In the background, a spectacular sunset over the Straits Of Malacca. In the foreground, children playing with bubble blowers. Some of the things you chance upon on a lucky day.
But with the sun already that low on the horizon, it meant I had only a few seconds to get the shot. I was luckier when one bubble flew towards the lens. By the way, Morib Beach now has a nice esplanade.
Olympus OM-D, ISO 200, f9, 1/250 sec.
Water flowing from a tap into a pail in my garden. Olympus OM-D set to 1/4000th of a second and fired at 9 frames per second since the bubbles form nicely only on first impact. If your camera can machine-gun at those speeds or faster, I suggest you use “spray and pray” techniques sparingly. Why? Just like a car, the shutter mechanism has a rated lifespan. Usually averaging 150,000 shots for the average camera. Some less, some more. It should still work after exceeding the rating but why create wear and tear unnecessarily?
Remember this: Every happy, reckless burst and your camera will die earlier. Replacing the shutter assembly can cost as much as buying a new camera. Don’t forget that many cameras also record the shutter count (actuations) and a prospective buyer may check the mileage. Save it for a rainy day or unless it is your company’s camera or part of your business expense as a professional photographer. You don’t want to be trigger happy with your hard earned money.
