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The Best Ways to Learn Photography

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The best way to learn photography may depend on your preferences, learning style, budget, and goals. According to the search results, some of the common ways to learn photography are:

  • University/college degree: This is a traditional and formal way to learn photography, where you can get a comprehensive and structured education, but it may also be expensive and time-consuming.
  • Apprenticeships and internships: This is a practical and hands-on way to learn photography. You can work with experienced photographers and learn from their feedback and guidance, but it may also be competitive and challenging to find.
  • Blogs and other online resources: This is a convenient and accessible way to learn photography. You can find many free or low-cost information and tips, but they may also be overwhelming and inconsistent.
  • Workshops: This is a social and interactive way to learn photography. You can join a group of other photo hobbyists and learn from a professional instructor, but it may also be costly and infrequent.
  • Online courses: This is a flexible and affordable way to learn photography, where you can follow a curriculum and learn at your own pace, but it may also be less engaging and motivating.
  • Mentors: This is a personalized and supportive way to learn photography, where you can get one-on-one coaching and advice from a skilled photographer, but it may also be expensive and hard to find.

Do you have a preference for any of these ways?

Is Learning Photography Hard?

 Learning photography can be easy or hard, depending on your goals and preferences. Suppose you want to learn photography for your benefit, such as a hobby or to enhance your creativity. In that case, you only need to know the basics of photography, such as exposure, aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. You can also study the work of renowned photographers and choose the type of photography you prefer, such as landscape, portrait, wildlife, or street photography.

One of the best ways to learn photography is with other photo hobbyists. You can join a camera club or take introductory photography classes at a local camera store, arts center, or library. You can also find online courses, tutorials, and workshops that suit your learning style and budget.

Photography is a skill that requires practice and experimentation. The more you shoot, the more you will learn and improve. You will also develop your unique vision and style, which is essential to producing work that stands out.

What kind of photography are you interested in?

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How to be the Best Photographer You Can in 2023

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You’ve probably heard of the 10,000-hour rule

, popularized by Malcolm Gladwell’s blockbuster book “Outliers.” As Gladwell tells it, the rule goes like this: it takes 10,000 hours of intensive practice to achieve mastery of complex skills and materials, like playing the violin or getting as good as Bill Gates. But what about learning photography? Will it take that long?

Patience is the key to mastering any new skill

because it does not happen overnight. Photography can be a life-long learning process because technology is changing so rapidly. Trends also change quickly. Becoming a master of photography will happen with time.

Here are some tips to help accelerate the process for the New Year:

  • Join a camera club or photography meet-up. You will learn so much informally from other like-minded photographers. I recommend GNPA, which has many chapters within Metro-Atlanta.
  • Go beyond your limits by trying a new lens or camera. Always using the same focal length can produce stagnant work. Try out one of the new mirrorless cameras and see if that puts a new fire in your commitment to learning. Aperturent is my go-to rental shop in Atlanta. It is located on Roswell Rd near 285. 
      • Commit every week to photography. If you can, make it on the same day and time, so it becomes a habit. A simple walk around your neighborhood or a local park can inspire creativity and also provide exercise and Vitamin D.
      • Consider entering your photos in a competition. You’ll need a bit of thick skin for the process, especially if you request a critique. Judging is very subjective, but you will learn so much about all levels of photography, from composition to technical excellence.
      • Lastly, bring your camera everywhere you go. Sometimes, you never know when the bald eagle will show up. 

      Hopefully, I have given you some

      some ideas to help you get on track to becoming a Master of Photography. Let me know if any of these ideas work for you, and please share them on the Facebook page. 

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      Why Learning How to Use a Camera is a lot Like Learning How to Play an Instrument

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      I teach people the fundamentals of photography so they can use their cameras to tell stories, create art or

      do whatever they want with their camera. Some of my students want to take better pictures of their kids or improve their travel photography. It really doesn’t matter what the purpose is

      One thing remains true…Practice makes perfect

      With a musical instrument, one creates music, and with a camera, one creates art.

      I have been teaching photography since 2011 and I have come to the following conclusions:

      • The more one practices, the better one will learn how to use their camera.
      • Practicing photography creates muscle memory. If one does not practice, the muscles will have difficulty remembering, and one will not progress.
      • Brain and hand coordination increase with practice as ones’ fingers intuitively turn a knob or push a button to make creative controls on the camera.
      • Learning the apertures, shutter speeds, and ISO (exposure triangle) is as powerful in learning the craft of photography as learning the musical scale is to music.
      • Learning photography takes time and determination, just like learning how to play an instrument.
      • Lastly, photographers and musicians are artists and use the power of their art to express themselves.

