Words of Wisdom from Someone who Learned the Hard Way
Photography can be a really fun hobby, but for many, not knowing some simple "rules" and good investment principles leaves photography to be something of a myth that is to difficult to understand. Here are some basics I share with my kids that I wish someone would have shared with me when I first got started.
DREAM IT BIG, BUT PLAN THINGS OUT
Have big visions for what you want to photograph, but don't go into things without a plan OR way to set in stone. You need to have some kind of game plan ahead of time, but you also need to be flexible if things don't got exactly the way you plan it out. This was a mistake I've made a thousand times until I realized that I just need to relax and let the creative juices flow. Have a game plan FOR SURE, but be willing to work around your ideas if need be.
LEARN YOUR FOCUS POINTS
A lot of photographers only use the center focal point on their camera. While it may be easy to use one focal point and recompose the image, that's a bad habit to keep. Switch things up, sit down and take a look over your manual and learn how to use the rest of those camera focal points. You will likely get a much larger percentage of your shots in focus if you take the time to do this right.
TRIPODS - BUY THE RIGHT THING ONE TIME
Less is not more when it comes to tripods. I wish someone would have told me this a million years ago because I have gone through a ton of junky tripods I wish I would never have bought. Find something that costs a bit more money that has says any version of the following listed features: gimbal ball head, fluid head, 3-way tilt, carbon fiber legs, twist locks on the legs.
These are all indicators that what you're buying is really worth your money. Do some research and find and buy the right thing ONE TIME.
PHOTOGRAPHY IS ABOUT COMPOSITION & LIGHT
That's it. There's not a whole lot more to it. You have to decide how much and how long you want the light to play a role in your piece. Using things like a tripod can help alleviate the stress of using longer exposures and having blurry images that are disrupted by camera shake.
As far as composition goes ... take your time and think this one through. To me, that is the biggest difference between an ardent hobbyist and a professional. When you learn the basic principles of design and composition, the rest is a piece of cake. Take the time to learn the following: Elements of Art, Principles of Design, and the basic Photographic Composition Elements. When you have those concepts down, taking pictures becomes an art form.
MANUAL MODE IS YOUR FRIEND
Don't freak out using manual mode - it's actually really helpful. If you haven't used it before, turn it on and start shooting. See what happens! You'll figure things out. If you have the basics down when it comes to shutter speed, aperture and ISO then you need to start simple. What is a "must have" for your image? Need to freeze a subject stationary? Need a great depth of field? Select that first and then adjust the rest until you get what you are looking for. In the beginning, manual mode is all trial and error until you get things figured out.
