Have you ever been out to photograph a gorgeous sunset, just to
realize that you can’t, because your batteries are dead? Perhaps you’ve
come home and imported your images, and noticed that all of them are
unusable due to hundreds of dust spots?
Don’t worry. Most of us have experienced the exact same things.
Luckily, there are certain habits you can develop to avoid ever missing a
shot again. None of them are time consuming, so there’s really no
excuse not to implement them into your workflow.
Habit #1 – Charge your batteries
It might sound obvious that you should charge your batteries but you
would be surprised how often I meet people that are out in the field
without any battery power. In fact, I’m guessing you’ve experienced this
yourself (don’t worry, so have I, and most other photographers too).
About
a year ago I decided to take a seven hour drive to Åndalsnes in Norway,
known for its spectacular landscape, in particular the iconic Trollstigen road.
I had been there a few times before, but the weather was never ideal,
so I wanted to go back and capture at least one good image. When I
arrived at the scenic road and walked out to the viewpoint I managed to
take a handful of pictures before my battery died. Weird, I thought, but
no problem, I still have two spare batteries. Turned out both of them
where empty too. I guess you can imagine my frustration when I realized
that this entire trip was ruined because I had forgotten to charge my
batteries.
I managed to capture one decent image before my batteries died
I made it a habit after that incident to always charge my batteries
after I come home from a trip, or evening out photographing. I set my
batteries to charging even before I import my images, because I know if I
don’t do it right away I may forget.
Habit #2 – Clean your equipment
Cleaning your camera gear
is extremely important (especially for outdoor photographers) not only
to lengthen the life of your equipment but also to improve image
quality. I always get a bit upset when I view a beautiful image that is
broken due to hundreds of small (or a few huge) dust spots. This is so
unnecessarily, and easy to get rid of, so why let others believe you’re
not as talented as you actually are.
Honestly, you don’t need more than a cheap microfiber cloth to remove
dust and dirt from your lens or filters. Even though that is enough in
most cases (and something that should always be in your camera bag), I
do recommend purchasing a liquid lens cleaner too, as this helps get rid
of all smudges and especially salty spots.
After bad weather on Iceland my lens was filled with dust spots, as you can see here in Lightroom.
I’ve made it a habit to clean my equipment after each photo trip that
lasts more than a day. If I’m out photographing seascapes or in
windy/rainy conditions, I usually spend an extra minute afterwards
getting rid of the worst. Making this a habit will help save you a lot
of time in post-production using tools such as Lightroom’s Spot Removal.
If
you’re getting serious with your photography, and perhaps you have even
began selling a print or two, it’s even more important to get rid of
those nasty spots. Just imagine selling a large print, then seeing that
those small spots suddenly look large and take away the attention of the
image. Don’t make that mistake!
Habit #3 – Don’t leave before it’s over
My final habit is perhaps one of my most important advice for any outdoor photographer.
Don’t leave before it’s over!
An unexpected sunset this winter in Norway
This is a habit I had to learn the hard way. It happened many times
when I was an amateur photographer that I decided a sunrise or sunset
wouldn’t turn into anything good, because the weather looked a bit
shabby. Instead of staying at the location longer, I preferred to go
home and hope for better conditions next time. What happened as I was
driving back home? The sky turned red for just a few minutes.
Even though the conditions look a little dull it doesn’t mean that
you won’t have a few minutes of good light. Alright, in most cases it
doesn’t turn into something spectacular, but the times it does you will
wish you had stayed for that 10-20 minutes extra.
So,
remember this the next time you’re considering leaving early: it’s not
over before it’s over. Stay a little bit longer, and perhaps you will be
treated with great light that results in a portfolio worthy image. It’s
worth it!
Bird flying through a stormy sunset at Liencres, Cantabria.
Are you guilty of missing these 3 habits? Have you developed any
other habits, either in the field or when you’re back home? Let us know
by leaving a comment below! This week we are doing a series of articles to help you do nature photography. This is the first – watch for more coming soon!
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Thursday, April 30, 2020
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10 Ideas for Photographing Nature in your Backyard
Have you noticed how many photographers are fascinated with the
natural world? Even if we specialise in another genre, few of us can
resist a gorgeous flower, or a branch of autumn leaves.
One of the best things about photographing nature is that it is so
accessible. You needn’t travel far to find it, because it’s all
around you. You may take it for granted because you see it every day,
but your own backyard is treasure trove. Every hour of every day and
every season, bring something new.
