MISSION POSSIBLE

I'm challenging you to a MISSION POSSIBLE

From 1966 to 1973 the TV show Mission Impossible was an action packed adventure we rarely missed. The series followed the exploits of the IMF, the Impossible Missions Force, a small team of secret agents used for covert missions against evil organizations.

The show always started with the lead character receiving a tape recording with his instructions for the next big adventure in crime solving. After listening to the tape, the tape would self destruct. Then the good guys were off to solve crime using elaborate tricks that seemed very mysterious. The "high tech" means they used back then to capture said bad guys is, in retrospect, pretty hilarious.

Why am I blogging about this?  Because I'm handing you a virtual MISSION POSSIBLE tape, NOT Mission IMPOSSIBLE Tape. It won't self destruct and there's no elaborate tricks, no mystery, and no high tech involved.

Here's your Mission Possible Challenge:

Set your camera to one of the automatic camera modes I've blogged about over the past couple of months. This challenge works for both Point&Shoot and dSLR cameras. See your particular camera's manual for help if necessary.

Over the course of the next 7 days take 70 photos using whichever mode you choose. Take your time during your photo shoots. Think about what you want to capture but don't worry about perfection. Relax and have fun. The goal is to get first hand experience using one automatic mode. Upload the photos to your computer and study them. What do you see? Did you capture images you'd hoped for? If not, spend another day on the assignment focused on your goal.

Do you have 5 or so photos you are really proud of? Don't be critical of your work. Do you see improvement over the course of the 7 days? 

Whichever mode you choose is the type of photography you are most interested in learning first. You may choose to stick with that setting for several months to learn all you can about it and that's fine.

Look at lots of photos that relate to what you are shooting as you take your 70 photos. You'll find you can easily take 70 photos in one day but stretch it out, take your time, think about each shot.

A few great locations to find photos are Google Images, Flickr and other photo storage sites, other photographers' blogs, and library books. 

The choices for auto modes I've discussed in my posts are:

Sports/Action

Landscape

Portrait

Close-Up/Macro

Night Photography

Continuous Action

Sports/Action mode includes kids playing or those hard to capture toddlers who hate to sit still; pets romping, horses running, even flowers on a breezy day. Depending on your camera lens you may have some blur, this setting is not infallible. Don't despair, just keep practicing and you'll get to know your camera and what works.

Use landscape for scenes that include elements like barns, fences, even grazing animals. 

Portrait mode is fun. If you don't have a tripod make sure your subject sits still or substitute portrait mode with action mode.

Close-Up/Macro is one of my favorite settings. I use it primarily for flowers, let's see what you can come up with.

I'd love to see some night shots of city streets or neon signs or continuous action shots. 

Don't limit yourself to my suggestions. This is your personal challenge.

Post your favorite photos from this Challenge to your online photo account. Paste your #1 favorite photo's url into the "TinyURL" link in the top right column of this blog to shorten the url.

Example:

A url link to a photo in Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1179475730978&set=a.1179475450971.2027494.1350703462&type=1&theater

will look like this on TinyURL: http://tinyurl.com/5ujb269

Post the link from "TinyURL" into the comment section of this post so we can view your photos and share your success. 

Tell us about your experience taking this Challenge. It will be fun to read!

Any questions? Leave a comment in the comments section of this post.