Post your Top Three - Most valuble photography lessons

[NorthernFocus]

1) Know thy equipment.

2) Know thy subject.

3) Know thy self.

[AndrewMcD]

1. The difficult part of photography is understanding the craft well enough to capture the image that your mind sees.

2. The image that your mind sees might just be crap and not really worth capturing. The brain imposes some rather stout filters that we must learn to see past.

3. Learn from every capture. Study the technical aspects and understand how the camera settings effected the outcome. Reconsider the composition. Move on, and incorporate what has been learned.

These three things are reflections on where I am at the moment on the rather steep but fun learning curve of the novice photographer.

[ShaneS]

I just love your list Andrew - especially...

The image that your mind sees might just be crap and not really worth capturing. The brain imposes some rather stout filters that we must learn to see past.

We seem to be in a similar place of our development as this one made me LOL so thanks for confirming that I am not alone!

[GrahamS]

1) Observe
2) Compose
3) Expose

[Davey]

1. Only raising my camera to my eye once I had a pretty good idea of what I wanted to capture changed a lot for me.

2. Stick with 1 thing until you know it inside out (advice of Zack Arias) and all its qualities and limits instead of jumping between gear. One of his things was to shoot everything with one lens for a long time for instance so he knew everything about how it handled, what it did well and not so well etc.

3. Greg Heisler opposites approach. The first most obvious way of capturing something he thinks upon seeing his subject he pursues the opposite. I'm not great at it but helps get shots I never thought of. Also you come away with shots that look different to everyone else, see stuff from an event or photo tour and most people go for the obvious but some stuff stands out due to those people going for a totally different less obvious view of the subject.

Now when I picture something in my head if I know my gear inside out I can think intuitively things like " hmm to capture the scene in the way I imagined I'll need a 55deg standard reflector on my light in this close and this high on that side and a 70mm focal length at this distance etc" before I have grabbed the gear out my light pack/cam bag. Then it means the first shot gets me either what I wanted and I can relax and experiment knowing I had what I came for in the bag so to speak, or it gets me well within the ball park close enough compared to guesswork to nail it in much less time.

Another Zack quote I like was he doesn't want to shoot a ton and look for the needle in lightroom, when he sees a haystack he wants to find the needle with his camera. Made me press the button less but carefully pay attention to what I was after which means although I am not great I am gettign better at spotting those magic captures at times.

[praphul]

1) u make the photograph not the camera . Trust the metering mode of the camera to a minimum as there are chances that the sensor gets fooled . i rely only on using manual focusing and manual mode.

2) u never stop learning .

3) framing is crucial . every one minute u waste in framing results in hours of photoshop .

4) the present camera u have is the best camera in the world

[John Morton]

1) Move around. One big advantage with starting out in photography with a 50mm prime lens (back in the days of film cameras) was that one learned to move around , and to align image elements within the frame instead of framing with through zooming. This can make a huge difference in the final aesthetic quality of the end image captured, and helps you notice complementary and/or distracting elements in your image composition.

2) Learn the parameters of your medium, and work well within them: don't try to force your camera to do things it can; instead, learn how to make it do well the things it can do. If you can't have both highlight and shadow detail because the dynamic range of the scene is too great for the camera to fully capture, then decide what you want most and either let the dark parts go fully black or let the highlights completely burn out. It is always preferable to capture the entire dynamic range of a scene and expose for a well centered histogram but sometimes that just isn't going to happen. Sometimes you have to decide what area will be focus and let parts blur in order to use a fast enough shutter speed (with a large enough aperture) that at least some parts will be sharply focused. You can't always have everything so get use to deciding what you need most in order to capture a workable image. Bracket everything on great shots so that you can decide later what you need to do to get the best image possible.

3) Take more photographs. Photograph the scenes and things around the great photographs you decide to take. Really spectacular images-in-the-making can make other immediate possibilities seem less desirable; but taken on their own, those other views might be spectacular in their own right - and you may never have the opportunity to visit that site under those conditions ever again. Years later, looking over the images you captured, it is much better to think "Wow am I ever glad I took that shot too" instead of "Gee I wish I had taken more photos when I was there." Shoot in RAW format and archive everything.

[Brownbear]

Hi John,

I think this is especially helpful, especially #2 (for me)

1) Move around. One big advantage with starting out in photography with a 50mm prime lens (back in the days of film cameras) was that one learned to move around , and to align image elements within the frame instead of framing with through zooming. This can make a huge difference in the final aesthetic quality of the end image captured, and helps you notice complementary and/or distracting elements in your image composition.

2) Learn the parameters of your medium, and work well within them: don't try to force your camera to do things it can; instead, learn how to make it do well the things it can do. If you can't have both highlight and shadow detail because the dynamic range of the scene is too great for the camera to fully capture, then decide what you want most and either let the dark parts go fully black or let the highlights completely burn out. It is always preferable to capture the entire dynamic range of a scene and expose for a well centered histogram but sometimes that just isn't going to happen. Sometimes you have to decide what area will be focus and let parts blur in order to use a fast enough shutter speed (with a large enough aperture) that at least some parts will be sharply focused. You can't always have everything so get use to deciding what you need most in order to capture a workable image. Bracket everything on great shots so that you can decide later what you need to do to get the best image possible.

