Pixiq

I used to blame it all on growing up in the sixties -- being a bit of a rebel and anti-establishment. But I know now that it is just me! I have to try different things and play with photography in ways that other (maybe saner folks) people don't do. 

Experimenting as you photograph can be a great way to discover fresh ways of taking pictures. Often I see in classes I do for BetterPhoto.com how easy it is for photographers to keep photographing in comfortable ways. I understand that it is nice to do things you know will work.

That is one reason why I love little cameras like my Canon PowerShot G11. This is not a point-and-shoot camera (a lot of people call any small camera a point-and-shoot -- the G11 is no more of a point-and-shoot than a high end DSLR -- both can be shot totally automatically, both can be shot totally manually, and both have lots of in between settings). A true point-and-shoot is a camera that can only be used totally automatically so all you can do is point-and-shoot.

But what the G11 offers (along with a number of other small digital cameras) is a very compact camera and a tilting LCD. That means I can literally put that almost anywhere and still see what the camera is shooting. Including inside a clump of plants! All of the photos here were shot with the G11.

This always encourages me to experiment. I don't worry about setting up a tripod or struggling to get into a new shooting position. I just put the camera into a likely looking spot and take the picture. I will do this sometimes just to see what I get as a photograph. 

I always get ideas when I go out shooting with just the G11, leaving my backpack of gear back at home or hotel. These flower shots were taken in Montana de Oro State Park near Los Osos, California, where I am doing a workshop on flower photography at the Light Photographic Workshops.