Summer lavender: ISO 100, f/3.5, 1/200th
Backyard needn’t be taken literally here. If you don’t have a
backyard, you’ll find plenty of nature to photograph just by wandering
the streets or public parks and gardens. Tech details: All of the photographs in this article were shot on my Canon 5D Mark III. Unless otherwise stated, I have used my Canon macro 100mm f/2.8 lens. I have included details of ISO, aperture and shutter speed settings.
#1 – Flowers and leaves
Flowers and leaves are often the first things that come to mind when
we look for subjects in our own backyards. They offer an endless variety
of colours, shapes and textures for you to photograph. You could
create a collection based on a single colour scheme, or try to find as
many different leaf or flower shapes as possible.
Cymbidium orchid: ISO 640, f/4, 1/100th
Violet leaves: ISO 800, f/8, 1/30th
Geranium leaves: ISO 320, f/8, 1/40th
Experiment with different lighting and conditions. I love
backlighting for leaves and flowers, as it creates a luminous, almost
three-dimensional effect, and you can see details such as veins. Some
shapes look better with strong, directional light, and I love how
colours are enhanced in the wet.
Erlicheer daffodils BACKLIT: ISO 100, f/4, 1/640th
The same flower shot with the sun on my back: ISO 100, f/4, 1/800th
Backlighting a leaf reveals details you wouldn’t see if you lit it directly : ISO 100 f/4, 1/250th
Flowers are seasonal, and in
temperate zones, spring and summer offer the widest variety. There are
still flowers to be found in winter, although you may need to look
harder. Don’t forget that weeds, such as dandelions ,are also
beautiful! Autumn (fall) provides the greatest colour spectrum in
leaves.
Liquidamber leaves photographed en masse: ISO 640, f/4, 1/80th
A single leaf isolated against a dark background: ISO 640, f/4, 1/30sec
#2 – Fruit, berries and seed pods
When the summer flowers disappear, fruits and berries are nature’s
way of providing for birds and animals throughout the colder months.
Many berries and seed pods ripen towards the end of autumn, bringing
colour to the winter garden. Citrus trees bear fruit in winter, and
persimmon trees lose their leaves to reveal branches of shiny orange
fruits. Think also of acorns, pine cones, and nuts.
Kumquat: ISO 2500, f/4.5, 1/50 sec
ISO 800, f/8.0, 1/500th.
ISO 500, f/5.0, 1/1250th.
Orange rosehip: ISO 500, f/5.0, 1/160th
Bunches of red berries: ISO 500, f/5.0, 1/100th.
#3 – After the rain
Raindrops are fascinating through the lens. Try photographing them from various angles,
and in different lighting. When photographing a single droplet, or a
string of them, isolate them by keeping the background uncluttered. You
can do this by creating distance between the droplets and the
background, and using a wide aperture to ensure it is blurred. Notice
also how water sits in nice round droplets on some types of leaves, but
on others it disperses.
Arthrododium leaves after rain: ISO 800, f/4.5, 1/80 sec
Raindrops hang from the slats on the back of a garden chair: ISO 1000, f/4, 1/125 sec
ISO 640, f/4, 1/125 sec
ISO 1000, f/4, 1/125 sec
#4 – Mushrooms, toadstools and fungi
These are abundant in autumn and winter, but some species pop up
throughout the year after rain. Look in damp, mossy places, on the sides
of trees and log piles for them.
My personal favourites are the red toadstools with white speckles.
They are evocative of fairy tales and magic, and their colours are a
nature photographer’s dream!
Toadstool: ISO 1000, f/6.3, 1/250 sec
ISO 1000, f/6.3, 1/160 sec
Don’t ignore the tiny, dull-coloured mushrooms and fungi. The ones in
the photo below were growing in a crevice in the side of my herb
garden. You can see by the scale of the woodgrain how tiny they were.
From above, they were nondescript, but when I lay on the ground beneath
them and shot into the backlight, they became translucent and I could
see their delicate structure.
These tiny mushrooms were no bigger than the fingernail on my pinky finger! ISO 800, f/8, 1/160 sec
#5 – Look up . . . look down
We have a ginormous tree in our backyard. It was probably planted
when our house was first built in the 1920s, and its canopy is as big as
the footprint of the house. One of my favourite things to do in the
warmer months is to put a picnic rug on the lawn, and lie on my
back gazing up into its branches. It is free therapy!
