Monster in the Blizzard. Ward, Colorado, 2013
Here are a few things to think about if you are new to the art of photography. These are points I have gleaned from my own study and also from my own personal experiences thus far on my never-ending journey into this amazing world of “writing with light”.
Ten Common Beginner Mistakes, the Technical and the Practical
1. Thinking photography is easy. Yes, pushing the button is indeed very easy. Making good images, or art, is not.
2. Thinking that equipment will solve the problem of making excellent images. Nope. It’s the “seeing”, the vision, that makes good images. There are artists doing powerful work with plastic cameras and iPhones–a $40,000 Hasselblad, or even a DSLR, is not required.
3. Buying too much for your needs. Another way of saying it: Buying expensive equipment, then not maximizing its potential. Examples include…shooting JPEG when your camera is RAW capable, shooting in Auto or Program modes with a high end DSLR, putting crappy glass on an expensive body, using a Nikon D4 for casual family snapshots, and so on.
4. Not doing any post-processing at all. You are then letting the camera do the “developing” of the image for you. Even if all you do is crop a bit, and slightly adjust exposure, contrast, and white balance, all of that can help immensely.
5. Relying on the LCD screen for exposure, color and sharpness. That little screen may be OK for checking basic composition, but for those other key items, wait to view the images on a large computer screen before rushing to judgment. And use that histogram for exposure!
6. Deleting images using the on-camera LCD screen. Wait until you see them on the big screen at home–you just might be pleasantly surprised.
7. Not backing up images. You’ll figure this one out when your hard drive crashes–the hard drive with all your daughter’s wedding pictures on it. Back up to a separate drive and to DVDs, then keep one back up off site.
8. Unintentionally blurred images. This could come from poor technique–jabbing the shutter button or not bracing yourself sufficiently–or it could be because your shutter speed is too slow for the situation. If your subject is stationary (e.g., landscapes), a tripod is the best investment you can make–even before that new lens you have been coveting.
9. Never using flash or using it improperly. It is not always necessary, but if used properly, it can really make a difference in your images. Learn to use fill flash when the lighting isn’t ideal, or when you want catchlights in the eyes, or when the subject is backlit. Even the little, pop-up, on-camera flash can often be sufficient.
10. Thinking that Facebook is giving you accurate feedback on the quality of your images. Ha! And again, Ha! The better option is to find a more experienced mentor who is willing to give you honest criitiques of your work.
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