Sometimes good photographic opportunities are there for anyone with a camera and the will to use it. The combination of daylight and a big static object like a building or a statue is meat and bread for any camera in full auto. Point, focus, click. And invariably a well focused correctly exposed image is in the bag. Thank you very much.
Of course it helps if nothing is obscuring or moving in the shot and sometimes I do get lucky, such as the shot of the statue. I was there alone and could please myself.
But that's not how it always happens. In fact if I aim my camera at something, the chances are good that something else is moving in my shot. Commonly clouds, trees, water. people, pets or traffic to name a few.
The pursuit of a clear unobstructed view can become a mission. A strong ND filter and a long exposure is ok if you're carrying a tripod. But that said someone always seems to linger in an awkward spot leaving ghostly images. So sometimes patience is the only effective way to get the shot I want. Yes, it's a glib thing to say. But that said It's become an essential part of my photography toolkit. No secret to learning it but waiting is boring and intensely frustrating. Especially when one group of people moves on only to be immediately replaced by another.
Planning a photograph can really help, but 'on the day' the best laid plans can go awry. An example of this is the world's only steam powered clock in Vancouver. It's a famous local landmark and for over a year I was walking / cycling past it at least twice a day. I knew I wanted this shot. Specifically at night, raining against the building lit in red. Simply one of Vancouver's defining images. Night should make this an easier shot to get, and as Vancouver is in British Columbia rain is never far away. Still anyone who knows Water Street knows that it's a busy spot, in addition to being a landmark, gastown is a heritage area and a commercial district full of shops bars and restaurants. It's also part of a one way system leading to the main train station, all of which makes this a very busy place indeed. Getting a clear shot became one of my most frustrating photographic hunts. If it was not one thing it was another. People (tourists, drunks, commuters. fashion shoots, film crews) and fast food carts all converge here. Somedays there is a never ending stream of taxis and cars and on others the steam was off and then for several months they entirely removed the clock for refurbishment (which really didn't help). Another issue was that somedays the lights on the red building can be a different colour, I have pictures where the building is either blue or purple, but I think the view looks best with the building in red. Getting this combination of elements together in a quiet time was too frustrating for words. Simply this shot seemed to elude me every time I went to take it. However persistence was rewarded and I did get this version late one night after work. An unexpected benefit to overtime.
So far this is my preferred version, but I know next time I'm in Vancouver if it's raining I'll be heading back here again. Maybe there won't be so many parked cars next time. Or maybe the steam will flow in a more dramatic angle.
btw .. the steam plays a nice tune but the clock is a cheat, it's actually got an electrical movement.