Watching the leaves change from bright spring green through to darker
green in summer, the first blush of colour in autumn, through to rich
claret just before they drop, never ceases to delight me. I have
photographed it time and time again through the seasons. Even lying on
the ground with my 35mm lens, I can only capture a small portion of the
canopy.
Sigma 35mm Art lens, ISO 160 f/11, 1/60 sec
Sigma Art lens 35mm, ISO 160, f/11, 1/100 sec
If you are lucky enough to have trees in your garden, try standing or
lying directly underneath them and shooting up into the branches.
Notice how the light changes from early morning, throughout the day into
late afternoon and evening. Branches, whether they are naked or covered
with leaves, contrast beautifully against a blue sky. They are equally
stunning at sunrise and sunset, and on a moonlit night.
Sigma Art lens 35mm: ISO 200, f/11, 1/200
If you haven’t any trees, look for interesting cloud formations to
photograph. You can create a collection of skies to use as Photoshop
overlays, to add interest to other outdoor photos such as portraits.
Look for vertical cloud formations, fat white fluffy ones, and those
lovely soft colours around the edge of the clouds at dusk and dawn.
Down on the ground are a million microcosms in the moss, the lawn,
between the paving stones, and the fallen bark and leaves. You won’t see
them until you get down to ground level, so lie flat on your tummy and
peer into another world.
Macro world: the moss on a tree trunk. ISO 640, f/4, 1/40 sec
#6 – Black and white beauty
We tend to think of colour photography when we think of nature, but
don’t dismiss the idea of black and white. Nature provides sculptural
shapes and contrasting textures
that make great black and white subjects. If you have succulents or
cacti in your garden, they are often more interesting in black and white
than they are in colour (except on those rare occasions when they
flower). Ditto with white flowers against a dark background. Smooth
pebbles, rough bark, snail shells, acorns and pine cones all look
fabulous in black and white. Try strong, directional lighting, and a
high contrast edit.
When
I converted this file to B&W in Lightroom, I played with the
sliders in the HSL panel.
The photo on the left has the blue slider
pulled all the way down to -100 to darken the blue sky.
Your backyard is one of the best places to experiment with effects
and new techniques. Firstly, you become familiar with how things look at
various times of the day,
and throughout the seasons. Secondly, you don’t need to travel far, so
you can respond to anything on a whim. If you spot something amazing
while you’re sipping on your morning coffee, you needn’t even get out of
your pyjamas to capture it!
The subjects in the two photographs below are both visible from my desk. Every morning last summer, I noticed how this shaft of hazy sunlight
would hit the planting of succulents on the pedestal, so I knew exactly
what time to capture it at its best. Also sitting at my desk, I saw how
the sun caught this spray of orchids just after the rain, and I rushed
outside with my camera.
Canon 85mm lens, ISO 100, f/4, 1/800th.
Shot with sun flare and no lens hood: ISO 100, f/4, 1/1000 sec
For comparison, this is the same scene shot with a lens hood to cut flare: ISO 100, f/4, 1/320sec
#8 – Snails, bugs and spiders
For nine months of the year, there are a million creepy-crawlies in
my backyard. Butterflies, cicadas, crickets, praying mantis,
caterpillars, moths, bees, wasps and spiders (I could happily do without
the latter two). At the time of writing this article, it is winter in
Melbourne, so most bugs are hiding or dormant.
#9 – Birds and other wildlife
I’m going to preface this paragraph with honesty. Confession #1: photographing wildlife of any kind requires more patience and a longer telephoto lens than I possess. Confession #2: I have the greatest admiration for those who do it. I have a Pinterest board just for animal photos (you’ll
notice a clear bias towards squirrels) and on 500px I follow a number
of photographers, one of whom only photographs squirrels! Editor’s note: our own Will Nichols specializes in photographing squirrels.
The kinds of animals and birds you’re
likely to find in your backyard obviously depends on which part of the
world you live in, and how built-up your neighbourhood is. You
will know which kinds of critters visit your backyard, and what their
habits are. With that in mind, find a spot where you won’t be too
conspicuous, and be prepared to wait. If you’re using a long lens, you
might consider using a tripod or monopod to avoid camera shake. Have
your ISO and aperture all set to go, with a fast shutter speed to freeze
motion. If you have been watching the animal or bird’s behaviour over
several days or weeks, it may be possible to focus roughly on the area
you expect them to appear – for example, the birdbath. Also read: Guide to Attracting Critters to Your Garden for Backyard Wildlife Photography
#10 – Portraits in nature
Nature provides us with the perfect canvas for portraiture. Look
for a bank of flowers, a bed of autumn leaves, or just a green hedge –
the colours in nature never seem to clash.
