Reading mode: Light Dark

what bit of advice has stuck with you the most?

Go to last post
D

dc_tonk

Forum Enthusiast
Messages
430
Reaction score
303
Location
NOVA / DC / MD
It could be something you learned on your own or something you were taught - I’m interested in hearing what others thought was profound enough on your journey that it really resonated and has stuck with you along the way.

For me it was “your first ten thousand photographs suck”, and it is a reminder to practice the craft as much as possible (which means carrying a camera bag everywhere).

The natural corollary to this is “the next ten thousand aren’t so hot either”, which offers a reminder to shoot mindfully and try new things (lest the current batch look like the last).

What is/are yours?
 
This is in regard to wildlife photography as you should take a photo as soon as you see your subject and then fiddle to get it better. This is because you never know when your subject will depart

Morris
 
dc_tonk said:
It could be something you learned on your own or something you were taught - I’m interested in hearing what others thought was profound enough on your journey that it really resonated and has stuck with you along the way.

For me it was “your first ten thousand photographs suck”, and it is a reminder to practice the craft as much as possible (which means carrying a camera bag everywhere).

The natural corollary to this is “the next ten thousand aren’t so hot either”, which offers a reminder to shoot mindfully and try new things (lest the current batch look like the last).

What is/are yours?
Click to expand...
I like yours, and I'm going on 100,000 and most of them still suck, but I also learned something very early on I read in a book - can't remember which one.

A photograph is everything in the frame. Everything in the frame should be there. Everything that isn't should not.

The others are:

Edit your portfolio ruthlessly, and when you have finished, edit it again.

Not everything works as a photograph.

Find someone you admire and learn from them.
 
dc_tonk said:
It could be something you learned on your own or something you were taught - I’m interested in hearing what others thought was profound enough on your journey that it really resonated and has stuck with you along the way.

For me it was “your first ten thousand photographs suck”, and it is a reminder to practice the craft as much as possible (which means carrying a camera bag everywhere).

The natural corollary to this is “the next ten thousand aren’t so hot either”, which offers a reminder to shoot mindfully and try new things (lest the current batch look like the last).

What is/are yours?
Click to expand...
'if your photo dont look good, you are not close enough.'

be it wide or tele, i always get close to the subject. close not just in proximity, but also relational. i always make it a point to speak or smile to subject...unless animals....then a tele helps.

only dont apply this when shooting bears, lions, tiger other liked minded creatures who will see me as food.
 
The essence of one of my favorites is:

Photograph the unusual or photograph the usual doing the unusual.
 
dc_tonk said:
It could be something you learned on your own or something you were taught - I’m interested in hearing what others thought was profound enough on your journey that it really resonated and has stuck with you along the way.

For me it was “your first ten thousand photographs suck”, and it is a reminder to practice the craft as much as possible (which means carrying a camera bag everywhere).

The natural corollary to this is “the next ten thousand aren’t so hot either”, which offers a reminder to shoot mindfully and try new things (lest the current batch look like the last).

What is/are yours?
Click to expand...
Something I read in one of Richard Bach's books ("The Seagull" and others):

"get obsessed and stay obsessed"

He wasn't even referring to photography, for him it was flying. But it holds for any skill you really want to master, in my opinion.

What it means to me: carrying a camera 24/7, watching tons of videos about photography, reevaluating my own photos as critically as I can and getting as much feedback on them as I can, and enjoying the whole process :-)

N.

www.themusicalcamera.com
 
Fill the frame. Get close and tight if needed. "Empty space" is hard to make work well, especially for people photography.
 
A more experienced photographer told me when I was first starting out - "you don't photograph an object, you photograph the light from the object"
 
So much advice... mostly lost instantly in the moment of capture :)
I think buy cheap, buy twice is a good lesson to learn especially in regard to tripods.
 
Zoom with your feet.
 
I read somewhere (I wish I could remember where and who wrote it) in the 1970s,

"A camera is a tool, not a jewel."

Also the press photographers golden oldie,

"F8 and be there."
 
If the light/colour isn't interesting, but the shapes/textures are - then shoot in black and white. No colour is much better than boring colour.

It's by no means a hard and fast rule. But it's definitely something I think about when choosing what film simulation I'm going to use.

I've always loved black and white, so this "rule" is more about helping me see the times it's worth shooting in colour, rather than the reverse.
 
Last edited:
Never buy Fuji equipment when it is released.

Be happy if you can do one good photo per month instead of hundreds of average ones.

Less is often more (when done right). Less equipment, less "stuff" on the image, less postprocessing, ...

For street it is the same as for wildlife: shoot first, improve later. Subjects are gone within a second.

Do one thing right and finish it instead of starting a lot of neverending stories.

Doing is like wanting to do, only much, much better. So what am I doing here in this forum when the sun is shining outside??? :-)
 
From Joel Meyerovitz:

When you see something striking, dont think, but shoot. Follow your instinct.
 
“To me, photography is an art of observation. It’s about finding something interesting in an ordinary place…. I’ve found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them.” – Elliott Erwitt
 
The best camera you have is the one you have with you...it's why I switched to mirrorless and went back to my shooting roots on a smaller rangefinder style body.
 
Last edited:
Einstein said "Insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results." Independent critical evaluation is the best way to develop. Find someone to give an honest critique you work. That is one the most important tool in any photography class.

As far as a tip. Shot a lot more often with your mind's eye instead of your camera. Always be looking for lighting and a good composition - independent if you have your camera or not.
 
When very young I read an article where a photographer used an old Kodak box camera to shoot photos. His collection was amazing and demonstrated to me it was not the camera but the eye of the person using the camera that made great photos.
 
Both good points.

Another one:

Rules are not rules, but merely tools :)

Example: We can decide whether to use the tool of thirds, or not :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top