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I Love Photography

The 100 Things I've Learned About Photography Challenge

By: TheTardyDodo
Written on March 17th, 2008

I have just read a very inspiring, thoughtful and experience based set of tips about photography.

It's a list of 100 things that one photographer has learned over the years, from the technical to the philosophical to the pragmatic; it's interesting to see that some things on the list are still a mystery to me, whereas others would have been a mystery only a few months ago; progress is the roll backing of ignorance and lack of understanding, perhaps?

The complete article, along with a handful of stunning images can be found here:

http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/100-things-ive-learned-about-photography/

by Martin Gommel

 

 

 

Some appetisers:

 

Never do photography to become a rock-star.

Always stay calm

Know that you tend to overestimate yourself

Don’t be afraid of getting dirty

Henri Cartier-Bresson was right when he said that “Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst.”

...

Check it out. And for those still beginning to understand the technical language of photography, I would say don't worry if you don't understand all of it. Learning anything from it at all is worthwhile, the author addresses quite a few hurdles that I've already experienced in the short time I've been shooting with purpose.

By: TheTardyDodo
Age: 31-35 , Male
2,173 people have read this story

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19 responses
  • jessesToons
    jessesToons

    Wow this was a really great post. Thank you so much for sharing this! I am impressed with how much some people know about photography Asbury park. I have been considering photography as a career but I don't think I'm experienced enough yet.

    Dec 6, 2012
    1 like
  • KiilluhKitten
    KiilluhKitten

    www.photo-extremist.com is also an amazing website. Evan is an amazing teacher.

    Feb 19, 2012
    1 like
  • ladyryan
    ladyryan

    Every tips needed for a start, everything that could be of help is all intact. Thank you for sharing.

    Jan 17, 2012
    1 like
  • OneDrLust
    OneDrLust

    Thank you for sharing this.....Photography is kinda therapeutic for me. I've recently moved from a Point&Shoot to a Semi-pro/prosumer Nikon.

    Jan 15, 2012
    1 like
  • Awakeforthedance
    Awakeforthedance

    Oh, this is priceless, love it - thanks!! ;) I was literally thinking of the things I have learned in my few years of doing this on an amateurish level and one was that I do tend to overestimate myself. Especially with the titles of the shots I create as I am taking them.... really deep and "profound" titles, right??? lol... LIke "Row of Pines." oooh... ahhhh... or "Knarly Tree".. wow.... or "Oaklined Path." lol I tend to think simple is best but also just SO "profound." Until I get home and start editing and see.. hmm.. it's just a row of trees. lol



    And, I also was thinking that I love the comments on my work, but I would do it even without people recognizing it. I just love the whole process. Everything becomes "amazing" and appreciated in life. To stop and really see things is what I enjoy the most. :)



    I enjoyed the rest of the list, too.



    For my own, I would add that sometimes it is okay to see the world as mere colors and shapes - helps one find the best composition faster. Even a shot that might not make sense can work when broken down to the basic colors and shapes. :)

    Jan 15, 2012
    1 like
  • wickey
    wickey

    Thanks so much for the link. Till I went halfway through it I thought I knew a hell of a lot, realized I knew Bu.... all at the end of it. Thanks again.

    Jan 15, 2012
    1 like
  • lafsnack
    lafsnack

    Ive just treated myself to a new Njkon digital firing off some shots at the port on my way home from the shop. Very excited about this and just wanna start uploading to a dedicated album in my profile. Hope others here do the same as i love seeing pics from EPers.

    Dec 22, 2011
    1 like
  • designinsight
    designinsight

    I am a beginner photographer and have had my camera for just under 10 months now and think I might be very close to the 10000 mark. There are loads of helpful sites on the internet that has made my experience so much easier. I joined the digital photography school site about 6 months ago and receive regular mails from them. I have won the photo of the week in our local newspaper and a pet photo competition in the the home magazine and am very proud of myself. I love trying different angles, so I am always getting dirty. I have a tripod and a macro lense on my wish list.

    Nov 28, 2011
    1 like
  • Poseidon32
    Poseidon32

    whitecpl



    Just remember its not just the gear your shooting with. I have seen guys take great pics with just a point and shoot. My D3000 isnt anywhere near a D90. I like all the features of the D90 but until I get decent or better with my D3000 I wont dump the money. on bigger gear.

    Mar 27, 2011
    1 like
  • Poseidon32
    Poseidon32

    whitecpl



    Just remember its not just the gear your shooting with. I have seen guys take great pics with just a point and shoot. My D3000 isnt anywhere near a D90. I like all the features of the D90 but until I get decent or better with my D3000 I wont dump the money. on bigger gear.

    Mar 27, 2011
    1 like
  • whitecpl
    whitecpl

    very encouraging! I am really wanting the D 90 Nikon... After reading this I should just get better first?

    May 31, 2010
    2 likes
  • furniture010
    furniture010

    Calling Cards

    http://www.cheap-callingcard.com/

    Feb 13, 2010
    1 like
  • xmanxxx666
    xmanxxx666

    good insight thanks

    Feb 8, 2010
    1 like
  • AYEZA
    AYEZA

    OH MY GOSH..!!! LOLZZ I LOVE PHOTAGRAPHY TOO.. WELL TO BE HONEST I LIKE TAKING PRICUTRES OF MY SELF OR EIATHER PEOPLE'S REACTIONS ON THIER FACES .. THATS THE ONLY THING IN PHOTAGRAPHY .. I AM GOOD IN...!!

    Jan 1, 2010
    1 like
  • TheTardyDodo
    TheTardyDodo

    It does make me wonder how well that saying translates into digital. If it's about prints that I would *develop*, I've probably only take ten or twenty photographs. :P



    I think that how quickly one reaches that figure has a lot to do with the subject matter though. Lately I've been shooting a lot of street-type photography, mainly 'finds' rather than scenes, which means I can go out every day of the week, to the same place, and find 200 frames.



    Because of that I'm probably at about 5000 images in just the past three months. Of the 5000 frames I've shot this year, I have maybe two good photographs and no remarkable ones. Ten good images? A couple of hundred ok shots? Most of the time I feel like I'm doing sketches for when I can control my technique better.



    I think what happens is that novice photographers like myself have to churn through a certain mass of images before they can learn to reject a shot because they can recognise that too many elements are wrong. (Although I think if one feels it, shoot it! is a good approach no matter what...)

    Mar 17, 2008
    1 like
  • WiseOldOwl
    WiseOldOwl

    10,000! I've just checked. 1800 since April 2002. That's 600 per year. I'll be leaning on the tripod when I get to 10 000.



    Out of 1800, only a handful of what I regard as remarkable.



    Thanks for the link, I'll check it out.

    Mar 17, 2008
    2 likes
  • Vaiolet
    Vaiolet

    Thank you so much for sharing *__*

    Mar 17, 2008
    1 like
  • TheTardyDodo
    TheTardyDodo

    The 'challenge aspect' comes with the 100th tip that he offers: write your own 100 things list!



    For some of us, I think that might be better phrased as 'start' your own 100 things list. Maybe once I hit the 10 000 photo mark!

    Mar 17, 2008
    1 like
  • mysplitpersonality
    mysplitpersonality

    I do love photography and apprecaite the tips... thank you

    Mar 17, 2008
    2 likes