When photographing children and pets in particular, I almost always
prefer an outdoor location over a studio. My eldest daughter usually
runs a mile when she sees the camera, but the chance to roll around with
the dog in these glorious leaves was clearly too much for her to
resist.
I love how the soft hues flatter her skin tone. If you are shooting
outdoors with lots of colours, such as flowers or autumn leaves, take care with your subject’s outfit. These portraits might been too busy if my daughter had been wearing a patterned outfit.
Not even teenage daughters can resist these leaves! ISO 320, f/4, 1/400 sec
ISO 320, f/4, 1/320 sec
Let’s hear from you!
So there you have it – plenty of inspiration to get outdoors and
photograph nature in your own backyard. It’s time to stop reading and
get out there with your camera. Please share your backyard nature
photographs in the comments below … especially if they involve
squirrels!
Share this article.
5 Tips for Doing Photography While Social Distancing
Are you having a hard time doing photography while social distancing?
Do you need some help determining what and how to photograph during these difficult times? 90mm | f/2.8 | 1/320s | ISO 320
You’ve come to the right place.
Because as hard as it is to deal with the current situation, there are still photographic opportunities everywhere.
You just have to know how to see them!
So if you’re looking to capture some great images, even now…
…read on.
1. Go on walks and photograph the scenery
Plenty of countries are currently in full lockdown, which means that you can only leave your home for exercise.
But while you’re out walking, why not take some pictures?
Obviously, don’t approach people on the street or linger too long in one place.
But there are plenty of gorgeous parks out there where you can capture some stunning landscapes as you walk along. An image taken on a recent walk. Canon EF 24-70mm f4L lens|70mm| f/8.0| 1/20s| ISO 200
And if you don’t live near a park, just go for a walk around your neighborhood! Take some photos of trees waving in the sunlight, of flowers starting to bloom in gardens, and more.
The opportunities are endless. The key is to be open to more unusual, spontaneous images.
By the way, I’d recommend using a telephoto lens for this, such as a 70-200mm zoom; that way, you can stay on paths and avoid approaching houses and other people.
I’d also recommend going out at sunrise or sunset, when the light is
warm and golden. That way, you can capture gorgeous skies, gorgeous
clouds, and just take in the beautiful world.
2. Capture gorgeous macro photos in the garden
It’s now officially spring in the Northern Hemisphere.
With spring comes flowers, and with flowers comes the potential for beautiful macro shots.
Get your closest-focusing lens, or a dedicated macro lens if you have one, and go out into your garden. You can easily photograph flowers like these in the garden! Nikon 60mm f2.8 lens | 60mm| f/5.0| 1/200| ISO 320
Look for flowers, and try to capture some beautiful colors, textures, and even more abstract flora shots.
I recommend doing macro photography on cloudy days, because the diffused light will help bring out flower colors.
I also recommend getting down low, on a level with your subject, so you can portray the world from a more intimate perspective.
By the way, if you don’t have any flowers, that’s okay!
You can still photograph plants, trees, buds, or even weeds. The
beauty of macro photography is that there are subjects everywhere.
3. Spend time creating a studio in your home
If you’re like me, you’ve always wanted to create a photography studio in your home.
But you just haven’t had the time.
Imagine what you could do with a studio (after all the social distancing is over, that is!).
You could do portrait photoshoots.
You could do pet photoshoots.
You could create all sorts of still life setups.
You could do high-speed photos of balloons popping, or of colored water, or of products, or of food…
Really, you can do tons with a proper studio. A home studio is great for capturing photos of pets! 55mm| f/6.3| 1/160s | ISO 250
So why not set it up now, while you’re stuck at home? Here’s what you need:
First, some sort of backdrop.
A black tablecloth will work just fine for many purposes, but you can
also use a large, white slab of cardboard, a proper photography backdrop
(these can be purchased online), or even an interesting wall.
Next,
you’ll want at least one light source. You can use natural light, in
which case you should simply position your studio near a window (ideally
with the window light coming from slightly in front of your setup, so
you have light falling on your subject from the front and side).
You can also use artificial light, which is what I’d recommend; this
gives you more options and limits you less in terms of shooting on
poorly-lit days and at night.
If you do go with artificial light, you’re going to want several speedlights
at the very least. I recommend two for beginners, though three is also a
good number, and one is adequate if you’d like to keep costs down.
These speedlights will need to be held up with light stands, so you’ll
want a couple of those.
