Actress Eve Plumb, best known for her role as Jan Brady in The Brady Bunch, poses for a photograph at the Bucks County Playhouse Monday June 10, 1991 in New Hope, Pennsylvania. (William Thomas Cain/Cain Images)
Scene when I arrived with the 10 foot gate obstructing my view.
The lesson here is…be prepared.
Over the weekend I had to make some pictures of various properties in the New Hope, Pennsylvania and Buckingham, Pennsylvania areas. Most were pretty easy to photograph. The one where I had to become a bit inventive was Clairemont Mansion with a 10 foot gate that obstructed the view.
The image I needed to make was to show the landscape as well as the building. It was not going to work with the gate in the foreground. And I didn’t want to shoot through the gate because it would block a clean view. I thought, “Oh No! I may need a drone!” Then quickly realized that that isn’t necessary because I was prepared.
So, I went back to my car and pulled my Bogen Monopod out. I then placed the Nikon D800 on the top, set the shutter speed for a 5 second delay. Then I set the exposure, tripped the shutter and hoisted the monopod and camera over my head as high as I could possibly get it into the air.
The image I was able to make by having my monopod handy, and in my trunk.
If I hadn’t been prepared and carried my monopod in the trunk, I wouldn’t have been able to make the picture I needed to illustrate the assignment. Preparation is a key ingredient in the photojournalism field.
Now I have to go and finish my interview with The Art Career Project. They’ve asked to interview me about getting started as a photojournalist.
NEW HOPE, PA. – JANUARY 23: New Hope Solebury’s Pat Gimpel (C) attempts to pass the ball as Holy Ghost Prep’s Joe Braun (L) and Tim Brennan #20 in the first quarter at New Hope Solebury High School January 23, 2015 in New Hope, Pennsylvania. (Photo by William Thomas Cain/Cain Images)
I the past few weeks, I’ve photographed some ball games in tiny gymnasiums. Friday night was no different. I photographed a boys basketball game in New Hope, Pennsylvania for the Intelligencer and Courier Times. With the threat of snow, the start time for the game was pushed up by one and a half hours. Even so, the small New Hope Solebury High School Gymnasium was still packed. The floor is so tight to the walls that there is literally about a foot and a half between the two. Since there wasn’t much space, I decide to sit in the right corner on the side which Holy Ghost Prep would shoot first. It payed off as, except for the first three minutes, they dominated the game. I love when I shoot a game and there is plenty of action. Sitting in the corner I used my Nikon D800 with a 180mm and Nikon D700 with an 85mm 1.8.
At 6400 ISO, I was able to shoot with a shutter speed of 500 and an aperture of f2.8.
So, for the most part, I was able to freeze the action.
NEW HOPE, PA. – JANUARY 23: New Hope Solebury’s Max Wagner #34 battles for a rebound with Holy Ghost Prep’s Joe Braun (C), New Hope Solebury’s Connor Smith (2nd from right) and Holy Ghost Prep’s Tim Brennan #20 in the first quarter at New Hope Solebury High School January 23, 2015 in New Hope, Pennsylvania. (Photo by William Thomas Cain/Cain Images)
For video, I shot at 3200 ISO with 30 frames per second at f8.
It was a good night. 🙂
NEW HOPE, PA – JUNE 02: From left, Allie Becker, 19, Lauren Fitzpatrick, 18 and Capri Wagner, 18 all of Newtown, Pennsylvania are seen through an iPhone monitor as they make a selfie near the Bucks County Theater on a warm afternoon June 2, 2014 in New Hope, Pennsylvania. The temperature reached 82 degrees in New Hope and is expected to remain in the mid-80’s for the next few days. (Photo by William Thomas Cain/Cain Images) (William Thomas Cain)
NEW HOPE, PA – JUNE 02: Debbie Morrison, 31, of Seargentsville, New Jersey and Miguel Santana, 23, of Spain walk together as their shadows cast as they hold hands on a warm afternoon June 2, 2014 in New Hope, Pennsylvania. The temperature reached 82 degrees in New Hope and is expected to remain in the mid-80’s for the next few days. (Photo by William Thomas Cain/Cain Images) (William Thomas Cain)
NEW HOPE, PA – JUNE 02: An unidentified couple rides a motorcycle on Main Street on a warm afternoon June 2, 2014 in New Hope, Pennsylvania. The temperature reached 82 degrees in New Hope and is expected to remain in the mid-80’s for the next few days. (Photo by William Thomas Cain/Cain Images) (William Thomas Cain)
NEW HOPE, PA – JUNE 02: From left, Lauren Fitzpatrick, 18, Allie Becker, 19, and Capri Wagner, 18 all of Newtown, Pennsylvania look out onto the Delaware River on a warm afternoon June 2, 2014 in New Hope, Pennsylvania. The temperature reached 82 degrees in New Hope and is expected to remain in the mid-80’s for the next few days. (Photo by William Thomas Cain/Cain Images) (William Thomas Cain)