Ten things I have learnt about photography (part 1)

These are the top ten things I have learnt over my photography journey, in no particular order. Photography is no different to any other skill, there is always something to learn. Sometimes it is the smallest, silliest thing but other times it is something life changing, that alters the way that you do things and completely changes the outcome. One of the things I admire in people generally is if they are teachable and always willing to learn something new.

1. Always, always, always check your gear - Check that you have cards, the right lenses, that your batteries are charged. There is nothing more embarrassing than standing there on a big job, deleting outtakes because you forgot to pack your spare card (not that I would know because I never have done that). I went out on a dawn shoot recently and realised when I got there that my card was in the back of my computer. Luckily it was about five minutes from home, but imagine getting up at dawn in the dead of winter, driving an hour and then having to turn around and come home. I now make sure, before every shoot, that I go through my bag and check everything, so that I know I have what I need.

2. Light is the King - Many people are unhappy with their images and can't work out why. One of the main reasons is light. Light, lack of it or too much of it can make or break a shot. The best times to get out and shoot are dawn and dusk. The quality of the light is beautiful and it can make or break a finished shot. You will often hear people talk about golden hour and this is what they are talking about- the first and last hour of light in a day. The golden hour before or after a storm is amazing- generally it is a beautiful red colour and well worth the effort to photograph. You can shoot at any time of day, but there is a certain amount of skill involved with being able to shoot at midday for example and know the best way to deal with harsh shadows and strong light. Unfortunately shooting at dawn means getting out of bed.....as a very much non morning person this does not appeal to me, but it is a magical time to shoot and I have not once gotten out of bed early and not come home with any images. Photography is worth the work it takes to achieve beautiful images, wether that be dragging yourself out of bed at stupid o'clock in the dead of winter to capture frost in first light, or waiting around freezing as the sun drops to get the perfect angle of light as the sun drops through trees. I have included some shots with morning and afternoon light below so you can see the type of light that these times produce.

3. Photography requires practice and hard work - photography, like any other skill, requires time put into it. Despite the mentality that exists that any idiot can pick up a camera these days and take a good photo- it isn't as simple as that. It requires practice and learning. I often have people ask me where to start and the first thing I say is practice. Always have your camera with you. Never leave home without it. Don't let opportunities pass you by to shoot. If you take some photos and you get home and get them on the computer and they are not what you expected, try to work out why. Connect with other photographers and ask for advice. Connect with Facebook groups, Australian Amateur Photographers is a good group that is well moderated with a mix of beginners and really experienced people who are happy to share their advice. If you shoot Canon, The Canon Collective is an amazing opportunity for learning, they have a Facebook page and websites. They run free courses and shoots which allow people to come and borrow gear and shoot in all different circumstances with like minded people.

Here are a couple of links to the groups I mentioned above

https://www.facebook.com/groups/616637321757471/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1089022764457509/

https://www.canon.com.au/collective

Nat Rogers from Easy Camera Lessons is an incredibly gifted teacher. The YouTube channel below is well worth a look.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF91eVCMDx3dWr80bBYbD1g

http://www.easycameralessons.com

4. If you want to get better you will need to toughen up - To get better you need to show your work to people, and be prepared that they may have some suggestions for improvement for what you think is the best shot in the world. Be careful who you allow to get in your head, pick people you trust who know their stuff and who's work you admire. Look for someone who may be able to mentor you, cultivate photography friends, who will shoot with you and also be honest with you. It is hard to hear negative feedback about something that you have poured your heart and soul into, but once the initial shock has worn off, stand back, look at it objectively and work out if there is merit in what they are saying. If there is, learn from it, take the suggestions on board and apply them. I have a friend who was one of my earliest photography friends, she had been involved in photography for a long time and I was just starting out and developing my interest, she gave me a number of critiques early on, that if I am honest stung a little, my first reaction was not "oh thanks so much" but when I looked at what she was saying, she was right and at least one of the things she said, which was "when shooting buildings, watch your perspectives, don't just stand front on and shoot" is still in the forefront of my mind every time that I shoot a building or a landscape. It made me a better photographer and it was a great lesson to learn early. Imagine if I had dismissed it out of hand because it stung my pride a little.

5. It's not all about the gear - I have seen some cracker shots taken on old point and shoots, and some awful shots taken on top of the line cameras. I would definitely say that gear helps, in terms of having the right tool for the job. Cheap lenses do the job, but the more expensive lenses tend to be sharper and are generally faster by design (that is a whole other blog).....but master what you have got first. If you have a really old camera, lets say a Nikon D7000 for example, which is around four models ago in the 7000 range and you are coming home with three out of four shots out of focus, and things are too dark or too light, a new camera will not fix that. You could get a Nikon D5 and still be in the same boat because you need to master what you have first. Some of my favourite shots are with my D7000 and my cheaper lenses. Practice and learn technique and then the gear is not as much of an issue.

Coming up in next weeks blog.....the rest of my top ten things I have learnt. Please comment and share with anyone you think might be interested. I am happy to answer any questions about the blog or anything else you might have. Have a great week and get out there :-)