The point has come where I need a little more formal practice to improve my photography.  That is to say I photograph things rather than snap at them.  But this is easier said than done.  But never one to give up easily I took the opportunity during one of our basset walks to request a natural light portrait session.  Or rather I yelled, hang on a minute this is a perfect spot for a few nice pictures.  Just look how everyone hung on my every word!

MT is always up for a cheesy grin but so far isn’t keen on posing for more than 30 seconds.  But in a gesture of goodwill and marital harmony he did indulge me and seek to bring the bassets to order.

Without much success, expect that Fortnum was delighted to be having a love in with his master.  Mason was up to his usual delaying tactic of stopping for a scratch. Undeterred we pushed on for a little more posing attention.

Not bad although it’s fair to say that the bassets’ minds are elsewhere and certainly not interested in looking back at me.  So it was time for my tried and tested method of getting their attention.  This worked a treat.

Or not!

When Mason starts to behave like this it is truly deliberate.  He knows what’s required but refuses to co-operate.  But with a little manhandling we were starting to make progress.

But it was clear that this was going nowhere – Little basset just wasn’t up for any formal portrait and Fortnum was getting more interested in something rustling in the bush. So we just let them have their moment which is when I captured this my favourite snap.  A little more candid.

Whereas this is more like candid camera as little basset demanded attention.

Of all the reading I’ve done about getting the great shots the best tip is to remember that the best shots usually come moments after the formal click.  So all I need now is a little more patience and practice and maybe I can make my picture taking much more like my snapping but with better results.

I’m hankering after a better class of camera but the truth is that it doesn’t matter how good your camera if you’re not getting into situations where you can get great photographs.  My daily snap regime has certainly focused my mind on not just getting out with the camera but practising something specific.  Sort of like a daily assignment.  It is time to step that up again this month with some broader assignments.

I’ve tried following along with other budding photographers’ assignments but I’ve learned that what I want to perfect is photo storytelling rather than just photographs for art sake.  I’d like the photos to be artistic but I’m just not into photography in an abstract art sense.  I consume photography blogs and the ones that impress me the most are wedding photographers who have to be portrait, architecture, close up and documentary photographer all in one package.   I think its the essence of capturing life in all it’s dimensions that interests me so now all I need to do it work out how I’m going to create the right opportunities and then just go for it.

It’s times like these you really miss your family and long standing friends as they are the ones that I’d be arm locking into action right now.  But they are 12,000 miles away so I’ll have to find a way of improvising.  So any local blog readers who are game for some candid camera leave me a comment or send me a tweet and we’ll see whether I can do better next time.