7 Hot Summer Tips II Page 2

5. Reflections

Water surfaces provide an almost infinite variety of reflections. By learning to observe these, you can create some interesting photographs. With glass-smooth water, try to include both reflection and subject. With rippled surfaces, look for reflected shapes, patterns and colors. Remember for focusing purposes that reflections are as far behind the reflecting surface as the reflected subject is in front of it. So if you want to include both the subject and its reflection, stop the lens down for more depth of field. Experiment with different apertures, and for rippled water, different shutter speeds—while fast shutter speeds freeze sharp images of the reflections, blurring them can be effective, too. Photo by Ron Leach 6. Be a Beach Bum

Summertime is beach time. And the beach is a source of many photo opportunities. Be careful to keep sand and water out of your camera and film cassettes. You might try using a weatherproof single-use camera to set your mind at ease about damage. Subject matter abounds: people on the sand and in the water, surfers and boaters, sea birds, footprints in the sand, waves breaking over rocks (try various shutter speeds)...just keep your photographic alert open, and see what you discover. Photo by Mary Mcgrath 7. Vacation

Lots of folks take their vacations in the summertime. It should go without saying if you're reading this magazine, but be sure to take your camera with you! You'll get a chance to photograph places, people and things that you don't see everyday. Enjoy the vacation, but keep your eyes open for picture opportunities, too. Tips: Take twice as much film as you think you'll need. Keep it in your carry-on baggage, and have it hand inspected rather than x-rayed if possible (it's the checked luggage that gets the strongest, damaging "x-ray" treatment). Mail your exposed rolls of film to your processing lab (or to yourself) to keep them from being scanned multiple times during your travels. Remember to take pictures en route—you can get great aerial photos on the way to your destination, and good shots from taxis and buses once there. Research the places you're going to visit before you leave, so you'll have an idea of what to expect once you get there. Go ahead and shoot the "postcard" shots of the famous sights, but look for interesting details, weather and moods, and the local folk, too. Photo by Mary Mcgrath

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