Experiencing the Joy of Photography
Recently a colleague's teenage daughter got her first DSLR and fell in love with photography. She was full of questions and, according to her mom, she has been taking photos non stop. I was happy to share tips, and enjoyed looking at her photos. They made me smile. It brought back memories of my first encounter with photography eight years ago, and the joy that I experienced when
I went out Camera Walking. The photo below is one of my earlier images that I took with my Canon Powershot G10. I was lucky to capture the seagull when I took the shot.
I continue to love photography, but at times keeping that initial excitement alive takes effort. For me at the core it is all about learning and experimenting. When I get bored and am not happy with my photos, it usually means that I am not engaging and finding new ways to challenge myself. Since this young person is just starting out, I decided to find out what other photographers had to say about how to keep learning and growing. I ran across an article in Feature Shoot that provided some very helpful tips, some of which I will highlight here.
"Keep shooting, keep thinking, and keep making mistakes." Laura Pannack
Taking photos everyday, often of the same subject, but from different perspectives, can really help you learn. Take the shot and then ask yourself what caught your attention and why. This will help develop your eye. The photos below are of a bridge in La Conner, Washington that Michelle's father designed many years ago. He won his battle to have this bridge painted red/orange. All other bridges in Washington State are green! Michelle and I had fun taking photos of the bridge and sharing them with her father.
"Look, and then look again." Jasper White
Find what speaks to you and to stay open. When I am out Camera Walking I am always looking for an interesting subject, something that appeals to me and makes me smile. Unless you are doing client work, your photography should be about what pleases you. As Diane Arbus once said, “Taking pictures is like tiptoeing into the kitchen late at night and stealing Oreo cookies.” That says it all.
"Always look for inspiration." Nancy Borowick
Look at other photographers' work. There are so many places online to see great images and stories created by photographers of all ages. Go to the library or to an art museum for inspiration. Nancy suggests that challenging yourself is a way to get ideas. For example, if you are not comfortable with one form of photography, such as street photography, force yourself to go out and take photos. I am not as comfortable taking photos of people I do not know, but I love it when I get one that captures the moment, such as this young girl I came across on a walk.
"I think the more interested you are in your surroundings, the more interesting your images will be." Diana Markosian
Diana, like many professionals, did not have a formal education in photography. Many are self taught, shooting as many photos as possible, learning from experts, and subsequently finding their own voice in their photos. Participating in workshops, either the ones offered by your local camera shop or by a professional photographer, is a great way to develop your skills. I have learned so much from workshops and watching online courses. They are an investment in you and your art.
Finally, the most important advice is to have fun. Take many photos, experiment, and let the artist within you emerge. This will keep the joy of photography alive for years to come.
I hope that these tips will inspire new and seasoned photographers alike to go out Camera Walking to experience the joy of photography. We love to hear from you, so please comment below, post on our Facebook page, or send us an email. Let us know how you keep your joy of photography alive.