3) Take more photographs. Photograph the scenes and things around the great photographs you decide to take. Really spectacular images-in-the-making can make other immediate possibilities seem less desirable; but taken on their own, those other views might be spectacular in their own right - and you may never have the opportunity to visit that site under those conditions ever again. Years later, looking over the images you captured, it is much better to think "Wow am I ever glad I took that shot too" instead of "Gee I wish I had taken more photos when I was there." Shoot in RAW format and archive everything.

[John Morton]

Hi, Christina;

Your work has advanced magnificently in the time you have been here!

It is because of people like you that highly experienced photographers enjoy sharing here.

[Brownbear]

Hi John,

Thank you. It is because of people like you that this forum is a wonderful learning tool. Missing your images... (:

Hi, Christina;

Your work has advanced magnificently in the time you have been here!

It is because of people like you that highly experienced photographers enjoy sharing here.

[Otavio]

Here it goes (my 2 cents):

1 - Know your equipment

2 - Know how photography works: I mean the photographer must have a certain knowledge of the physics (optics specifically) involved. The direction of the source of light (and where you should be), the dynamic range, the shutter speed, amongst others, are important factors that need to be always in mind.

3 - Have an interesting subject/place to shoot: you usually wont get brilliant images inside your house (studio shots are an exception), even if you have the best equipment, you know how to use it and you know how photography works. Finding an interesting subject is crucial. In my opinion, photography is an adventure. I dont mean you have to go to wildlife environments all the time; it might be a village or a big city's downtown, but I do mean the photographer must go after the subject!

Cheers,

[f8andbethere]

1. Always get the best original capture you can. Never say, I'LL FIX IT IN PHOTOSHOP LATER.

2. When shooting something that will require a tripod, don't set it up until you have walked the area to find the best location, camera height and angle to your subject.

3. Use and trust your histogram.

[dubaiphil]

Just 3? Hmm


1 - Just because it's free, it doesn't mean you have to click click click without thinking

Many new DSLR users (myself included) would shoot through the equivalent 100's of rolls of film with their fantastic burst rates, just because they can. Slow things down, start with a creative thought or end goal, and work a scene from every conceivable angle to see what works and what doesn't during and after the fact. Then use the fact that it's free to your advantage by trying different settings, apertures, shutter speeds, again seeing what works and what doesn't. Then review, process and remember what works in your mind so that you can assess scenes more easily in the future.

2 - KISS - Keep It Simple, Stupid

Just because your camera has more processing power than Apollo 11 it doesn't mean that you have to master it all or even use it all. My camera has fantastic focus tracking but I never use it for what I shoot. Depending on what you shoot, use the technology to your advantage to make your life easier for you, streamline your workflow in the field, and help you to not miss the shot. Working through point 1 above will help you decide on your preferred settings over time and get your camera set up for how you need it 99% of the time. For example at the half press of the shutter button my camera can assess the frame, compare it to 1 billion (or something like that) scenes in its memory and meter based upon that. Most of the time it is right but if I try to manual meter I won't be far off either - however I may have missed the shot in doing so. I'm a Matrix kinda guy.

3 - AF On

So useful, so intuitive after a while. So alien to start with. Focus using your thumb instead of the shutter half press


And I'll throw in a freebie:

3b - Always, without fail, make sure you take the lens cap off before bringing the camera up to your eye in a social situation. You will otherwise always look like a fool! Even if you think there's no-one around, you will still check over your shoulder to make sure no-one has seen you.

[Mike Buckley]

I would like to correct Phil's last comment about what to do when you accidentally leave the lens cap on when taking a photo.

you will still check over your shoulder to make sure no-one has seen you.

Nope. Just leave the room. It saves you and everyone else the embarrassment of wondering what to say to you. Also pray that it's not a one-room apartment.

[dubaiphil]

We've all been there

And continue to be there!

[sarahgarnett]

1. Be prepared--Do your homework. Know your model. Know your location. Know your lighting. Know the variables that could affect ANYTHING. Give yourself plenty of time. Sketch out ideas.
2. Don't rush. When you start rushing yourself, you loose. You have to give yourself the space and time to achieve the exact circumstances for the shot you want to capture. Breathe.
3. Believe in your shot. Know what you want to achieve and how you're going to do it. Trust in your education and experience. Utilize everything. Be innovative. When something suddenly changes, improvise. Be flexible. YOU are the artist, and you can make anything or nothing happen. It's all up to you and how hard you are willing to work.

Sarah Garnett

www.sarahgarnett.com

[Brownbear]

Forgetting to remove my lens cap is something that I excel at...

I would like to correct Phil's last comment about what to do when you accidentally leave the lens cap on when taking a photo.



Nope. Just leave the room. It saves you and everyone else the embarrassment of wondering what to say to you. Also pray that it's not a one-room apartment.

[Mario Xavier]

A lot of encouraging tips in this thread. Thanks guys

I don't have much to share since I'm still an amateur and I know a month from now my top three lessons may change but here are my rookie top 3 lessons in effect for the past 4 weeks:

1. SLOW. DOWN. - There are hundreds of potentially great shots in any one setting. Stop trying to get them all. Wait for the one that's for me. It'll come. The more I rush the more mistakes I make.

2. Sin knowingly. Learn the rules then break the rules.

3. Use my phone. Use a disposable. Gimp myself. It's all about using what I have available. We've all seen people do some amazing things with limited resources. I think the challenges of limitations stir up the creativity to exceed them.