ROI And Photography
We've heard the term: Return On Investment, an economic term that has direct application to photography. The investment is in time, dedication, commitment, and tenacity. The return is in the quality of images we come home with. I will look for places that have great potential for 'A' shots,
those images that are absolute "keepers." I will consciously revisit certain places, either on a periodic
or annual basis, depending on when I am most likely to get the highest ROI.
One of those places is Mapleton Avenue in Boulder, Colorado, in October. I have had such success there every year that I go back annually, like clock work. It's like going on an Easter egg hunt--I look and look, high and low, until I find the right combination of compositions, shapes, texture, and colors. My favorite timing is right after a snowfall. This is what I found this past October.
One of those places is Mapleton Avenue in Boulder, Colorado, in October. I have had such success there every year that I go back annually, like clock work. It's like going on an Easter egg hunt--I look and look, high and low, until I find the right combination of compositions, shapes, texture, and colors. My favorite timing is right after a snowfall. This is what I found this past October.
I got several shots of leaves against snow, which I liked. However, this particular grouping really got my attention. The combination of color, texture, melting snow, and nature's arrangement was just too good to resist. My job was to create order out of chaos. There were so many of these leaves covering several yards, all covered by snow and ice.
It took me a few minutes to carefully scan the area, without disturbing the leaves. What I was looking for was the best composition that would give me the strongest impact, interest, and design. Notice the lack of areas with "dead space"--areas with nothing there.
After getting several good images on the ground, I decided it was time to see what was above me as well. I saw this great combination of yellows, reds, and greens against the blue sky. I also liked the diagonal lines created by the thin branches, which I knew would come out dark (I know what that built-in meter does!). As luck would have it, I saw the sun peaking behind some leaves. I knew instinctively that I just had to include a sun burst as part of my composition. I also knew that if I hid it behind some leaves, it would not be overpowering. In order to get the sunburst, I stopped down to a small aperture (f/22). I've used this technique before in similar situations and it works like a charm.
So, next time you visit a place and go home with a collection of "keepers," revisit that area again. You might get a good return on your investment.
