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Founder, WildTexas.com
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 1,524
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What aspect(s) of your photography are you looking to improve? If it's your composition, then the simple solution to that is to take so many photographs your hands start to hurt... and then, keep going. Composition is all about developing your own eye, your own way of seeing a person/place/thing and capturing that on film/digital media. The more you take photos, the more you'll develop that natural ability and learn what types of photography you're most drawn to (action, landscapes, portraits, photojournalism, etc.) If you find yourself reluctant to "waste" film, then buy (or better yet, borrow) a simple digital camera that gives you manual control of aperture & shutter speed (some even let you set the equivalent ISO speed, like our Canon D60 and Canon 10D cameras) and a media card, and enjoy the freedom of "unlimited" photos and instant gratification. "Wow, that didn't work at all! What happens to my photo if I try this?" and, instantly, you have your answer. Digital is a TREMENDOUS learning tool, in my book.
If you're getting photos back from the photo lab that are nothing like what you saw in your minds eye, first make sure the lab or a bad batch of film aren't the culprit. Then, start paying close attention to how you set up and take each photograph. Are you hand-holding a long lens that requires stabilization (either in-the-lens, or via a tripod)? Are you fighting the minimum focusing distance of your camera, resulting in blurred close-ups (flowers, insects, etc. -- "macro" subjects). Are you using an under-powered flash indoors, or not operating it optimally resulting in blown out images (and "burned out" eyes, if you're photographing people!) There are MANY things that could be standing between you and that perfect photograph.
Personally, my weakness lies in the latter camp -- the "if only I'd have gotten the camera to take the photo I saw in my mind's eye!" I am always striving to hone my technical know-how regarding photography, so I (one day) innately know what a good aperture or shutter speed would be to use on any given subject, for example the difference between taking a photo of an airborne plane with a spinning propeller versus taking a serene photo of a waterfall, blurring the waters into a liquid quilt of white. Those are two extremes, but there are literally millions of potential subjects between the two! Each photo I take is part of the grand experiment and exploration that is photography.
It's work, but it's fun and immensely satisfying when all the elements (you, your subject, your equipment and photographic know-how, weather and lighting) come together to form that perfect photograph.
PS: I do agree, in spirit, with the "it's not the gear, it's the photographer that makes great photographs" belief. However, the corollary is there simply are certain types of equipment that are better suited to certain types of photography. There's a reason professional sports and wildlife photographers use insanely long, professional, image-stabilized lenses (or lenses on expensive tripods). Does it mean someone with "lesser" (more affordable) equipment can't take an award-winning shot? Absolutely not...
but it does put the photographer near or sometimes "in" the action, able to get an amazing shot that might only exist for a split second before the athlete or wildlife sprints/bounds off. It provides OPPORTUNITY and ADVANTAGE, but it's still up to the photographer's skills and abilities to actually make that shot WORK.
Similarly, folks who splurge on the latest high-tech, whiz bang equipment can sometimes find it so daunting to use they never really "play" with it and become familiar with its use. Now, instead of gaining an advantage with expensive equipment, they've actually put themselves on the losing end.
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- Shannon Moore
Your Host @ WildTexas.com
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