It is easy to brush this off with the ‘I’m not bringing a camera’ defense or ‘just put your camera on automatic and do it yourself, it’ll be fine’. The truth is most of take pictures because we really enjoy it and have a passion for it, to a greater lesser degree, and to turn down these requests robs us of a great opportunity to try something different. After all friends and family don’t let each other use the green square… So put on that lens that you never normally use, format a few cards and take a look at those you care about with a new perspective.

When looking at a familiar subject it’s hard to see it clearly without imposing your preconceived notion of what it is upon it. Look at your built in meter, make a decision as to how to interpret it. After all, it’s job is to render a neutral grey evenly, not to make your pictures look as great as they do in your head, that’s your job. Uncle bob might be sitting near the window, dozing off and you want to sneak an intimate feeling personality shot for the family album. Use your meter to tell you what neutral exposure is in the mid tone part of the frame, and adjust to bring it to life as you see it. Do the same at your Christmas party, at the bar, at church or wherever you wouldn’t normally take care of your exposure. Don’t let your Facebook posts and family pictures take a horrible turn towards the green square, take control this season and onwards into the new year.

From Jez.

For those of you not in the know, the Green Square refers to the section of the command dial found on middle level digital SLR cameras that is marked in green and takes all control of the camera away from the user. It’s a fully automatic mode… a don’t even bother to think mode.  It’s the mode that removes all creativity and decision making from the photographer.  As you should surmise from my tone, I hold that mode and it’s advocates in low esteem, choosing instead to recommend to my friends and clients who maybe are just getting started in the visual arts to take a little control, make some decisions and get their feet wet.

These people, including myself at that time, will make mistakes and feel a little frustrated at all the images that don’t quite meet their expectations which is ok. As a person who seeks to make photography a hobby or even a second income,  should make mistakes and learn from them. Digital cameras make,this process faster and easier by logging all the minute details of the mistakes in metadata, exif files, sidecar information from which we can learn without all the note taking and film roll logging that previous generations of photographers have had to do. So dive in, eschew the Green Square and all it stands for and take control of the fantastic technology and all it has to offer to the budding photographer.

Jez out.

Learn more about Jez here:  JezCo Images

Find Jez on Facebook here: JezCo Images

Quite simply put… TAKE CONTROL

There is no answer more implicit, simple, and complete than that.

The concept idea for this design was created in conversation with JezCo and brought to life by yours truly.  It’s therapeutic to realize I am not alone in my quest to destroy this abomination.  JezCo will be making some guest posts here bringing a sensible approach to a mass audience in addition to joining in our upcoming video commentaries.

More on the horizon.  Until next time, Death To The Green Square!

We will be featuring special guest Photographer blogs of stories, how-to’s, do’s and don’t's and the like as things get moving along here.  The fun is just about to begin so jump on board.

Above all, Death To The Green Square!

Everyone starts somewhere…  all Pros at one time made tasteless images thinking how great they are in the beginning, and doing all kinds of ridiculous PhotoShop™ effects.  To continue in a tasteless manner while calling yourself a Photographer and charging money you have no right taking really shames the profession.

So if you are learning and think this is some type of disparaging blog against people who are learning, you’re wrong.  Dead wrong.

“Death To The Green Square” & “Auto Mode Must Die” is a state of mind.  Break free from that hold your camera has on you, and unleash your creativity!

More to come, until then… DEATH TO THE GREEN SQUARE!

• How many important images have you missed because someone decides to break out their brand new XTi with the 18-55mm kit lens while set to the Green Square because they can’t use the machine in any other mode?

• How many events have you rescued because you happen to have your gear with you (ie. you have it everywhere), and the “natural light fauxtographer” at the event with their new D40, on-camera pop-up flash, 18-55mm kit lens, and set to Auto Mode didn’t realize it was going to get dark at night?

• Have you ever heard the words, “it’s just a picture, what’s the big deal?!?!”

Death To The Green Square (“C” users) and Auto Mode Must Die (“N” users) are basically 2 vehement statements against ignorance. Part of the problem is the cheap client, the one who wants caviar, but can’t afford Kraft Macaroni & Cheese.  Most of the problem is too many cheap, incompetent options.

More to come.

In the meantime, Death To The Green Square!

For all you Nikon folks out there… We haven’t forgotten about you. For you guys, we’re developing the Auto Mode Must Die series, a second comical, educational series, but with specific art for the Nikon user. Oh, and you Sony, Oly, and “OTHER” shooters… NO, we haven’t forgotten about you either… we’ve got so much great stuff in the pipeline…

We shot our first T-Shirt product images today. Our educational Photography blog and store will be available soon. We’ll have additional T-Shirt designs available in the near future as well. More info as it develops…