Chris Gampat Photography

Fire dancer shot the other night. Multi stroboscopic flash

On the road

Create rapport with your subject. If you have the chance to talk to your subject, get to know them. You are going to be shoving a lens in their face and the last thing you want is a tense subject, you are hunting for natural moods and reactions. Talk to them while you are shooting and feel free to back off if they are getting noticeably irritated or unsettled. This step is a bit different for street shooters, but you can still get in close and not cause a scene if you keep your feelers up. (via Closing the Distance in Your Photography)

If you have a number of different lenses for your system, there are probably those that you use more frequently and those that you use less frequently. Which do you think you’re using the least of all your lenses? When you feel out of inspiration, go the least expected route and take your least used lens out for a spin. Why? (via Useful Photography Tip #46: Boost Your Creativity — Use a Different Lens Today)

Just because a new camera is released, it does not mean the software you use like Aperture or Lightroom will be ready to support it. If you cannot read raw files, your workflow may have to completely change or you’ll use your old camera while waiting for updates to become available. Waiting to buy your camera makes it easier to work the camera into your shooting schedule. (via Useful Photography Tip #47: 7 Reasons Not to Be an Early Camera Adopter)

As our cameras get older, so too do our lenses. Every time we take a lens off the camera, little environmental nasties tend to get into the contacts of both the camera and the lens. The effect of this cause: slower autofocus confirmation or your focusing not working anywhere as well as it used to. The solution is extremely affordable and readily available at your local drug store or Amazon. (via Useful Photography Tip #48: Autofocus Not Working Perfectly? Clean Your Contacts With Isopropyl Alcohol)

A lot of photographers think about their flash all wrong, especially when it comes to macro photography. I had to include myself in this. I eventually learned that using a flash in your macro photography makes things a whole lot easier. Flashes provide more control. While natural light is very nice, a flash can augment it or even replace it. You do not need a lot of gear and it is easy to start experimenting with this. Once you do though, you may be hooked. (via Useful Photography Tip #49: Improving Macro Photography By Using a Flash)

Metering is very important to achieving the correct white balance because it helps the camera measure the light of the image (via Setting Your White Balance Correctly Using a White Coffee Cup Lid)

In some situations, you want to approach your subject before pressing the shutter. This depends on individual circumstances, and you have to feel out each situation and trust your gut on this. Sometimes interrupting a moment will ruin the shot; other times, interaction with someone will open up a shot that would not have been possible otherwise. If you want to get a photo of a child, it’s best that you get consent from a family member though not possible in every instance. (via The Beginner’s Guide to Travel Photography: Capturing the Spirit)

The best thing I can do is give myself time. It allows for a level of comfort. Time gives me the ability to think about what I will do. It helps in deciding how to go about things. Time helps me decide weather or not I am going to bring a film camera for art work or get shots for a review amongst other things . (via 7 Things I Do To Prepare for a Long Day of Photography)