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.
