The photographic community is everywhere. The social media is making it very easy to share your photo’s, even if they are not very good.  Every one wants to learn photography and the camera companies are selling a record number of new cameras each year.  So what is the best way to learn photography?
There are workshops all over the place, and many pros that I know are giving or hosting workshops to help people learn how to be a better photographer. Â There is an abundance of books available, and the internet offers hundreds if not thousands of informative blogs to help people to grow in knowledge and be a better photographer. So what is the answer? Â Do you spend thousands of dollars on workshops? Â Do you spend the next 6 months reading books on photography to help you better understand how to see better and then how to shoot better?
I don’t think there is an easy answer to the question, but I think there is an answer that will help to guide you in the process of learning to be a better photographer. Â A workshop is usually a wonderful creative time of sharing and learning. Â It is usually fairly expensive and usually fairly intensive in the information given to the attendee. So if you learn this way: in other words through the shotgun approach, then this might be for you. Â It is always wonderful to sit at the feet of great pro shooters and listen as they expound on the wealth of information that they have gathered during their time as a pro. If you can attend a workshop, then by all means go for it and be ready and open to absorb a lot of information. I enjoy workshops because of the wonderful creative energy that is found during a good workshop. I find this same energy from the college students that I often work with. Â The workshop will most likely will be a great experience, but… what happens after the workshop?
Just as anything else in life, it takes time and effort to be good at anything. Â How many times have I heard the phrase, “I just don’t have time to read that big manual that came with my camera!” Well, there are workshops that will give you verbally the information in that manual, if that is the way you assimilate knowledge better. Paying someone $150 per hour to explain a camera manual is not a great investment in my mind, but that is the way my “scotch” mind works. Â And then, what happens after the workshop is finished, and the manual has been explained?
I am not one that gets real wordy. Â I get really frustrated with authors who take 4 pages to explain what could be done in a couple of paragraphs. Â So the simple and basic answer to the question is: Go out and shoot. Â Shoot a lot. Â Shoot a whole lot. Â Then look at what you shot, and learn from your mistakes. And believe me, there will be mistakes. Look at them as learning exercises…not mistakes. Then go out and shoot some more. Hands on shooting is always the best way to learn photography.
The digital cameras in this day and age are amazing, but until you start doing the thinking and “stop letting your camera do the thinking for you”,  you will not advance and become a better photographer.  Here is a small list of things to do, to learn, and to help you develop into a better photographer.
1. Take your camera off of auto, shoot on manual, and read your camera manual. Yes, read your manual. Mark the pages that say things that you might want to go back and review. Understand how to use your camera. Know what each button does. Then practice what you have learned. The camera is just a tool of expression. Try to have a vision of what you want this “tool” to do.
2. Shoot often and learn from your mistakes. They are really not mistakes; they are just learning experiences. Learn the relationship between shutter speed and f-stop. Â What do they do and how do they affect your image?
3. Look at what other photographers are doing, and try to take pictures similar to what they are shooting. Learn by seeing what others are doing with “their tools”.
4. Push yourself. Â Give yourself assignments. Challenge yourself. Try to push your creativity and knowledge of photographic techniques. Today shoot flowers. Tomorrow shoot interesting faces.
4a.Try high-key lighting and low-key lighting. Â Learn to use a tripod and shoot night shots with long exposures. Learn to see light and the way it turns an image from “ho hum” to one that is great!
5. Don’t take all your pictures standing up from eye level. Â Sit down. Lay down. If you are shooting children, get down on their level. Lay down on your back and shoot up at trees.
6. Look for beauty and the unusual.They are actually everywhere. Learn to see and express what you see digitally. Â There is a difference between a snapshot and a well-composed photograph. Â Learn to think before you press the shutter button.
7. Learn different techniques like HDR and off camera flash, then experiment often with these techniques. (HDR is incredibly fun, but don’t over do it. Great images shouldn’t look like they are on drugs. Understand that the post-processing is what really makes the shot.)
8. Chase the light. Â Get up early for the magic light. Â The light usually sucks at noon. Late afternoon shadows are wonderful. Â If you see a snow shot that you like, it probably has long shadows as part of what makes it an interesting shot. Learn to see light and shadows and how they affect the image….in a good way or in a bad way.
9. Take lots of pictures of family and friends. Â Take your time with them and try to think creatively. Don’t just shoot to shoot…. but shoot to create.
10. Most of all have fun with your photography and remember……..Shoot often and shoot a lot.  It won’t happen overnight, but it will happen if you are consistent……. SHOOT AND LEARN!
But what if you have an amazing dad whose been a photographer your whole life and he answers all your questions? Should I still read the manual??? I know the answer and of course I should. It’s what you’ve been telling me my whole life! I look at it occasionally but I do usually call you first. Maybe I need to take your advice and read my manuals. But, you’re such a good teacher. Anyway, I love you and there are so many people that will learn so much from this blog.
Love ya Daddy!
Shhhh. If your brothers found out how much I spoiled you I would never hear the end of it. I know you don’t like to read the manual because it is so much easier to call me and ask. Well, actually, it is kind of nice to hear from you and help when I can. Thanks for the sweet words. I am constantly amazed at how great a photographer you have become. And only part because of me. Love you punkin.
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