03 Jun focus52|2012 {week twenty-three} june 3 to june 9

Wonderful submissions from last week’s prompt, ‘right now’! I had such a great time browsing through your photos this week and I honestly had to stop myself from featuring ALL of them on our new facebook page. Well done, 52’rs, well done!

This week, we’re going to revisit our previous exercise on perspective, but this time we’re going to …

Yep, we’re doing to get down on the ground and get dirty. Photograph the world this week from a ground level perspective. Often our eyes are so busy focused straight ahead and center, that we miss a whole lot of other things going on around us. As photographers though, our eyes are wide open and if you’re anything like me, constantly moving side to side, taking in absolutely everything, looking for the photo-ops.

But how often do you look down?

We’re going to do more than simply look down. We’re doing to get right down on the ground and start photographing. Yes, I’ve been known to stretch out flat in my yard, looking for a great perspective of the morning dew. The neighbors talk, I know it. heh. But let’s face it, there are times when that isn’t at all possible (or recommended!) and that’s when you can have some fun with one of my favorite photography practices. I call it ‘shooting blind’ and it’s simple, easy and saves the knees of your pants.

• choose your camera settings for your location’s light
• set your camera to auto focus
• choose your focal point (see your camera manual if you’re unsure of how to do this)
• crouch down and hold the camera just a little bit above ground level
• press your shutter halfway and wait for the focus beep
• press the shutter!
• adjust settings and camera position as needed :)

It’s fun to see what you come up with. Some of them will be garbage but as you get a feel for what you’re doing and the aim you need to get your shot blind, you can really capture some great stuff.

The shots above were taken ‘shooting blind’. I really like the surprise factor, when you look at your camera screen and you’ve captured something good. Give it a try!

Whatever you decide to do this week, follow the prompt or no, come back here and link up your work when you’re done (weeks run Sunday to Saturday, don’t forget!). Links must be to the direct URL of your actual work, not just to the site it’s posted in, and may be a link to your blog post or to your flickr photo (again, the actual photo, not your entire flickr stream). Also, please don’t link and run – try to find some time to visit at least a few of your fellow 52’ers. That’s half the fun! It’s a fact that those who link up early, get the most interaction on their work. Truth.

And don’t forget the flickr pool!

Have a great week, 52’rs. And please come on over and ‘like’ our new FB page if you haven’t yet.