India: Photographer's Dream, Photographer's Nightmare
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If you like to take photographs, India is a nightmare. Only the buildings stay put, and after a while you expect them to move, too. No matter where you look, there’s a shot. And there’s another to the left, and to the right. Settle on the original, and it’s gone. Shift back to the alternates, and they have also disappeared. Many photographers complain of the harsh lighting, and the dust. If they still use film, they worry about the effect of the heat. Owners of digital cameras wonder if the CD they just had burned in the camera shop will actually be readable when they get home. After a while, though, I realized that my biggest concern was that I was missing shots. For the four months I spent in India, I was constantly aware that behind me something absolutely wonderful was happening, that one of the best photos of my life was just waiting there for me, and I’d never know about it. I was so totally wrapped up in capturing at least part of what I saw right in front of me that I had no time to think about getting better shots.
At first I tried to shoot everything I saw. As soon as my finger pressed down on that button I was impatient for the next shot. Once, in desperation, I tried burst mode. I learned I really can’t move from shot to shot quite that quickly.
Finally, I set my camera on auto, pointed the lens in the general direction of my subject, and took a picture. If it turned out, I was happy. If not, I deleted it. This would not have been a practical approach for print film, I know. The film, processing, and printing costs would have been astronomical. India can be overwhelming, and trying to record the experience with your camera makes it more so. At one point I got so frustrated that I started going out for walks without my camera. Taking photos had become a burden to me, because the I was always thinking about the shots I didn’t get. Usually I would escape the bustle, by taking refuge in a palace or temple. Even when they are crowded, they provide a much needed respite from the rush of Indian life. Everyone else is seeking a little peace, too, so all the visitors slow down, lower their voices, and enjoy the quiet. Most palaces, forts, and temples are large enough to have corners that are rarely visited. I found that the higher I climbed, the quieter it got. I’d take my time examining the stonework, the mosaics, and the intricately carved fretwork. I would climb until I reached a balcony or terrace overlooking the street, and gaze down on the chaos I just left. Of course, I was taking pictures the whole time I was hiding from the outside whirlwind. Inside a historical building, everything stays in place. Your shot will still be there thirty seconds later. Photographers can wait, plan shots, consider and take shots from different angles, even check exposure and speed. If you go to India, having the right equipment can help. For digital photographers, a camera with a fast recycle time is important. You will want more memory cards than you thought you‘d ever need. Fortunately, they are inexpensive and readily available. Extra batteries are important, too. You will take a lot more bad shots than you usually do/ Reviewing and deleting drains batteries faster than taking pictures. Clean your camera regularly, then stop worrying about the dust and the dirt. Newer cameras are surprisingly tolerant of adverse conditions. More than any other place in the world, you will return home regretting the shots you didn‘t get. It won’t be because you weren’t paying attention, and certainly not because you weren’t taking pictures, but because a photographer’s dream can also be a photographer’s nightmare. Credits:Article contributed by Cindy via email
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They will get dust on the sensors of their Digital SLR
I think you are mainly referring to the use of Point and Shoot cameras. Let me add a few more hints for SLR users.
Somone shopping for a camera might be confused by this statement. Here is what they might find in the specifications:
I am not sure if you are referring to shutter lag (the time from pressing the shutter release button to when the acutal picture is taken) or to frames per second (fps).
The fps referrs to how fast the camera takes pictures when you keep the shutter release pressed. However at some point the internal frame buffer will be full. This is where the camera store the pictures before writing them to the memory card (for SLR thats usually a compact flash). Then the camera needs to write the images to the card, which means you need a very fast (and expensive) card to keep pace with today's digital camera performance.
SLR are highly susceptible to dust, especially when you change lenses as often as I do.
Since the sensors are electrostatically charged, they attract dust and that dust might be hard to get rid off. Newer cameras have ultrasonic vibration upon power up to shake off the dust (not mine) but you might want to get familiar with some sensor cleaning equipment.
It will be a bit daunting at first to remove the lens and expose your sensor to clean it, but it is surprisingly easy. However you need to use special equipement because of the electrostatic charge and because you don't want to scratch the sensor (I use this method).
Andre
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