Photography How To Teach Yourself Photography

Jade · Mar 11, 2012

I'm re-posting this from an article I wrote on FringeFX... I know it's probably in the wrong section... Feel free to move it, but I will say I intentionally posted it here to garner more attention to photographers... Of course this applies to any art form, not just photography... And most of this applies to everyday life, and the application of common sense.

How To Teach Yourself Photography

advise from the self-taught

1. Choose Unwisely
The first question most beginners will ask is "what camera do I buy?"... The truth of it all is, in an artistic sense, your gear is irrelevant. Ideas can be captured by compact cameras, just as well as a semi-professional DSLR. Of course DSLRs have a few more advantages like shutter speed management, versatility in optics, and of course they just look cool to carry around. But if you want to start out simple, you don't need fancy equipment to take an image that gets a point across. Here are a few examples of some of my most favourite images, all taken with compact cameras.

I say "Choose Unwisely" because in my opinion, it's better to get into the mindset that, as a person photographing for artistic intent, that you, the creator must be more confident in your artistic vision, and less dependent on your equipment. A good DSLR body doesn't make a good photographer.

2. Observe and Learn
As you grow as a photographer, you're going to find photos that you like, and you dislike... The most important thing though, is to ask yourself why you like/dislike a photo. Do you like it because it has a good concept that you relate to? Or because it has colours you really like? Maybe you don't like it because the subject is posed awkwardly, or because their expression doesn't seem quite right in your eye. Asking yourself these questions will help you develop your own style. You're basically asking yourself what your personal preferences are.
After you observe these things, learn from them. Search engines are you best friends when you want to find free information. Maybe you like this photo because it's really clear and crisp... A simple phrase like "how to create crisp photos" typed in google can take you miles in your endeavours. Search through free resources. Deviantart.com for example has an insanely large library of free tutorials all at your disposal! All you need to do is search.

3. Find Your Inspiration
Observe your daily life. Find things that inspire you. Try not to just take inspirations from other photos, but broaden your horizons. There are so many things to be inspired by. Music, paintings, quotes, events in your life. What things have sentimental value to you? For myself, paintings and music are a huge impact on my photography. I like how they can be abstract, and leap over the obstacles that reality presents to us.

4. Inspired? Do it!
Have you gotten inspired? Then get up and do it. Perhaps you just saw this amazing photo with a dazzling effect, and you've just learned how to replicate that effect and you want to put your own spin on it. Don't wait till the next day, do it ASAP. You'll never learn if you never try.

5. Change and Adapt
If you're trying to take a photo, and something goes wrong, don't just keep taking photos. Stop. Take a breath, and look at your surroundings. What could you use, move, shift, or change to get the results you want? If you're unsatisfied with your results, you'll never get what you want unless you actually do it yourself. Is it your surroundings? Your camera settings? Perhaps the lens you're using isn't fast enough? Change what you're doing for different results.

6. Be Patient
Unless you're perfect, chances are you're not going to get the results you want right away. Trial, and error are an essential part of photography, and patience is needed in order to get that one perfect shot. It could take 1 minute. It could take 1 hour.

7. Question What You Read
Don't always trust what you read online or what others may tell you. We all can make a mistake, and may at times provide false information. Challenge the "facts" before you, and try to find them from credible sources. If many people or web pages say that there's distortion in wider angles, then that statement may very well be true. However if only one source of information says otherwise, challenge it. Present yourself with how many people say A over how many people say B.

8. Don't Take Everyone's Advise
This isn't to say not to take advise at all... This is kind of what I said before in 7, to question and challenge what you read. Know that everyone you ask for advise has a subjective view point. Some people prefer black and white photos, others prefer vivid colours. In that situation, there's no wrong or right. So if one person says "I love the colours" while another says "I want to see this in black and white" question yourself. Do YOU like black and white, or do you prefer coloured photos?
After you decide which advise you go with, be confident of your vision. Remember, you are the creator of your final image, no one else. Building your integrity as an artist, also means becoming an individual that forms his or her own opinions.

9. Use Logic
If you feel like you're doing something wrong, or you've followed some incorrect advise, use logic to evaluate your current situation. Common sense can take you further, not just in photography, but in life in general. Take what you know, not just from photography, but your collective memory of knowledge, and make a deduction of what you need to do in order to "logic" your way out of a situation. For example... When learning about aperture... Is it logical to say that "A bigger opening, will let in more light"?

10. Be Open To Change, But At Your Own Pace
As you grow as a photographer, the chances that your tastes will start to change is very likely. You'll suddenly prefer sharper images to softer ones, or prefer low-key to hi-key. Whatever this change may be, be sure that you're the one making it. Don't change your style because someone else said they hate sharper images, or low-key photos. Being your own individual comes first and foremost. Accept that you very well may change as a photographer, and accept this change at your own pace, by your own terms.
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Photography How To Teach Yourself Photography

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