KNOW YOUR KIT
Being familiar with your camera and lenses makes all the difference
Successful photography in this digital age generally requires a fusion of technical knowledge and artistic vision. If you get this crucial balance wrong, the results are likely to be disappointing.
Technical prowess is clearly important, as the latest digital cameras are so complicated – if you don’t know how to use your camera, how can you hope to take decent photographs with it? Editing software, such as Adobe Photoshop, can also be quite daunting. But if you place too much focus on the technical side of photography, the creative can suffer, resulting in images that are technically perfect, but creatively dull. You can spend as much time as you like planning a shot, waiting for the light, using the highest-resolution cameras and sharpest lenses, and then sit at your computer for hours playing with layers and luminosity masks – but that doesn’t mean the final image will be interesting.
In complete contrast, there are photographers out there who know virtually nothing about the technical side of the craft, use basic equipment, have never owned a tripod, don’t even know what an ND grad is, yet produce the most stunning creative work. Ideally, you should find a balance between these two aspects, so you can produce images that are technically of a high standard but also creative and inspiring. Try to adopt a more casual, spontaneous approach to photography. Use technology to free up your brain so you can follow your instincts and respond quickly to opportunities, rather than tie you down so you’re creatively restrained.
Don’t over-think before taking your photographs either – adopt a ‘shoot now, think later’ attitude. This freestyle approach can yield great rewards, especially when fleeting photo opportunities present themselves.
Being spontaneous also means being more open-minded about the subjects you shoot and the techniques you employ. Experimentation is vital to creative development. If you stick to the same old, year-in, year-out, eventually you’ll become stale and uninspired and your photographs will reflect this. By trying something new, taking creative risks and being prepared to fail, you’ll keep the passion alive and produce better work at the same time.