Photography Opinions That Changed
I always believe that a sign of progression and growth is the ability to change your opinion based on new facts, new experiences or simply maturing. This applies to life but to photography as well, so in this blog I will share some photography opinions I used to have at the start of my journey, that I no longer hold.
Every Photo Must Be a Masterpiece
I used to believe that unless the photo I was about to take was well thought out, planned, and correctly executed, there was no point taking it at all. I wouldn’t take photos for the fun of it and certainly wouldn’t document or shoot based on instinct. If the photo didn’t have a chance to be an award winning banger, I didn’t bother. Today my approach couldn’t be any more different as most of my shots are simple snapshots for memories or because the scene looked nice. It doesn’t matter if the shot will never be seen by anyone other than myself, what matters is that I was having fun and documenting my life with a camera. Funny enough, once my approach changed, the number of these 5 star bangers also increased.
Every Photo Must Tell a Story
To piggy back on the first point, I used to believe that the only way to have a good photo was to have one that tells a story, however you define it. If the photo was of a simple cutlery set on a table in great light, I wouldn’t even look twice at it. Today I believe there is room for all kinds of photography, be it story driven shots that tug at your emotions and simple aesthetic snapshots. They both compliment each other and scratch a different creative itch.
A Good Photo Has Good Image Quality
I used to believe that if a photo had some technical drawbacks such as slightly out of focus subject, poor sharpness and other artefacts then it would render that photo bad regardless of the subject matter or the image itself. Of course now I firmly believe that a quality image and image quality are two different things. You can have a perfectly exposed, pin sharp and technically perfect photo that is boring to look at. Equally you can have a photo that’s slightly out of focus, perhaps has a little camera shake and a bunch of other imperfections yet it will have you glued to it. A quality image and image quality are two separate things.
Photowalks Need Music
You would seldom find me out shooting without my headphones and I would even argue that listening to music or an audio book can help you get in the zone. Today my opinion is slightly different but I wouldn’t say it’s the total opposite either. Audio books are a definite no these days because they are totally distracting and stop you from paying attention. Music on the other hand can help however I found that more often than not, being able to listen clearly to your surroundings is more beneficial. Not only from a safety aspect but also being able to hear something before seeing it. For example you can hear a classic car coming in the background and you have a few more seconds to get ready as opposed to only seeing it with your eyes and then reacting. Equally by being able to fully hear your surroundings, you can be much more immersed and in tune. A good compromise is using transparency mode on your headphones.
Every Photo Needs Editing & Grading
I used to believe that every single photo required one of my presets as a starting point and every image had to have a look. I remember that whenever I would come across a photo that for whatever reason didn’t work with any of my editing styles, I would dismiss it as bad and delete. Now I realise that not every image needs editing and colour grading. Some images work best with a little contrast and an exposure boost. These days if I come across a photo that doesn’t seem to work with any of my presets, I usually find that the editing has already been done ‘in camera’ and all I need is a few minimal tweaks.
Fast Primes & Big Sensors
This is a common realisation for many photographers after they’ve gained some experience. When I first started I was convinced I needed the fastest primes and the biggest cameras. I would even go as far as wanting to get physically bigger gear because for whatever reason it made me feel like I was a real photographer. These days I’m the total opposite and try to reduce the size / weight of my gear as much as possible. Of course fast lenses and big sensors have their place, however using them is now a conscious decision with a clear use case.
You Need All Accessories
Last but not least I remember when I first started I thought I needed all accessories under the sun. If a photo magazine or store was promoting it, I needed it. From over engineered (and over priced) camera bags to fancy filter sets. From lights to monopods. From screen calibration tools to gimbals. You name it, at some point I wasted money on it. Although all these accessories are essential for the specific niche use cases, for the average photographer (especially a beginner), most of these are a waste of money. These days I keep accessories to an absolute minimum and only get what is essential with a clear purpose.
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