I get lots of emails, tweets, and comments from aspiring photographers asking me how they can improve their photography. They will typically reference some tutorials that they have watched on YouTube or some articles that they have read. These resources are awesome and must be taken advantage of, but so often people will sit, staring at their screens, watching tutorials or going on "help forums" trying to figure what they must do differently to improve as photographers. Once again, the online educational resources for photographers must be taken advantage of, but in moderation.
Answer this question: what is the ratio of time that you spend taking photos to the amount of time that you spend on the internet watching and reading on how to improve your photography? If you are like so many people starting out in photography - and if you answered honestly - you likely spend more time online than you do actually shooting.
While I am not bashing utilizing these wonderful online resources as a whole, I am always slightly confused when people ask me how to improve their photography when they barely take photos in the first place. You will never improve if you don't shoot. So here is my challenge to you: the next time you catch yourself binge-watching photography tutorial videos or reading articles, go out and shoot instead. Afterwards, go through the photos that you take. Pick the ones that you like and analyze the ones that you don't. Why don't you like them? Why are you drawn to the ones that you like?
Spend more tie doing this than watching videos and reading articles. This method of learning will not only speed up your development as a photographer, but it will also allow you to create an artistic style that is uniquely your own, rather than learning from dozens of photographers on the web. This will also allow you to being researching more specific things about photography when you notice things that you want to change in your own photos.
That is my challenge to you! Give it a try for a couple of weeks and let me know how it goes. I promise that you will see difference. Good luck!
Also, I want to apologize for the mess that the layout of this blog currently is. I have a new layout in the works and will be taking over soon. I cannot wait to unveil it for you. It'll be sweet, I promise!
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