I’m sure this post is likely to piss off a few people, but it needs to be said. Or at least I think it does. I’m seeing a lot of people posting about how they’re reading this photography book, or watching that photography video etc. etc. etc.
Then they want to know how to book weddings and magazines and ad campaigns with all of like two months to a year shooting.
I am reminded of the story of the kid who is lost in New York City and asks a street musician how to get to Carnegie Hall.
Close the books, turn off the computer. Pick up the camera, put it on manual and go out and take some fucking pictures.
Stop asking what’s the best camera, or the best lenses. The simple answer is. It’s what you have right now.
Master the tools you have then worry about the other tools. Trust me when I say you’re probably not ready for the cameras I have and use.
Dropping $80K on a Hasselblad H6D and lens is not going to magically turn you into a better photographer. (Yes I know a newbie who did that and his computer can’t handle 100 megapixel files)
Take your camera. Whichever one you’ve got because it’s irrelevant at this point in your career.
Play with the settings. Shoot one thing from the same position. I don’t care what it is. It can be a trash can, or a tire, whatever.
Start from the bottom of your settings and work your way up.
Start from the lowest ISO, aperture, and shutter speed and go from there. See how each setting change changes the look of the image.
Yes, I know it’s boring and not glamourous. But it’s a way to learn how your camera works.
How light affects your shot and how your camera affects your light.
Go out there and figure out how to use your shutter speed to make noon day sun look like nighttime.
It doesn’t matter if the photo comes out or not. Just so you learn what it does.
You will never ever become good if you don’t practice every single day. It takes YEARS to be good enough to book campaigns and the glamourous jobs.
And the only way to do that is to shoot your asses off. Hell these days it’s FREE so do it!
Practice! Practice! Practice!
That’s how you get to Carnegie Hall!
Nuff said from me. Any questions feel free to ask. I’ll be here all week.
