Why Timing is So Important in Photography
Timing is so important in photography because every use of your digital camera results in capturing a moment. If your timing is off you may miss out on something very special. This is why a high speed Sony, Canon or Olympus digital camera will stop you missing perfect photo opportunities. You also have to know how to use your camera correctly and to adapt to different photographic situations accordingly.
Photography may produce still images but life is always moving around, light changes, and moments pass. Different lenses can help you capture a wider or closer shot or you may benefit simply by having your camera constantly turned on. Iconic photographic images were results of people being in the right place at the right time with a camera.
Spotting Photo Opportunities
Having an eye for a good photo can come naturally but for many people it is learnt from lots of practice behind the lens. Learning how good composition can create images that are pleasing to the human eye is a good start. If you see a scene that makes you look twice why not take a photo of it?
Take a photo journalist for example: they have to spot photo opportunities for their job. These usually include things like mass gatherings of people such as protests or important events. Photographers are not always sent by their paper to cover events and instead rely on instinct and good research to know what is happening in their city.
Keeping Your Camera Ready
If you keep your camera ready to shoot then you are less likely to miss your timing. How many times have you thought I wish I had my camera? You could even take to carrying around a compact camera for photo opportunities as you never know when they will arise. Think about that iconic image of the sailor kissing a girl in New York at the end of World War Two. This was all in the timing for both the sailor and the photographer.
Taking Multiple Shots
Not every shot is going to turn out perfect no matter how good a photographer you are. This is why shooting multiple shots of the same scene can be very important. If you are shooting a crowd (especially if it is moving) you may get more than one good shot of the scene. Likewise for sporting shots, as it is unlikely you are going to time it perfectly if, for example a soccer player is about to kick the ball. With multiple shot sequences you can start taking shots just before they kick so you have a good chance of filming the impact of the kick.
Learning from Your Mistakes
Learning from your photographic timing mistakes can be tragic but also funny. Think about happy snaps taken of friends or family and all the closed eyes, strange looks, or misplaced hair in the photos. The Internet is rife with photographic ‘mistakes’ that actually turned out to be quite hilarious. If you have photos of missed timing you can learn from them by seeing what went wrong. Group shots can be notoriously difficult but if you learn to conduct your subjects you can avoid people being unprepared for your shot.
