Using a single camera & lens to tell an artistic story of our weekend getaway.

During our recent long weekend away to Camp Cobark, I set a goal of documenting the entire weekend using a single camera and one lens for all of my shots.

Remember Bringing Splendor Back – A Horse at Dawn: Lightroom Edit, this was at Camp Cobark too.

Telling a story with photos

This video highlights some of my photos from our weekend. So join me on this mini-vacation of camping, campfires, mountain biking, horseback riding, and simply relaxing and bonding with family and friends (including our canines). You’ll see, through my range of photos, how I was able to document a long weekend away that tells a story with an artistic flare.

Watch this video

By the way, I had the pleasure of using a mirrorless FUJIFILM X-T1 and the XF56mm f/1.2 lens for this trip. You’ll see from these shots what a great little camera it is! Through this series of images, I’ll show you exactly what I love about this camera. And for each image, I’ll also show you at what settings each was shot.

Camping = Relaxing

The first day of the weekend was spent settling in and playing around the campsite. The photos shot this day reflect the relaxed enjoyment of everyone ranging from kids to dogs to grownups. (Remember to click on thumbnails to see LARGE images)

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Photographing dogs from low-down

As you can see from the photos highlighted below, this camera presents a beautiful shallow depth of field. Take a look at the first three images that captured some of our canine companions. For me, a successful dog shot is one that captures their eyes… there’s just something about a dog’s eyes. 

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But dogs are tricky when it comes to cameras because the camera sometimes like to focus on their eyes and sometimes on their noses. This camera captured these canines beautifully with that gorgeous depth of field.

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In the photo above, I used the camera’s face recognition autofocus. Most of the time it worked fine although at times it struggled to focus on the correct subject.

Kids love to have fun

Some fun shots of the kids playing around… this camera wasn’t always successful at grabbing a perfectly-clear shot, but when it comes to documentary photography, the camera is really just a tool used to tell a story. It’s the story itself that we want to see. Seeing the faces, the playing, the action in these photos does just that.

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Note that there is no zoom on this lens. It has a fixed focal length lens. Therefore, I had to zoom with my legs by walking closer to the subject. But still, at a distance, it takes some good shots!

Upside down fire (for lazy campers)

By the way, I’ve also provided you with an added bonus in this video… Images on how to start a fire the correct way with the larger pieces on the bottom and the smaller ones on the top where the fire is lit. Anyone who has been camping with me knows this is the best way for a perfect fire!

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Mountain biking & horsing around

As you can see from the following photos from our second day with mountain bikes and our third day with horses, many of the photos focus on things that people don’t normally see or pay attention to. It’s these images that bring in an artistic flare. You become more than just a photographer or documenter… you’re an artist – an artist AND a storyteller. Also, unusual photos such as these draw a viewer in and add so much depth to your story.

 

I like capturing a photo with some parts in focus and other parts out of focus. I find it can direct your attention in unexpected ways.

Tell a story with your photography

The focus of this video is documenting a weekend away… telling the story of our camping trip through a series of interesting photos that pull in artistic perspectives. I also happened to be able to test a great little camera and lens in the process! This blog only shows a portion of the images I captured from our camping adventures. Take a look at the video for more!

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So, what do you think? Did I document the weekend well enough to show what we did and what we enjoyed? I’m trying to tell a story in an artistic way rather than just taking snapshots. Did I succeed?

Your feedback is welcome

Please leave me comment below on what you think.

Cheers, Brent_DSF1571

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