There are a few things that are essential to being a photographer, which most photography books don’t usually cover. Here are the seven most important lessons I’ve learned as a photographer, including an exercise I use to hone my skills.
1. It should be fun
Whether operating as a business or a hobby, photography has to be fun. Picking up that camera and looking through the viewfinder, sitting for hours in front of a computer developing images and even doing marketing and accounts is certainly not an unwelcome chore. I love every minute of it, although the marketing and accounts are probably my least favorite. However, I meet people who are not satisfied with their work. I wonder why they don’t get out and do something else instead. That’s what I did in the past. If it’s not fun, walk away.
There’s only one way to make sure you’re happy and satisfied with your photography. Do your own thing, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
2. Help other photographers succeed
Part of my business is training others, and nothing makes me happier than their success. Sometimes I get asked by clients if they can be professional photographers. Then I trained some and helped them start their careers. I do not credit their success; It is thanks to their hard work and perseverance. The fact that I helped them along the way not only made me happy, but also learned a lot from teaching others, and it also reinforced my existing knowledge.
3. I Don’t Know Anything, Leave Everything Alone
Some people seem to think they know all there is to know about photography. I never had that illusion. Inevitably, we don’t know everything. I know it’s especially so when I started out as a beginner in my youth. But that sense of ignorance, instead of diminishing, grew. It seems like the more I teach, the more I learn, and the more I discover things I didn’t know. There’s always so much to understand that it seems I’ve only scratched the surface.
4. It’s just a photo and it’s just a camera
Next, I remembered that it was just a photo. By itself, it won’t change the world. However, a photo can give you, me or someone else strong emotions. It could be a precious moment at a wedding, a portrait of a deceased loved one, or a beautiful subject that evokes strong emotions. Understanding the duality between the importance and the simultaneous importance of a photo helps us to not be too preoccupied and at the same time to create meaningful photos.
Similarly, some photographers idolize their cameras. It is not a god; it’s just a tool. I know I have unique functions that I use, so it’s a perfect fit for me. But, like your camera, it’s just a mass of metal, glass, and plastic, despite its sleek design.
5. My best photos come from taking what I know
A harbour, an estuary and the sea a few hundred yards from my back door. I’ve lived in this house for nine years, so I know it well. I understand tidal conditions are best when light on the island is moderate and rough seas will depend on wind direction. I know the operation of the fishing fleet, the direction of the sunrise at different times of the year, the best camera placement to get good pictures and the behavior of the local birds. My experience with the local environment helps me achieve a much higher percentage of successful shots than if I were in an unfamiliar setting to shoot a new subject.
6. Others Take good pictures
Some people find it difficult to accept that others can be successful in what they do. Jealousy is not an afterthought that won’t help them improve their skills. We can learn from the photos of other photographers and appreciate what they do which helps in the learning process.
I always take the time to analyze other people’s pictures and figure out what I do and don’t like; There are certain genres of photography that I am not a fan of, but I can understand why some people like them. Every photo isn’t my cup of tea, so I figured out why that was, too. I keep my opinions to myself because an uninvited negative critique won’t do me any good.
7. Skills I mastered before turning pro
There’s something on my list that’s in photography books. Of course, an expert needs to have a certain level of knowledge. It is essential to become familiar with how your camera will perform under certain conditions. That in part means you can change the camera’s settings without looking. That’s what I practice. However, it is much more than that. I also know how my camera will perform in different conditions.
Try the following exercise:
In a familiar environment you normally shoot, look for a moving subject; it doesn’t matter anything. It could be anything, be it the pendulum of a clock, someone walking, a tree branch blowing, a car passing, etc. Pick up your camera and set it to exposure. handmade. Always keep the lens cap on so you can’t cheat and use the following on-screen menus.
Set the shutter speed to stop the subject’s movement. Next, adjust the focal length, aperture, and distance from the subject to fill the frame and give you just enough depth of field to include the entire subject, not the entire scene. Then judge a good exposure by adjusting the ISO. Choose your focus point. Remove the lens cap and shoot. What good results did you get?
Once you’ve done that, change all the variables and try again. Use focal length and depth of field instead. Change the lighting conditions. Can decide to show some motion blur. Over time, you’ll get a good idea of what settings you need.
It is not easy. Due to the semi-automation (I like aperture priority) plus the depth of field and histogram preview through the viewfinder, you can get great shots without even having a basic understanding of how to do it. camera works. We are used to that. However, I believe it’s important to be aware of exposure and how settings change the look and feel of an image as there will come a time when you need to relearn those basic skills.
If you specialize in a particular genre, such as studio photography, you’ll need a lot of familiarity with the operation of your ancillary equipment. For example, how modifiers affect the look and feel of an image, how the inverse squared law is applied to how close the light source is to the subject, how far that distance changes the softness of the light, balance by the brightness of multiple strobes, etc. But knowing how your camera works is just the beginning. Depth of field plus stopping or showing motion are basic compositing techniques. The placement of objects in the frame, how they interact, and how they are illuminated are important. It all takes study and practice.
There is no secret formula that makes images work. There are countless combinations of subject, composition, lighting, and camera settings, and over time you’ll find what works for you. More importantly, you’ll discover what’s not.
Are there any important lessons you have learned on your photography journey? I hope you enjoyed my exercise, and it would be nice to know how you went on.
