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Hello, .

"You must unlearn what you have learned."

That's sage-level guidance from Yoda.

I'll put a finer point on that and say unlearn what ain't serving us.

Yesterday, I was working with a photographer who took my Introduction To Photography class and continues working with me on an intermediate level as a series of private lessons.

We're firming up what they're struggling with from the Introduction To Photography class and incorporating new stuff on an intermediate level.

The nice thing about working as a private lesson is the course of study and practice is customized to suit the photographer's specific agendas and schedules.

We discover what needs reinforcing from the Introduction To Photography class and expand into honing their technique while clarifying and solidifying compositional intent.

I often hear, "I don't know what to do" or "I'm not sure what to do."

We've gotta be sure, and we gotta know because being sure and knowing drives our intent of camera operation and composition.

Today, we primarily explored intermediate-level camera operation, flash, white balance, and the importance of critiquing our work.

We also discussed how what we learn of the rules of composition is what we need to unlearn.

One of the rules of composition they said they learned on YouTube was the rule of thirds.

One of my teachers used to refer to the rules of thirds as the rule of turds.  

And while the word turds sounded like a New York City accent way of saying thirds, they meant turds.

Please forget the rules of composition, and if you run across any, run away.

When it comes to composition, don't think of the rules of composition; instead, think of elements of composition.

And just like the elements in the periodic table, we can combine elements of composition in seemingly endless compositional possibilities.

Rules are finite.

We can combine elements infinitely.

Rules limit.

Combining elements is limitless.

Everything we do is an element of composition.

We need to know and understand how what we do influences the outcome of our picture.

When we know and understand, there is no trying, only doing or not doing.

For example, doing or not doing rules of composition.

Or thinking or not thinking in terms of elements of composition.

And in doing and not doing, we control our photography.  

If you want to learn to work your camera in a way that'll provide the most creative technique available, the Introduction To Photography group class is the thing to do.

Smaller classes mean better learning, so no more than five participants and me are in each class. 

But smaller classes also mean spots fill up quicker. 

And remember, we learn and improve by doing, so practice making at least one picture daily. 

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.