September 2009 Archives

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Shooting during the day sometimes takes no planning, photographers can usually 'wing it' during the day and get away with it.

While shooting some photos at the York Fair on Monday, I remember an evening at Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah when I was peering down Wall Street, a straight-walled canyon with a trail running down its middle.

A few hundred yards down the trail, two hikers were walking with their flashlights, and the only way out is the switch-back trail. Was already set up for a long exposure, so I just waited until the hikers got to the bottom and opened the camera as they climbed up.

This is what I got. It was about a 20-minute exposure, so I had to close down the aperture to compensate. And that's all there was to it.

At the fair, check for the color of lights, since some will show up better than others. Check for angles and when more than one ride is running. Sometimes it is more interesting to get three rides blurring together, sometimes not. Close down the aperture if possible to get a longer exposure. Use a good tripod-- or bean bag on a chair or counter --for stability.

It's easy. Give it a shot.

In this photo, taken decades ago, a trio of York city school students was being shown a hissing cockroach during a visit from a zoo, or visiting nature education group. It's been that long ago, I don't remember.

But these are the kinds of photos we're looking to shoot-- good pictures of good kids doing good things. In thise case, learning new things.

Privacy issues have scared some school administrators from calling the YDR when their students are doing good things. Privacy is not a problem and we understand. If there is a student or two who can't have their photo taken, just point out that student, and we don't take their picture. Period. Don't punish the other students who are raising money for charity, learning new skills, or other visual activities because one student can't be photographed.

We're looking for positive, visual photos of students. We get the bad news from the police scanner, but we need your eyes and ears to find positive things within your school. With your help, we'll come out and take photos.

A little girl marvels at one of the hundreds of butterflies that live in Hershey Gardens' Butterfly House, and in particular, this one that landed on her hand. The house is open this week until 6 p.m., then until September 27, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.