Just Go Outside! (Backyard Photography with OM SYSTEM)
My reminder to just keep taking photographs
Every year, I get nervous when Fall season arrives, I completely overthink every aspect of “getting fall photos.” And then I miss most of it.
This year was about to be a tragic example.
I started obsessing about fall color weeks ago, spending hours a day trying to find “the best spot” to get cool photographs. I had already missed Colorado’s season, and since I was supposed to be getting new Midwest photographs anyway, I had to pick closer to home.
I poured over AllTrails and Facebook for days on end. My good friend, photographer Thomas Coulton, shared some locations with me through dozens of texts because I wanted the “perfect” situation. (So sorry to get crazy on you, Thomas!)
But in all of this obsession, I forgot something fundamental: fall will arrive wherever I’m at.
That’s some zen stuff right there, right?
I realized that in all the time I was wasting planning, there were stories of the fall season happening outside my back window.
I realized then that I had a camera on the kitchen table, and took it outside to explore some color within 10 seconds from my back porch:
(All photos on this page taken with OM SYSTEM OM-1 MarkII and OM-3. This entire first set using the 300mm f/4 PRO).
At this point, I was awash in light and possibility. I ran inside and switched up my lens, this time to the OM SYSTEM 7-14mm f/2.8 PRO.
This was an act of acceptance - taking in the light and allowing the scenes to unfold.
The ultra-wide angle lens I was using allows us to get really close and still have a ton of background context.
Here’s a fun tip!
Just find a leaf and hold it up with your left hand while using an ultra-wide angle to compose the scene. Crop out your fingers holding the leaf, and you get stuff like these:
Here’s another one at f/11 to get that crazy-cool sunstar and flare:
I switched it up again, this time going with the OM SYSTEM OM-3 and 12-100 f/4 PRO.
It easily gets us something wide like the shot above, and then a tighter scene in just a quick twist of the barrel:
The way the light revealed such clusters of color was fun to see.
A final shot with the 7-14 f/2.8 PRO:
The reminder for me is to make sure to meet the moment instead of ignoring what’s already around me. These aren’t “portfolio” or “wow” shots, but they are bright and full of cool fall joy.
All along, all I had to do was step out the door at the right moment.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
What do you see just outside your window?
GOOD NEWS IN A BAD NEWS WORLD:
Some of you might know that I was a former high school teacher. I taught journalism and a whole bunch of other stuff with some of the most incredibly talented and inspiring group of young people you could imagine. (Every year of my career, the students were incredible).
A few days ago, my man Jonathan Snover texted me the above photo, as he hosted the 10 p.m. news for the first time… and that’s just an awesome thing. Jonathan is an unsung hero in my life - a guy who inspires me with his drive and dedication to the craft… but more than anything by the way he leads with his heart, a strong sense of empathy, and a devotion to just telling the truth.
He’s a rare, old-school journalist that we need more of in society, and I’m honored to call him a friend. He gives me hope when I consider the future.
You rock, Jonathan!
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE!
If your have questions, send them over!
I can’t thank you enough. Over the years I’ve had so much support, and I’m honored you consider my writing and photography worth your time.
If you want to support me further, you could subscribe to this blog with a subscription, or you could buy a print from me here:
jerredz@gmail.com
Got a movie recommendation for ya, you might have heard of it: The Wizard of Oz. There’s no place like home. Keep on doing what you do.
Lovely Jerred!