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Amongst the quandary of frequent equipment releases, the paradox of format and brand choices, and the complexity of modern cameras, we photographers strive to make good pictures. Above all, we desire to be happy -- and creative -- in our craft, whether we are new hobbyists or seasoned professionals.
Apart from pondering and accumulating equipment, photography "
is about the art, application and practice of creating durable images by recording light..."*
So, how do we find happiness in the art, application, and practice of photography?
How do we maintain a perspective that encourages us to return to the shutter button time and again?
What habits do we follow that lead to enjoyment?
Here are a few things that I think can foster 'happy photography':
- Be more concerned with place, light, and composition, and less about gear.
- Know our equipment, and make the best use of what we have at the moment.
- Make an effort to shoot often.
- Look for subjects that match our interests, and be passionate about them.
- Be critical of our images, but not too critical that we fail to notice the good ones. Consider positive criticism from others, and acknowledge compliments.
- Accept that not every photograph will be worth keeping.
- Improve our skills through sharing, learning and practice.
- Show our pictures to others.
- Print some of our best works.
- Travel lightly with camera gear.
Are you a happy photographer? What are your tips?
If you're a professional, what brings you enjoyment while running your business?
*
Photography - Wikipedia
- Craig
EDIT No. 1
Thanks to everybody who contributed thoughts to this subject. I've attempted to gather your 'tips' into this first post, for ready reference. For consistency and flow, I've taken the liberty of making some editorial changes and generalizing in parts, hopefully without changing the intent and spirit of your ideas. If I've mangled your stuff or missed your point, please let me know by PM.
EDIT No. 2
Updated to capture the latest comments and ideas.
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From the Members of Pentax Forums Habits of the Happy Pentaxian Photographer Equipment and Photography
Although acquiring and accumulating equipment is not photography
per se, gear is, of course, essential to the photographic process. Hence, here are some thoughts on how the photographer can be served well by their equipment.
- A new camera or lens can give excitement and encouragement to get out to take pictures, especially if one has had a dry spell.
- Settle on kit before you buy; once it's bought, quit shopping.
- Become familiar with all key aspects of your camera's operation - metering; autofocus (AF) modes, areas, and points; bracketing; timers; and any special features.
- Getting enough technical knowledge of your camera will bring confidence to decide the right settings to control the photographic process. A feeling of achievement comes when you're not stumbling across good photos only by trial and error.
- Learn how autofocus works, and understand what makes a good target for the AF system (pointing at just any old thing isn't sufficient, and is the cause of much unnecessary frustration for some).
- Take good care of your equipment - clean it properly, carry it securely, and store it well. Use it but try not to abuse it, and don't worry if it picks up a few scars along the way.
- Where equipment failure, damage and loss is concerned, roll with the punches -- it's just stuff. Try to not let it get you down, frustrated or angry; it's just not worth it.
- Cameras with missing functionality can still bring enjoyment. A broken light meter, for example, can be replaced by a smartphone app or basic exposure rules, while working at a fixed shutter speed or aperture doesn't defeat the creative photographer.
- Do not allow you or your photography to be defined or limited by your equipment. While exploiting the strengths of your gear, resolve to overcome any limitations with learned techniques. Better kit will not make a better photographer.
- Making the most of the gear that you have is more important than having the best gear.
Enjoying the Photographic Process
- Take joy in the process of capturing an image -- sometimes it's more rewarding than the image itself.
- Take photos, every day.
- If a lack of time precludes taking pictures every day, strive to use your camera at least once a week.
- Some photographers will shoot for a month with nothing more than a simple camera, perhaps a Spotmatic with Takumar lenses, or a later model film camera. The experience may yield nothing but pure photographic joy, not having to worry about anything but how to shoot a scene in the intended manner.
- Compared to digital exposures, shooting with relatively expensive film can instill a special discipline that brings rewards and satisfaction.
- Sometimes loading a film feels like the start of a ceremony; snapping the back shut feels like the starting gun for a new adventure.
- Make small prints of your latest photos and put them in a visible spot, say, in your kitchen. Seeing them every day will brighten your life.
- Photography may be used as a simple reason to go for a pleasant walk or hike, to visit a different location, or as a means to chill out a bit.
- Take joy in the photographic journey, not just the destination. If the goal of a trip is to count how many keeper images you achieve, it can steal the joy away from the whole experience.
- Focus on the people you are with and the relationships that you are developing, see the beauty in the world around, and stop for a moment and use all of your senses to take in the smells and the sounds of the place where you are. Those are the sorts of things that can't be captured with a camera, but they will stick with you long after you are back from your photographic excursion.
- If you have kids or grandkids, taking them on excursions lets you see the world through younger eyes and gives you models to capture doing things you wouldn't dream of doing otherwise.
- Have a purpose - think about each shot before you take it. Consider the story or message, lighting, composition, your creative intent and how you will achieve it.
- Taking photos when you
want to can bring more enjoyment than if you feel you
need to.
- Work out what can be achieved in the present moment rather than feeling pressure to capture the 'perfect' image.
- Enjoy the friendship that comes with discussing your photos with another photographer.
- Know when to leave your equipment at home, because some experiences are better when you're simply enjoying the moment and not worrying about your gear or deeply engaged in photography.
Photo Outings and Projects
- Planning and preparing carefully for a photo outing can help to get the maximum enjoyment from being in a wonderful location, whether it's a park or preserve, a zoo, or just out in the country somewhere.
- If you're not feeling inspired during your photo outing, allow yourself to relax and just enjoy the environment. Sometimes, you'll 'see' something unexpected.
- Pick a day to go to a location and see what you can photograph.
- Enjoy the challenge of planning and preparing what equipment to take based on the possible subjects and the weather.
- Explore and 'work' your subjects, and remember that if the photo outing doesn't work out as planned, the location may be revisited another time.
- Take part in a '
single-in challenge' here at Pentax Forums. Using the same lens exclusively to make pictures every day can help a photographer learn the use of their equipment and stimulate the photographic eye.
- Use the start of a photo outing or session to practice 'warm up' exercises. A few bad pictures might be made before getting into the creative zone and taking good ones. Fortunately with digital, the bad shots cost nothing.
Foundations of Photography
Learning the foundations can help a photographer to prevent or overcome frustration and disappointment.
- The photographer should make an effort to study and learn:
- The different types of light, and how to use them
- Exposure and the relationship between sensitivity, aperture and shutter speed
- Depth of field, its implications and uses
- Basic compositional techniques
- How to hold the camera and lens correctly
- Shooting in (M)anual mode (You don't have to use it all the time, but it gives ultimate control and helps reinforce understanding of the exposure triangle)
- Shooting in Av, Tv, TAv and P modes, and when to use them. However, try not to depend on them solely, such that you're unable to switch to M and fully control the camera when needed.
- The photographer may develop their skills and satisfaction more quickly by concentrating on a photographic genre, such as portaiture, wildlife, macro, or whatever.
- Review all your photos and learn from them: Every photo, good or bad, is an opportunity to analyse and discover what you did right or wrong; no photo is wasted.
- To gain the most from one's digital images, shoot in RAW image format, or JPEG + RAW; sooner or later, you'll be glad you did. Learn to use at least the basic features of a RAW development tool such as PDCU, Lightroom, Darktable, or RawTherapee, amongst others.
Last edited by c.a.m; 12-28-2019 at 09:20 AM.
Reason: Compile more contributors' comments and ideas