Wall Lantern Cobblestone

Do You Remember the Alamo? An Important Lesson in Basic Photography is Learned

A couple of years ago some friends and I drove to San Antonio to see what we could find.  Do you remember the Alamo? Naturally, my camera was always at hand, ready for the clicking. Our first stop was a Mexican restaurant and if I was thinking I would have taken a picture of what I was drinking, but that's a Jimmy Buffett story for another day.
While in San Antonio we visited the Riverwalk, putting my digital camera to good use. Nearly everyone knows that digital cameras save time.  You don't have to reload film, if your memory card is large enough, feel free to take as many pictures as you can, and last but not least, you can delete the pictures you know you won't want to print later.  But now, I'd like to tell you about the Alamo. I remember the Alamo  We did the tourist thing, walking through the Alamo, listening to the automated tour guide and finding somebody with the the last name Robinson listed in the register of occupants at the time of the battle, and then it happened.

*     I saw a great opportunity for photograph.
*     I was at the end of an outdoor hallway.
*    There were stone archways on each side.
*     Lanterns hung from rough-hewn logs above the cobblestone.
*     I stood at the perfect angle, steadied my stance and took in a calming breath.
*     Then came the ‘snap' heard ‘round the world, or so I thought.

After the long drive home, the trip ended, as trips usually do. A week may have passed before I perused the photos, searching for the gems I was sure were there, just waiting to be freed from the memory card. Yearning for the release from darkness, I could feel that photo from the Alamo's long outdoor colonnade calling to me. Oh, taker of great pictures, let there be light, light enough to display the abundant artistry of my pixels.
I opened that photo with glee, certain that it would soon be enlarged, matted, framed and mounted on the wall above my cookie cabinet. Carefully, I looked at the photo, marveling at its composition. The lighting, the symmetry, its uplifting majesty was sweeping over me, and there it was, in the bottom right corner of the frame - a trash can.
All was not lost, however.  Cropping, a quick click to Photoshop, or even strategic matting could solve the problem. There is only one thing in need of mending before that photograph is on display, a large helping of humble pie.

About the Author

Dean Robinson is the author of this article, and points out one key aspect of framing your photograph. There is much to consider when taking a great photo or capturing an exciting event on video, not the least of which is good equipment. In most cases, a point-and-shoot camera is all you need. For instance, a Kodak EasyShare or a Canon PowerShot may be what you're looking for. For the latest digital cameras and high-definition camcorders go to http://www.kodakcentral.com and take a lesson from Robinson. Look before you shoot.

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