancy, do not stop suddenly and reverse
recklessly. Make a safe and proper U-turn
further down the road, if you feel that
the subject is important enough. Otherwise,
park your vehicle somewhere safe and
walk, or give it a miss.
It
is also possible to shoot through the
passenger side window (from the driver’s
seat), but first, wind down the window.
Since most car windows are slightly
tinted and may also contain a layer
of grime on the outside, your image
might become soft or “off-colour”
as a result. Even if it is spotlessly
clean, you still have reflections to
contend with.
With
the glass down, the window is actually
a good place to rest your arms or the
camera itself. However, engine vibrations
can also be transferred to your arms
or camera this way. Switch off the engine
and loud stereo to minimise camera shake
when using slow shutter speeds. Watch
out, too, for vibrations and crosswind
from passing heavy vehicles. When peering
through the viewfinder, learn how to
keep the other eye open in order to
stay alert to your surroundings.
If
you are taking pictures from a moving
vehicle (with someone else driving),
use a shutter speed of at least 1/250,
especially when shooting sideways. Do
not obstruct the driver’s view
of the wing mirror unnecessarily and
always wrap the camera strap securely
around one hand. If you have a driver,
traffic light junctions and traffic
jams are also great for offbeat pictures.
At
most of these impromptu stops, you
may need to shoot and move on as quickly
as possible to minimise any potential
hazard you might create for yourself
and other road users. On rural roads,
for example, there may be many cyclists
and pedestrians on the narrow roads.
You may be causing more than obstruction
and inconvenience. Remember that safety
considerations override everything
else. You can always look for another
interesting picture opportunity further
down the road.
To
keep your “stopover” as
brief as possible, visually compose
the shot in your mind, even before
picking up the camera. When the camera
is at eye level, you should just fine-tune
the framing, click and drive on.
|
|
 |
| A
tightly cropped KL skyscraper
caught from the car. Olympus C8080,
ISO 100, f4.5, 1/400 sec |
 |
| Crossroads.
Unusual traffic may appear at
some traffic junctions if you
are patient enough. Olympus C8080,
ISO 50, f3.5, 1/250 sec |
|
