The Perfect Photograph
Doesn’t exist.
The perfect photograph doesn’t exist because perfection doesn’t exist.
Your best photographs are your best photographs, but are they perfect?
Perfection is a perception and since your perception changes so does your idea of perfection.
Don’t waste your time chasing perfection.
Spend your time becoming a better photographer so you can do the best work that you possibly can.
Become a better photographer.
Business Of Photography – Talent
Talent is not enough.
Not only do you need talent you need a good understanding of the business of photography and a strong work ethic.
Your talent is what distinguishes you from every other photographer out there.
A good understanding of the business of photography will help you make good decisions when it comes to pricing your time, services and photography.
A strong [...]
Why You Should Learn To Work Your Camera In Manual Mode
By working your camera in manual mode…
you’ll create thoughtfully composed photographs that will take your photography beyond point and shoot.
you’ll get a good understanding of the basics of photography.
you’ll become a better photographer
your pictures will come out the way you want them to.
you’ll rely on your mind, instead of a machine, to make your pictures.
I [...]
Deciding And Decisive
Until you press the shutter release to make an exposure you are a deciding photographer.
When you press the shutter release to make an exposure you are a decisive photographer.
If you are unsure of yourself and continue to make decisions, your pictures are produced from a place of uncertainty. Your work can become diluted if you [...]
Drawing Inspiration – George Tice
Drawing Inspiration – George Tice
Drawing Inspiration is a series of posts dedicated to photographers who have inspired me.
If possible, I’ve included a quote and a link to their work.
“As I progressed further with my project, it became obvious that it was really unimportant where I chose to photograph. The particular place simply provided an excuse [...]
Do You Remember?
Do you remember the first time you saw something photographic?
Do you remember the first time you wanted to make a photograph?
Do you remember WHY you wanted to make photographs?
If you forget anything, don’t forget why.
Members of the Monday Seniors bowling league competing at the Woodbridge Bowling Center, Woodbridge, New Jersey. The seniors meet every Monday [...]
Camera Centric Vs. Light Centric
When you start to learn photography you also start to learn how to work your camera.
You get caught up in learning how to use your camera to create a photograph.
You pay attention to camera operation and equipment
At this point you are camera centric.
While it’s important be camera centric for a period of time, there comes a time when being camera centric [...]
Make The Photograph Anyway
It seems that there are more reasons not to make pictures than to make them.
I didn’t make pictures because: it was too dark, it was raining, it was cloudy, it was the wrong time of day, I couldn’t find anything to photograph, I was uninspired, I didn’t have time, etc.
If you want to be a better photographer [...]
Do You Think Your Camera Takes Good Pictures?
If cameras took good pictures, wouldn’t they be good pictures all of the time?
Are You Ready For The Darkroom?
My personal experience in learning photography has led me to believe that, before you venture into the darkroom, it makes more sense to learn the basics of photography first so you could produce properly exposed negatives. Without properly exposed negatives you’ve got nothing, to work with in the darkroom.
Looking And Seeing
It’s disappointing to look for something and not find it. On the other hand it’s exhilarating to see something that you weren’t expecting.
Looking for something means that you have an expectation to find something specific. If you don’t find what you’re looking for you may be disappointed.
Seeing means that you became aware of something from observation. The specifics and expectations of [...]
What Are You Really Photographing?
Whether you are photograph people, landscapes, still lifes, or whatever else, you are photographing light.
Everything you see is a source of light.
The source of light is either an illuminating light source or a reflecting light source.
It’s important to pay attention to an illuminating light source because a reflective light source can not be seen without [...]
Some Thoughts On Shutter Speed
Shutter speed is a part of exposure.
You can set your shutter speed to vary the amount of light that falls onto your light sensitive material of choice.
Longer/slower shutter speed = more exposure = brighter picture
Shorter/faster shutter speed = less exposure = darker picture
Sometimes when I give a review during my photography classes, photographers get the shutter speeds [...]
Your Camera Doesn’t Know…
You’re camera isn’t smart nor does it take good pictures.
You on the other hand have intelligence and you have the ability to make good pictures.
Your camera also doesn’t know anything.
Among some of the things things your camera doesn’t know…
What you want your picture to look like.
What you are making a picture of.
What you want to focus [...]
Learn To Use Your Flash And Become A More Versatile Photographer
There’s no doubt about it. When I learned to use my flash unit thoughtfully and effectively as a compositional element in my pictures, I became a more versatile photographer and was able to confidently produce a wider range of work.
Learning how to use my flash not only added another skill to my craft as a photographer it also [...]
“I’m Worried That I’ll MissThe Picture”
That’s something I hear often during my Introduction To Photography class.
Here’s the truth. I miss a lot of pictures for a lot of reasons and I think other photographers who are honest will say the same thing.
I’m not sure when this happened, but I’ve come to accept that missing pictures is a part of being a [...]
Drawing Inspiration – Terry Richardson
Drawing Inspiration – Terry Richardson
Drawing Inspiration is a series of posts dedicated to photographers who have inspired me.
If possible, I’ve included a quote and a link to their work.
“ You can’t give your photograph soul with technique. I want my photos to be fresh and urgent. A good photograph should be a call to arms. It [...]
Are You Taking Pictures Or Making Pictures?
The words we choose are important and they can change your mind when it comes to your photography.
“I’ll Fix It In…”
If you’ve got to “fix” your picture in photo-editing software, you’ve made a mistake.
The Company You Keep
Who you spend your time with influences your aspirations and struggles.
The aspirations and the struggles lead to change.
The changes are what you eventually become.
You should spend your time with people who demonstrate the standards to which you aspire and who will support your struggles.
Keep this in mind when spending time with photographers too.
Wishing And Doing
Do you think about how great would be to be a better photographer, work in photography as your career, to have your dreams come true?
Waiting for dreams and wishes to come true can’t be relied on. You can rely on your actions and your efforts.
You can spend time dreaming and wishing or you can spend time taking concrete actions and [...]
Getting The Most Out Of Your Photography Class
If you take a photography class, it’s not enough to simply put in your time during the class.
A good photography class will give you information related to the class topic, but to have what you learn in the class sink in you’ve got to apply what you learned to your work outside of class.
If the [...]
If It’s Good Enough To Be Used, It’s Good Enough To Be Paid For
If you’ve been asked to do some work for someone and you’re not very confident in your skills, you might consider doing the work for free just to get some practical experience or some pictures for your portfolio.
If you want to work for free that’s your call.
Being paid for your time is only one part [...]
An Unmotivated Slacker
That was me last week.
My apologies for the lack of posts.
I don’t know if you can relate, but I just felt unmotivated.
I guess we all feel unmotivated from time to time
If you can relate, how do you handle feeling unmotivated?
