Very few of us will become truly great photographers, but giving yourself the best shot is still worth it. Having a method is certainly an important component, but it is often overlooked because it is not as exciting as buying new equipment or traveling to new places.
I want – no, need – to start this article with two caveats. The first is that I am not a good photographer. Chances are I never will either. However, you don’t have to be good at something to identify the key elements to get there, and that’s what I’m obsessed with both inside and outside of photography. Second, the title implies several things: it’s a secret, it’s a guaranteed path to greatness, and it’s always boring. None of this is necessarily true, but no one clicked on the “usually dull tip that can help you take better photos.” Ok, let’s get started with it.
I have been obsessed with people who have reached the top of the fields for as long as I can remember. Over the past decade, it’s something I’ve been looking for in every media, though mostly books. The book that I mentioned a few times, including in my article, “Books that can change the way you approach photography: How brute force can take you beyond talent“is Grit, by Angela Duckworth. The goal of this book – and many others in the book that is becoming a subgenre – is to unpack what makes great people in any field so great Sports are often the focus, but music is a close second, and many other fields fit into the same mold.
There are many influencing factors, for example, having a suitable mentor. However, the one thing that seems to span every activity one can be good at is also quite mundane.
Consistency: Faint, but irreplaceable
As far as I’m concerned, consistency is absolutely irreplaceable if you’re striving to improve anything, let alone be one of the best. That is, as far as photography is concerned, if you are looking to become a better photographer, you need to take pictures regularly. It seems obvious, but very few practice it. This doesn’t mean taking thousands of pictures on a weekend, then not touching your camera for a few months before doing it again. Taking just 10 photos a day can also bring more improvement to the photographer.
If you look at anyone who is good at anything, they practice religion every day. Top musicians, even and especially so-called child prodigies, practice for hours on end. Top athletes not only train every day but also guide their lives in all other areas so they can train regularly. Writers like Stephen King – and like his work or not, few have been more successful than in the last 100 years – write 10 A4 pages a day, including Christmas Day and his birthday.
All in all, this relentlessness is identified by Duckworth as gritty, and it seems to be crucial in motivating yourself to stay consistent at work. The greatest photographers and artists create work on an industrial scale and do so for decades, and there’s no substitute for that. However, consistency is easy in concept but difficult in practice. So here are three ways you can improve how often you take pictures.
Stay Consistent: 365 Challenges
This is probably the most obvious of the ways to maintain consistency. Challenge 365 is exactly what it sounds like: you have to take one photo every day for a year. It seems easy at first glance, but there are many days when you won’t feel like picking up your camera, and these are the most important. As Chuck Close once said (and, incidentally, he also took pictures): “Inspiration is for amateurs. The rest of us just show up and get to work.”
There are plenty of 365 structured challenges you can follow if that interests you, but I’d like to add one important note: you don’t have to wait until January 1 to get started; 365 can start from any date.
Stay consistent: Always carry your camera with you
Another often overlooked strategy for creating more images often is to carry your camera with you at all times. This will encourage you to use it whenever you see a potential image or layout pop up, and knowing you can do so means you’ll be looking for them constantly. If your go-to camera and lens are too bulky to carry around, it might be time to look at the setup that comes with it. These may be cheaper than you think. Remember that the goal is not to create great images every day, but to create more images on the way to being able to create great images.
Stay Consistent: Themes
There’s no escaping it: some people won’t be able to take pictures every day – it’s just not feasible. This is where I want to point out that consistency doesn’t mean creating images every day. While you’ll reap more rewards from shooting every day in most cases, committing to shooting every week is still a marked improvement on what most photographers do.
The best way I’ve found to stay consistent when I’m busy with things outside of photography is weekly themed challenges. There are many of these scattered across the internet; I chose to be part of a weekly themed community. Its members have submitted their entries, and the winner will choose the theme for the following week. Not only will this help you capture more, but confusing subjects will either take you out of your comfort zone or force you to do some creative thinking just to get in.
Consistent photographers: how do you stay consistent? Photographers struggle to stay consistent: what’s the biggest barrier? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Lead image by Hoover Jump over Pexels.
