How to be a great photographer?

Question

I took 2 lessons, basic and intermediate class photography which I have learnt about panning, open flash, first and second curtain, zooming, blurring, one third, night scene,mix lightingand siluet.Do you think I need to take an advance class or just take field trip workshop?Or just practise taking a lot of pictures by myself? Thank you for your help

Answer 1

I've been involved in photography for well over 44 years, and I can assure you that every time I go out I learn something new; that's part of the allure that keeps me involved in photography, the fact that I'm always learning.

Believe it or not, the pros that I know still attend seminars and take classes to stay on top of their game; they learned a long time ago that the more you know, the greater your earning potential. There must be some truth to that since they're also very successful in what they do.

But, let me tell you a brief anecdote. Life is indeed very strange. Many years ago, I met a Viet Nam Vet who had dropped out of HS, but he got his GED in the service. I met him as a lifeguard, and as a fellow student at a community college but he had gone into the military where he became a medic and had been decorated for bravery several times over. What few people knew about this quiet, humble, friendly and unassuming fellow was that he was a two-time Armed Services Heavyweight Champion in Full-Contact Martial Arts, in addition to being a marksman with long arms as well as hand-weapons! He went to a community college and later became a registered nurse. He worked and went to medical school where he also graduated with full honors, and became a doctor. Imagine the passion this young man had to become not only a doctor but Surgeon General of the USA, Dr. Richard Carmona, after dropping out of High School, and serving in Viet Nam! What does this have to do with photography? ONE and only one thing: if you have the PASSION to persevere and overcome all the obstacles life will throw your way you,too, will experience the success and triumphs Richard Carmona experienced! Nothing came easy for him; he WORKED harder than anyone around him, and he persevered and overcame all obstacles that came his way... and YOU can do it, too.

All the skills and talents alone will not get you anywhere unless you have the PASSION to want to succeed in spite of the obstacles and occasional failures that will surely come your way. Use those experiences as challenges to learn, otherwise you'll have wasted a valuable lesson in life.

I propose that you make all the necessary sacrifices and be willing to go the "extra mile" to achieve excellence; read, study and keep that desire to learn burning inside you, and you, too will success and be as great as your skills, talents and passion inside you! Never settle for mediocrity if you wish to be great at anything... or you'll have to live with the ever-nagging and woeful regret, "I could have... I might have... I should have... I would have..." for the rest of you life, and the rest of your life is a very long time to carry such regrets!

Yes, study and take all the classes that come your way and stay up to date with the latest information, technology and equipment BUT do not neglect your academic skills because these will be the skills and talents that will give you the extra edge over those you will be competing with in the real world of photography! And above all else, take photographs and get all the experience you can.

Ask a recognized professional photographer if you can do an apprenticeship with him/her, and learn all you can on running a business; being a professional is the same as running a business... dealing with overhead, employees, equipment, taxes, etc; some great photographers, very talented and skilled, have failed because of their lack of business sense and poor academic skills that they might've used to read and understand contracts or have poor communications skills and lost high paying assignments.

Remember, that in taking classes, you will not only stay current with trends and new developments in the field but you will not waste so much time with trial and error and you will not continue to repeat mistakes (someone with surely point out mistkes and help guide you to correcting them).

Someday, you may want to write a book or give a lecture or teach a class... your communications skills will determine how you present yourself and may also have a great deal to do with the potential of success you will experience. Don't stop learning, and don't neglect your academic skills!

Good luck and very best wishes.

Answer 2

You have to learn on the most part on your own. Take pictures of door knobs and fences WITHOUT using zoom or touching the subject. This will force you to compose your shot and use exposure. I do not think its really worth the effort to go to a class since they will all basically tell you the same thing just in different words. I learned from a book and practice. Pay $20 for a book and your set for a long time.

Good practices:
Use a prime lens. You must move to your subject or away from it. Zoom is for weak people (only when your learning)

B&W shots- If you have an old film camera, use black and white film. Of course old film cameras are now $200, which is pretty expensive so if you dont have the money dont do it but its great practice. Take B&W film and take pictures and this will teach you have to compose your shots with great contrast.

Panning just takes practice so on a street just camp out and take pictures of cars driving by, bewared police can take away your camera if they see you lottering around.

Night Scene really takes no practice, its a trick. Always use a tripod at night. Well you should always use a tripod no matter what but its too much of a hassle for ametuers to drag one out.

Practice Practice Practice

Answer 3

I think you are well equip now to go to the field to take some shots. It will reinforce what you have learn so far and prepare you more for your advance course. If you do not practise on what you have learn then the advance course might be just abit too fast and too difficult for you to fully appreciate. There is no formula to take a good picture, experience counts alot.You will learn alot faster by going out and take those shoot while keeping in mind what you have learn and trying it out. It cost nothing if you are on digital.Try practising framing and lighting on your Macro. Take panning shots of cars, human, cyclist moving at different speed to gain the experience of taking shots under different speed and lighting to create different mood for that shoot. Long exposure night shot and tones of others.
After getting the hang of things then go for the next level. With some photography experience now, you will be able to relate more to the lesson being taught, and improving on all those technique.

Answer 4

I've been a photographer for close to 40 years, and one thing I learned is you can never learn too much. Different teachers have different ideas, they also have their own methods. Never stop learning. The day you think you know it all, is the day you quit learning. I took a beginners basic photography class 5 years ago, I could have taught the class, I went just to refresh my memory. And it was a blast. Met new people, learned things I had forgotten. One important thing to do is read your cameras instruction book several times a year. Just doing that will help with your learning. Good luck

Answer 5

I think you need to teach yourself the advanced techniques and develop your own along the way. Buy a book and practice what it preaches... then buy another book and do the same. Keep this practice your whole career. The first book you should read is the owner's manual.

beaux

Answer 6

You can learn at this site: http://www.net-art.it/photomonitor/enter.html
It's a large directory of tutorials on photography.
Then, you must practise.

Answer 7

Just never say "Wait until the light goes on"

Answer 8

The key thing is : Focus well! Stay focussed on your aim!