My Learning Experience

Article and Images by Mike & Teresa Walden

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As an avid photographer I have continually pushed myself to improve my abilities to take better photographs. In my efforts I have discovered many ways to improve my picture taking abilities. I have also found just as many ways to waste my time and money. In this article, I will try to convey what I have found to be beneficial to me and what I considered to be a total waste of time, effort, and money.

The first thing I would encourage anyone who is interested in photography is to check into local photography clubs. I have found that it is best to also check surrounding areas and visit each one several times and find out which one you feel the most comfortable with. Once you have found a club, get involved. Most of the photography clubs I have been a member of have monthly competitions, organized photo trips and usually have a brief guest speaker at each meeting. The speakers are usually a photographer who can give you very valuable information on how they take those great pictures. I have also found that they give new ideas and approaches to composing your photograph. In these clubs you find that there are photographers of every caliber. They are from the person who just bought their camera and barely have an idea how to turn it on, to very advanced photographers who have been published, to professional photographers. Most of the time these people are willing to help you with your photography. There will be people with the same kind of camera that you have and can give you pointers on using your equipment. Sometimes they will let you borrow a piece of equipment that you are thinking of buying potentially preventing you from buying equipment you have no use for. Another benefit of being in a photography club is that you get to go on photo trips. Afterwards you get to see what the other photographers took. It always amazes me that 30 photographers can take a picture of the same subject each with a different composition. I always look at the photos and decide which compositions I like and talk to the photographer and find out how they got the shot. This information is very valuable so the next time you can have that outrageous photo that everyone oh’s and aah’s over when they see it. I have also found that the competition is very valuable to me. The competition usually has a theme or category. I have found that taking a picture with a specific theme or category is more difficult than it sounds. I always want to have the “great shot” and walk away with a 1^st place Blue Ribbon. In the photography clubs you will find that you will make great friends and usually you and your friends will go on your own photo outings. The photo clubs will also keep you aware of other activities and competitions in your area. The club’s dues usually range from $10 to $25 a year. Remember, do not get discouraged, keep on photographing, and it will make a difference.

The second way I have found to increase my ability to take better photo’s is to read. There are more magazines and books on photography than any one person can read in several lifetimes. Think about what types of photos that you enjoy taking and go to the library and check out books on that type of photography. Then go to your local newsstand and buy a few magazines and read them from cover to cover. You will be surprised at what you can learn even in that article that you think is going to be boring or not your cup of tea. When buying books at a bookstore be sure of what you are buying. I have found that anyone can write a book; it does not mean that they actually know what they are talking about. I have also found that if you go with a nationally known photographer you will usually be kept on the right track. But you have to realize that taking pictures is like grandma’s secret spaghetti recipe, everyone’s ingredients and approach is a little different. They all come out with what they like, and everyone’s taste is different. So if what you read is not exactly what you’ve been taught, it is only a little time and maybe a few rolls of film to try their way. If you don’t like it go back to the way your were taught, but you may also find it is a better way to get that great shot. After you find a magazine that you like subscribe to it and keep the issues. With my mind going a little bit more every day, I find that I cannot remember everything I read so I tab the articles I really liked for future reference. Remember, do not get discouraged, keep on photographing, and it will make a difference.

The third way I’ve found to enhance my photography skills are sometimes exciting, sometimes boring and sometimes down right aggravating, attending seminars. Most of the seminars I’ve attended are worth their weight in gold. The subject matter was presented in terms that a novice photographer can understand and comprehend. They usually give hand outs that cover the entire program, this keeps your attention on the information being presented not on taking notes. I have learned a great deal attending these seminars. At the end of the presentation the instructor usually gives a slide presentation of their work. This always gives me more ideas and ways to compose different subjects that I had never thought about. Carefully pick the seminars you attend to make sure they are taught professionally by someone who knows how to teach. I have found myself in attendance of several seminars that were a waste of time and my hard earned money. These are what I call “I love Me seminars”; they consist of the photographer standing in front of their slide projector showing off their great photos with the only purpose to tell you how great they are at photography. Consequently, I don’t learn anything from their presentation that I can take into the field and create that “great shot.” These types of seminars can usually be readily identified by no one knowing who the photographer is and by the price of the seminar. Do not get me wrong however; there are a lot of good seminars taught by unknown people at a good price. My advice is to talk to other photographers in your area, they generally know something about the seminar or know someone who has attended it. Your local camera store may also a great source for information on seminars. One drawback of seminars is that they usually don’t offer hands on training, just classroom instruction. Seminars run from free to several hundred dollars, check them out and spend your money wisely. Remember, do not get discouraged, keep on photographing, and it will make a difference.

