Taking this opportuinty to talk about the art of a candid picture since I am having a photo contest this week on my facebook page with this theme .

Definition of Candid: Informal or natural; especially caught off guard or unprepared.

Candid photos can look like a lot things. An emotion, action, a infomal non posed picture, an animal, or a scene. Most people are drawn to candids because they tell more of a story then the straight on posed shot. It takes a special photographer I believe to tell a story with a posed picture. Hard to do. Anyone can pick up a camera and tell someone to stand still, smile and snap the picture. Knowing how to manipulate your camera fast enough to capture a “moment” that is unprepared or caught of guard is tricky. So here is how I strive (strive being the key word in this sentence) to create a candid at a photo shoot.

If you have had a photo shoot with me you know that I sort of shoot quietly except for when I want your attention. That’s the “fly on the wall effect” I might ask a question or ask you to do something specific. This is in hopes that it may lead to a candid moment. Easier to capture a candid moment when you have more then one person as the subject. Families, weddings, siblings, groups are easier to find the candid moment. You have to be ready for the unexpected. Never stop panning and shooting. This is why I love a telephoto lens. I can stand back get out of the way and let things happen. I love a prime lens (fixed length) but I find myself always grabbing my telephoto lens. I can back out of a shot and back in without being intrusive.  With kids or single subject it’s a lot harder. This is when I become a goof ball, running and chasing kiddos, becoming a part of their world so that when I pull back they are still comfortable with me to allow me “in” while behind the lens. Many of you leave the shoot thinking I’m a little wacky well it’s all for the shot I promise. When you book a shoot I usually ask you what we can do together. This has multiple purposes but one is so that I have the opportunity to shoot candidly. It is the style I prefer. Below are some samples of some candids I took this fall while at a workshop. That was pretty much all I got because I was in the back behind 12 other photographers.  I was mostly using my 70-300 mm lens.  If you are still interested in shooting a photo for the contest. Head over to Facebook and read the notes for entry info. It ends on the 13th. Hope this helps.

Go to CMP Facebook Page