Ten Things I Have Learnt About Photography (Part 2)
6. Any camera is better than the camera you left at home.
Don't miss a moment because you 'only have your phone' and you are a real photographer. Sometimes we get into that perfectionist mode, where the thought of a phone photo is horrifying. It is still a far better alternative than the amazing moment you missed because you thought that a phone just wouldn't capture it. I am trying to get into the habit of taking my camera everywhere with me, but if I don't have it on me, I use my phone. Do I love the photos? Not always, but I have taken some amazing shots with my phone. The key is to remember the basics, look at your composition, try to position things well in the frame, look at the available light, and position yourself to get the best of it. Anything that you would do with your 'real camera' do with your phone camera. Don't forget everything you have learned just because it is a different type of camera.
7. Shoot for you
I said in part one of this blog that to learn you need to take on other peoples feedback and toughen up, so to speak. While I 100 percent stand by that, sometimes you just need to shoot for you. Find something that you like to shoot and just get out there. If you feel like you are in a rut, then go for a drive in the country and take some shots of trees, if you like to photograph animals, spend the day at the zoo and just really enjoy the downtime. Remember why you fell in love with photography in the first place. Sometimes I just need to get out and shoot a sunrise for no other reason than I have been busy and I find the tranquility of that time of day refreshing and energising in a way. I also love the zoo and I have been to Monarto Zoo for the day, just because I can for no other reason than that. I likely won't post those photos for anyone, but I will definitely look through them myself and enjoy them. I will remember the feeling and the relaxation and feel inspired again.
8. Be Inspired by photographers who have gone before you
If you really aren't sure where you are going with your photography but you know what you like to shoot, look for images in that genre or that subject so that you can be inspired by other people's work. With social media so prevalent now a lot of photographers have Instagram or Facebook accounts, you can follow their work and get an idea of where you want to be. I follow a number of photographers across social media sites and I have a number of photographers, both local and national, who's work I am inspired by. I am definitely not saying copy their work - but do let it inspire you to do more, try new compositions and new styles to improve your shots. Don't just look at the work of photographers that are working now, study the work of the early greats. I have listed a few of my favourites below, click on the links and check out something you may not have looked at before. Among other things, studying other people's work is a fantastic way to learn what you really love and what you really don't love in an image.
http://www.macrowphotography.com.au
https://www.facebook.com/EmmaFleetwoodPhotographyAdelaide/
This list is by no means exhaustive, I could add links forever.
9. Slow down - be patient
I am terrible for point and shoot and rush. it is one of my worst flaws, I am so eager to capture the moment and so desperate not to miss it, that I set myself up and think yep that is a good shot, quick shoot it. What I don't realise is that if I stepped two centimetres to my left and positioned the camera on a slightly different angle, I would actually get a far better result than the one I got by rushing. Try different angles, look at different perspectives. Be sure you have the best angle you can. Sometimes as photographers we need to wait. I attended a seminar with Ken Duncan last year and one of the things he said that stuck with me was that he was out in the rain in a valley shooting and when the rain came over everybody ran inside, he settled down under his umbrella and waited and when the rain passed, a double rainbow appeared in a field of flowers set on a hillside. He showed the shot at the seminar and it was breathtaking- had he given up when the weather turned, he would have missed that shot.
The below image - taken recently at Wandearah in the Mid North of South Australia- was an instance where I took my own advice. It was blowing a gale and there had just been a rain shower with another one heading over. I could see a gap on the horizon and knew that when the sun set a little further I would have probably my only chance for absolutely killer lighting. I positioned the camera and myself and took a few snaps of a particularly boring tree with no interesting light to check my composition and then I waited. Then I waited some more. Then I did a little more waiting. The sun dropped between the clouds for barely even two minutes and the light changed the perspective of the whole scene. Because I was willing to take the time to wait, I didn't miss it.
10. Have fun - remember why you love it in the first place
Don't get too hung up on likes and approval. Remember why you love photography in the first place and never allow anyone or anything to steal your joy. I understand completely that photography can be one of the most frustrating pasttimes ever. You can go out for a day, get some amazing images, upload them to your computer and then feel incredibly discouraged. If you are feeling discouraged more often than you are just loving being out there with your camera capturing the world as you see it, then it is time to take a step back, take a deep breath and write a list of what you love about photography. Remember the joy you found in it and make it your mission to recapture that.
Thanks for having a read, don't forget to keep an eye out for next weeks blog, I will publish it on my website and also share on Facebook. Please comment on the blog on the site and I would love to hear your feedback.