Nikon D4, 28-300mm, ISO 12800, ƒ/5.6, 1/125

Objective?

Why are you taking a photo? What do you want to accomplish with the photo? Those are just some of the questions you should be asking yourself before you start pushing the shutter release.

My daughter’s choir had their last dress rehearsal for the parents before they took off for their choir trip this summer. Like every parent my first priority for taking a photo was to capture a good moment of my daughter. So the first photo here is of her solo performance.

Nikon D4, 28-300mm, ISO 12800, ƒ/5.6, 1/125

Just a couple years ago when they first started the group only about 11 singers and only about 8 of them went on that first choir trip.

Nikon D3, 14-24mm, ISO 5000, ƒ/5.6, 1/80 [April 29, 2011]

While getting up high and showing the singers gave an idea who was in the choir I still was missing some people.

Nikon D4, 28-300mm, ISO 12800, ƒ/5.6, 1/125

The two choir directors would switch out for who played the piano and who conducted. Here you can see the pianist.

Nikon D4, 28-300mm, ISO 12800, ƒ/5.6, 1/125

To capture a good overall shot I was in the balcony of the historic sanctuary and going wide I was able to show to the far left the three musicians, the choir and all the families that came to support their family.

Nikon D4, 28-300mm, ISO 12800, ƒ/5.6, 1/200

I also wanted to show they were leading in message and not just music for the worship services. So I captured some of them reading scripture and giving a message.

Nikon D4, 28-300mm, ISO 12800, ƒ/5.6, 1/125

Now when I was on the same floor level as the choir, depending on which side of the room I was on determined what members I could see. Here you can see some people are blocked by the director. However, from this perspective I was able to show a proud father getting some photos of his child singing.

Nikon D4, 28-300mm, ISO 12800, ƒ/5.6, 1/125

While I am there to capture my daughter I am also using my talents to bless the other families. Many of them just cannot get as good of a photo as I am able to get of their child. So, I am also trying to get as many photos of each person in the group for their families to enjoy them as much as I enjoy good photos of my daughter.

Nikon D4, 28-300mm, ISO 12800, ƒ/5.6, 1/125

We are also so grateful for the leadership and one of the ways I try to let them know how much we appreciate them is to get the best photos I can of them doing their best leading our children. I also believe these moments will help recruit more families to want to participate in the music program of our church.

What is that secret composition tool?

Your feet. Yes the best thing you have to make your photos better is for you to move around a room and around your subject. It is by exploring different perspectives that you not just get a better photo of the subject, you also have a better chance to tell a more complete story.