This week I’m going on a road trip to Zion Nationanl Park, Sedona, and then back. It got me thinking about some of the road trips we took last year, and all the pictures we took.
Since the advent of the digital camera, and now the ubiquitous smartphone cameras, we’ve all become “photographers.”
And most of our social media accounts are filled with all the wonderful photos we’ve taken. But what about all those absolutely terrible shots?
Well, I thought it would be fun to take a look at a few laughably bad photos I took over the past twelve months. I’ll admit some are worse than others, but they’re all pretty bad.
The terrible time-lapse setup
When we first left Florida for Oregon last March, I had no idea how to do a proper time-lapse. But what if I set my expensive camera on the dash of our car and hooked up an intervalometer?
This worked…until we had to turn.
Lesson learned: they actually have stands and car setups specifically for this.
Look at that sunset
For all you know that could be two random strangers in the photo above. Though it’s actually my wife and I trying to take a picture of the sunset at Sandia Peak, New Mexico.
Lesson learned: take a picture of what the sun sets on, not the sunset itself.
The missed shot
Look at how beautiful the Grand Canyon is…oh, and wait, Wesley cropped his wife out of the picture.
Lesson learned: line up your shot with the tripod first, instead of just guessing.
The close-up
Believe it or not that was a planned shot.
I thought it would be cool if my wife walked our dog close to the camera for a cool point-of-view picture.
Not only did I completely miss the shot, but I also messed up the focus.
Lesson learned: pay attention, and read up on AI Servo.
The light at the end of the tunnel
During our walk through the Lava River Cave, I thought it would be neat to take a lantern shot.
Except that I forgot about my mom’s reflective jacket. It didn’t turn out too terrible, but I was pretty disappointed when I got home.
Lesson learned: watch for reflective surfaces.
The treetops
I always see cool pictures of treetops from the ground up, and while walking through a forest in the Cascade Lakes I thought I’d give it a try.
If I didn’t tell you what the photo was I’m pretty sure you’d be scratching your head as to what exactly I took a picture of.
Lesson learned: I have no clue, still trying to figure this one out.
Trying not to get wet
We were walking along Todd Lake when thought I saw a beautiful shot across the lake. Keyword is thought.
The bank of the lake was muddy, so I dangled my camera by the strap and set it on a ten second timer. Ten seconds later and we’re blessed with this lovely shot.
Lesson learned: Dangling your camera isn’t the best setup.
Overexposed
The Niagara Falls are beautiful don’t you think?
What’s that?
You can’t see them?
That’s because I overexposed the crap out of this shot.
Lesson learned: learn how to expose your photograph properly.
Motion sickness
So I’m sitting in Whirlpool Park taking photographs of my wife under the Autumn foilage and I see a black squirrel go running by. A black squirrel!
I’d never seen a black squirrel before, so I started firing off shots left and right.
No, he wasn’t so fast that it caused a blurry photo.
Lesson learned: you guessed it, AI Servo…again.
Say hello to my…index finger?
You didn’t actually want to see that bison, did you?
How on earth I got my hand in front of the camera lens (keep in mind this is not a smartphone), is beyond me.
Lesson learned: umm, fingers don’t make good pictures?
My masterpiece
This was going to be it. The photo to end all photos.
I was standing next to a professional photographer who was giving me some tips on shooting these big horn sheep. I had been watching this male for a while, when he finally made an epic leap to a ledge above him.
I must have shot about twenty photos.
After he was settled the pro came over and took a look on the LCD screen. I was ready to impress him. Then he said, “Would have been nice if you didn’t cut off his legs.”
Lesson learned: legs are good.
Well, that’s all the bad photo stories I can muster for now. Though I assure you, there are hundreds, if not thousands more.
What do you think? Which one is the worst?
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