If we view photographs regularly, we probably resonate with a type of photography done by particular photographers.
And maybe their work inspires us to do our work.
If a specific photographer's
photographs inspire us, chances are good that their words will inspire us, too.
A Photographer's Quote: Michael Kenna
"Everybody now has a camera, whether it is a professional instrument or just part of a phone. Landscape photography is a pastime enjoyed by more and more. Getting it right is not an issue. It is difficult to make a mistake with the sophisticated technology we now have. Making a personal and creative
image is a far greater challenge.”— Michael Kenna
Hello ,
Ain't that the truth!?
And even though Mr.
Kenna specifically mentions Landscape photography, I feel this extends to ALL types of photography.
If we let the camera do the work for us in any fully automatic exposure mode, the camera's technology will get the picture "right" in terms
of a decently exposed tonality and sharply focused image.
However, the camera's fully automatic exposure technology won't get us a picture that is uniquely our own. Or, as Mr. Kenna states it, "a personal and creative image".
It's that personal creativity that can't be realized in any fully automatic exposure mode.
And I imagine
many of us got into photography to make unique and creative images.
That explains why I was, and a lot of photographers now are frustrated photographers.
It's because we don't know what we need to do in terms of camera operation and composition to get the picture we want, so we make a lotta mistakes.
Or we set the camera on a fully automatic exposure mode and take what the camera gives us.
And although whatever
the camera gives us may be "right" regarding a decently exposed tonality and sharply focused picture, it's rarely, if ever, what we'd consider an intentionally made personal and creative image.
That's because either of those options lacks
a lot of the heart and mind of a photographer who works in more thoughtfully involved exposure and focusing modes.
Our camera doesn't matter.
But the way we use our camera does.
Any of my classes
get participants involved in camera operation and composition to create uniquely composed pictures.
Those pictures that no other photographer or camera workin' in a fully automatic exposure mode could ever make.
Take your pick of classes to suit your preferred camera and what you'd like to learn.
That's all for now; thanks for reading!
Sam
I'll help you be a better photographer—study and practice photography with me.
And what if the timing doesn't work for you in any of my scheduled group classes? If that's the case, let's schedule a one-time lesson or a series of in-person or online private instruction that covers the same things as my group classes.
Ways to work with me are listed below.