      How long does it take to learn photography?

      There is no set time and each person learns differently. In my six-week private lessons, I assign homework so the student can better absorb the material from the previous lesson. It could take longer if the student has never been exposed to the basic fundamental building blocks of photography. I tell my students to expect six months to a year, to learn the basics of photography.

      What is more important? A good eye or technical ability?

      Learning photography is a mix of the right brain and left brain. I prefer to teach the technical stuff first, so the student can grasp that information before they dive into the story-telling aspect of photography. Once the technical information is processed, it becomes second nature. I believe learning the fundamentals of photography first is crucial before focusing on art, composition, and story-telling.

      How does one get started with photography?

      I would start by learning some of the basics of photography. The internet is free, and there are tons of YouTube videos. I would recommend finding a specific video for a camera and then renting a camera first before investing. The best way to learn photography is through practice, perseverance, and motivation.

      Learn more about my photography workshops

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      Gimme Some Bokeh

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      bo·keh

      /bōˈkā/

      noun

      Photography

      noun: bokeh

      1. the visual quality of the out-of-focus areas of a photographic image, mostly as rendered by a particular lens.
      2. “a quick, visual survey of the foreground and background bokeh of a variety of lenses.”

      Creating a bokeh in a photographic image is a technique that can have a positive impact on an image.

      Bokeh is also known as a shallow depth of field, selective focus, or a blurring background. This process helps define the subject, and the remainder of the image becomes a negative space.

      What are the three methods of creating a bokeh?

      First, the most commonly used method is choosing a wide aperture: the wider the aperture (2.8 is wider than 5.6), the greater the blur. If you are interested in achieving a creamy background, choose a lens and aperture to give you the best results. Below are examples of images that illustrate the effect.

      Notice the amount of blur and f/2.8 and lack of it starting at f/8

      The second method for creating a bokeh is choosing a long focal length lens. The focal length is defined in millimeters, and The longer the focal length, the narrower the angle of view, and the higher the magnification. The shorter the focal length, the wider the angle of view, and the lower the magnification. For example, if you have a 70-300mm lens, the longer focal length of 300mm will provide a more noticeable bokeh than a focal length of 70mm. Below are examples of a 200mm focal length, a 400mm focal length, and a 600mm focal length.

      200mm lens f/4
      400mm lens f/5.6
      600mm at f/4

      The third method is the proximity to the subject. The closer the camera is to the subject, the blurrier the background will be. This procedure can present a focus issue, so make sure you use your single AF points.

      Not sure what AF Points are? Check out my online courses and private lessons.

      Sunset Pictures at the Beach

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      Sunset in Destin Sunset Pictures at the BeachThe Golden Hour in Destin

      One of my favorite places to go in Destin is the Florida Panhandle. I recently visited the area for a vacation mixed with business and pleasure. The photo on the left is part of the pleasure.  It was taken right before sunset. This time of day is known as the “Golden Hour” as you can see from the photograph.  The Golden Hour is a fallacy however because it really only lasts about 10 minutes. I love the image because not only does it capture the golden hour, but it also shows foreground and texture. What’s a walk at the beach without a camera?  It is like milk without cookies.

      For more information on DSLR photography check out the online course.

      To view my portrait photography site visit Lightscapes Portrait Studio.

      To view my fine art photography site visit Mary Buck Photography.

      Learning Digital Photography Boosts Memory in Seniors

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      iStock_000007096141XSmall Learning Digital Photography Boosts Memory in Seniors

      It’s all about challenging yourself and stepping outside your comfort zone. That is the findings of The University of Texas at Dallas which tested seniors engaged in less demanding skills vs. those who learned a new skill such as photography, photoshop, or quilting. (yes, quilting).

      According to the study, photography and Photoshop are tasks requiring very specific memories for verbal instruction and complex reasoning as one learns to use the equipment and the software to edit high-quality photos.  I don’t quilt, but apparently, it requires abstract thinking and reasoning skills.  The research group tested seniors in other activities which are less demanding and are more social-oriented.  “Only the quilting and photography groups, who were confronted with a continuous and prolonged mental challenge, improved their memory abilities,” Park said.

      I am thrilled with the findings.  I see more and more seniors taking my courses at Studio 2.8 Learning Center and am amazed at their passion for learning something new.  I offer discounts to seniors for any of my classes.

      For more information on DSLR photography check out the online course.

      To view my portrait photography site visit Lightscapes Portrait Studio.

      To view my fine art photography site visit Mary Buck Photography.