The fourth way I have found to help me take those great shots is through online study courses, correspondence courses through the main and courses on photography through a local college. The online study programs are a little like seminars, everyone with a camera and a computer thinks they can make a dollar teaching. Be sure that you research any online study course. My advice is to stick with companies that have a good reputation. These courses combine classroom study with photographic homework where your take assigned pictures and send them to the school. The school has a team of photographers who critique your pictures and return them with the critique. You get a completely unbiased opinion of your work; remember friends and family will not always be totally honest with you. There are also written tests that you have to take and be graded on. Some of these courses are taught by accredited institutes, along with all the knowledge, you may be receiving college credits. Courses range from less than a hundred dollars to several thousand dollars, depending upon what fits your lifestyle and budget. Remember, do not get discouraged, keep on photographing, and it will make a difference.

The fifth way of learning to take great pictures is by far my favorite. It is attending a workshop. These workshops are generally a week or two long. Workshops are offered all over the world. I have yet to find a state that does not have a reputable workshop available. These workshops give you the benefit of classroom instruction and hands on experience with respected photographers who will go in the field with you and help you take pictures. During these field trips, if you have any questions they are addressed there with the instructor helping you resolve any problems you may have. After each day of shooting, the workshops usually have a place that will develop your film, and you will get the developed film back the next day. The instructors will go over your work and tell you how to improve your skills. These workshops are great because the instructors know where to go and when to go for the best lighting. They also know of great places to go that you would never find if you were just riding around looking to take pictures. The workshops generally start around 6:00 am, come back for lunch, and go back out in early evening. Taking advantage of both sunrise and sunset and letting you get a little catnap in the middle of the day. If catnaps are not your thing, then there are other photographers with whom you may talk with, compare pictures and learn from. The workshops take care of all the logistical headaches. They have hotels and dining places picked out, so you don’t have to ride around lost trying to find a place to stay or eat. They know where the best camera stores are (for the items you forgot or get broken).

I have learned more in a weeklong workshop than I would in 2 years using the other four methods. The only drawback to these workshops is that they are expensive and most people usually have to take their vacation to go to them. The workshops cost anywhere from a couple of hundred dollars to over ten thousand dollars depending on where you go, if you stay in the good old USA or elect to go to some exotic place like Africa. In the continental USA you are usually responsible for the expense of travel to and from the workshop and the food you eat. Film and developing are also an additional cost. Outside of the continental USA plane fare and food are sometimes included in the package cost. I have also found that in some places like Africa, you have to wait until you return to the States before you are able to develop your film, the areas are so rural that no processing may be anywhere close. Again you need to research the workshop that you plan to attend. Prior to spending any money with a workshop find out exactly how much it will cost and what additional charges you may incur. I would recommend one of the workshops in Yellowstone National Park. There are workshops there year round. In the winter they offer snowmobile workshops and also have workshops where tracked vehicles take you around. Alaska workshops are also recommended. The workshop I enjoyed the most was taught in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, I have a passion for nature shots and I took probably 40 or 50 rolls of film in a week. There were turkey and deer that came right up to the cabin I stayed in. I’m from Kentucky (one of the most beautiful states in the USA, I’m not at all biased) so it takes a lot to impress me. I was in total awe at the splendor of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Remember, do not get discouraged, keep on photographing, and it will make a difference.

As I wrap up this article, I know you are wondering why I continue to write, “Remember, do not get discouraged, keep on photographing, and it will make a difference.” It is because when I started taking pictures I got very discouraged. It always seemed that no matter how hard I tried to take that award winning shot, my pictures were substandard. They would be underexposed, overexposed, or not in focus. Or worse, the composition would not be at all what I intended. I would always get real excited when I received my pictures back from the developers to be disappointed that only a few shots were keepers, the rest ended up in the trash. I was fortunate enough to make friends with a great photographer. This person’s first great advice was to take my film only to a professional developer. After taking their advice, I found that the department stores with a photo lab were fine for pictures that I really did not care if the exposure was consistent, or if I was not trying for that award–winning photo. A professional lab is by far the best route to go. This person also told me a trade secret, that at the time I thought was unbelievable. He said that he had been making his living with photography for over thirty years and even he did not take perfect shots every time. He said that he also threw out as many pictures as he kept. This little bit of advice kept me taking pictures. I am by far not the best photographer I know, but I strive every day to be better. The advice I give to a new photographer is do not give up. Record each and every shot you take on a piece of paper with all the settings of your camera, the climate and any special equipment you used to acquire the shot. With your last frame on the roll take a picture of this sheet, and then when you do get that great shot, you will know exactly what you have done to achieve it. “Remember, do not get discouraged, keep on photographing, and it will make a difference.”

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