Now that the New Year is upon us, and our will-power is at an all-time high, it is appropriate to recommend a few suggestions that might improve our photographic skills this year. Here is a collection of resolutions that make sense to me and I hope you find them useful as well.
1) Set goals for yourself: The best way to get things done is to have a plan. A good place to start is to write down a list of things you want to accomplish for the year. Examples might be to plan to purchase a new lens; learn how to take portraits or do HDR; organize your images on your hard drive; or travel to a highly photogenic location. Review your list often and revise it when necessary. Check off each item when you finish it, then move on to the next. Be diligent and stick to your plan and you will be amazed what you can accomplish. Go find that pencil and paper!
2) Know your gear well and master the equipment you already own: Let’s face it, today’s cameras are sophisticated optical and electronic devices. In order to get the most from your camera you will want to understand its functions. Start by reading the manual with camera in hand and practice with each button, control or menu item. You can also search the internet, watch YouTube videos, consider trying a training video subscription such as Lynda.com for a few months, buy a field guide for your camera if one is available, or take a photography course or workshop. (A number of workshops, given by friends of NVPS, are listed in the monthly Fotofax newsletter.) Fortunately, today we have lots of great tools within easy reach to learn about our gear. Understand and take control of your equipment.
3) Learn something new: If you are an artsy person, learn something technical like image software, off-camera lighting, or a post-processing technique. If you are a techie, learn something about art, visual design, composition and what makes a compelling image. You may even take an art class. Make a conscious effort to change the way you do things. For example – if you always show your work in color, then try processing to black and white, or vice versa. Instead of polishing something you already know, work harder on an area where you might be lacking. Learn to make your own prints or create a photo website. If you are stuck in a rut, learning a new technique will help you get out of it. If you are used to shooting in “Auto” mode, move to manual or aperture priority mode. And if you process your images in JPEG, consider switching to RAW capture. (You throw away about one-third of the image information when you save your images in JPEG.) The point is that there will always be something new to learn.
4) Get out and take more pictures: One thing is true, the more pictures you take, the more winners/keepers you will have. Carry your camera with you when you go out and be ready to capture that rare moment. Train your eye to see like an artist and always look for interesting subjects or compositions to shoot. Look for bright colors, people with character, or something unusual or different. Get in close. This usually makes for a better photo. Also, plan to get up early to catch the best light. Don’t shy away from bad weather or cloudy days, sometimes these conditions will surprisingly give the best results. Take more field trips, or weekend getaways with a change of scenery. Create opportunities to take more pictures of interesting subjects. Travel if you can, but also take advantage of free local stuff like parks, zoos and street shooting. Good photo ops can be found almost anywhere.
5) Network – associate with other photographers: Make an effort this year to collaborate with others who share your passion for photography. Go on photo shoots with a friend or group; take field trips with your club; talk to others about photo opportunities or nearby locations, gear choices and techniques. Ask other photographers (and non-photographers, too) to critique your work. Learn from others while giving back some of your own experience. Come to meetings regularly, participate and be sociable. The paybacks will be great, your skill will improve and you might even make a few new friends. It’s a win-win!
6) Find inspiration: The easiest way to get inspired is to look at the work of other good (or great) photographers. These might be the published works of classic and well-known artists, or even the images of people in the local photo club. Today, great photos can be found in many places and there are talented artists all around us. When you find a picture that moves you, ask yourself “what is it that you like about the image?” Is it the colors, lighting, the composition, clarity, people’s expressions, location or something nostalgic? Once you can identify the pleasing characteristics, try to duplicate the effect with your own equipment. It will never be exact but you may come close or come up with something even better or more unique than the original. The internet is ripe with great photo sites. For example, see photo.net, 500px.com or even the NVPS photo gallery (on the NVPS website).
7) Show and share your work: Get your images off the hard drive or out of the closet and get them seen. Whether this is on the Internet, hanging in a gallery, printed and hung on the wall, sitting on the coffee table in a photobook, or published in a magazine, doesn’t really matter. Get your work out there for people to see and remember to always show your very best work.
8) Practice, experiment and have fun: Like anything else, the more you practice the better your skills become. Be creative and push the envelope. Experiment. Use a tripod when trying to get the sharpest image possible. Thanks to the digital age, there is no appreciable cost for taking many pictures, so go for it. Nothing is worse than finding a great subject, but later realizing that the one shot you took was out of focus. Take many shots, and keep just the best one. Photography should be an enjoyable experience. Don’t get bogged down carrying too much equipment. Travel light but don’t forget to pack essentials like memory cards, filters and batteries. Have fun and have a great year.
Happy New Year to all NVPS members and here’s wishing that 2014 is your most productive year yet!
Mike Whalen