You’ll also need light modifiers. Options here include umbrellas, softboxes,
diffusers, snoots, and more. Though I’d recommend going with a couple
of basic umbrellas because these are great for softening the light and
easy for beginners to get the hang of.
Last, if you’re doing any sort of product or
still life photography, you’re going to want a table. A simple wooden
option works well, and it doesn’t have to look new. A bit of texture can
make your product shots and still lifes even more interesting!
And speaking of still life photography:
4. Level up your still life photography skills
If you’ve ever considered pursuing still life photography, now is a great time.
You can do still lifes with a studio setup, as discussed above.
Or you can do still lifes without much of anything, except a few subjects, some window light, a table, and a wall.
The latter method is practically free, and it can result in stunning
shots. So it’s a great way to get started with still life work over the
next few months.
For basic still life subjects, fruit is a great choice (I’m partial to pears and apples, but you can use basically anything).
Flowers, including cut flowers you can grab when checking out at the grocery store, are an excellent option, as well.
In fact, you can do all sorts of cool photography with flowers or
fruit. While it’s possible to do classic still lifes, you can also do
more abstract shots, like this: This type of black background, illuminated flower setup is something you can work on when doing still life photography. Canon EF 100mm f2.8L Macro | 100mm | f/2.8 | 1/100s | ISO 200
Given the current situation, I don’t recommend taking trips to the store just to buy still life subjects.
But if you’re already at the store, there’s not much harm in grabbing a couple of extra apples or a bouquet of flowers.
And, by the way:
You can also do still life photography using objects you find in your home.
Objects such as bowls, plates, silverware, vases, jugs, antiques, and much more.
So don’t feel like you have to go out into the world to get subjects. Some of the best subjects are right in the house with you!
5. Get to know your camera while stuck inside
Cameras are complicated.
Which means that there are probably things you don’t know about them,
but should be familiar with if you want to capture the best possible
photos.
So, whenever you get the chance, I recommend you turn on your camera and explore.
Start with all the external buttons. Do you know what they can all do?
Then dig into the menu items. Scan over every single option. While getting to know my camera, I snap a lot of random pictures to test out functions. This is one of my most recent ones! Canon EOS R | Canon 24-70 f4 lens | 70mm| f/4.0 | 1/160s | ISO 3200
And as soon as you hit something you’re not sure about, or you’re not completely familiar with…
…look it up.
(You can use your camera manual, or you can just do a quick Google search.)
If it’s an especially useful feature, then make a note. And ensure
that, the next time you get a chance to do some photography, you try it
out.
Make sense?
And by the way, every camera is different. So if you have multiple
cameras, I recommend you follow this tip for each and every one of them.
That way, when things are better, you’ll feel much more at home with your camera.
Hopefully, these tips will help you continue to improve your photography while social distancing.
Because while things are tough, it really is possible to keep up your photography!
So good luck, and stay safe! And, as always, share your photos with us in the comments section! Share this article.
Wednesday, April 29, 2020
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Tips for Overcoming the 5 Biggest Photography Fears
“Most inventors and engineers I’ve met are like me. They’re shy
and they live in their heads. The very best of them are artists. And
artists work best alone…” – Steve Wozniak
While fear can affect anyone and cause undue stress in their daily
lives, creative people (including photographers and other artists) are
often introverted and can be susceptible to fear more than others.
Whether it is simply a hobby, passion, or profession, photography
involves proficiency in both the artistic and technical realms, creating
a perfect environment for anxiety and fearfulness to form.
But like with most other things in life, knowledge is a powerful
ally. Learning what anxiety-inducing things you might deal with, as well
as what you can do to alleviate them, can help you with overcoming
photography fears. It also allows you to better and more confidently
enjoy the craft.
Let’s take a look at 5 of the biggest fears we might encounter as photographers.
1. Interacting with people
This is something I can definitely speak to personally. Many of us
have difficulty being comfortable interacting and communicating with
others for several different reasons. It could be anything from simple
shyness or a lack of confidence, or in my case, social anxiety disorder,
where fear of social interaction can cause physical symptoms and impede
daily life.
Because photography is something we choose to do, we can also choose
our level of involvement and what facets of the hobby (or job) we
participate in.
For me, I know that I don’t always feel comfortable communicating with people.
Because of this, I don’t do many portrait sessions as I know that
communicating in real-time with the client is necessary to produce
photos that they will love.
Many photographers deal with the fear of interacting with clients. (50mm, f/4, ISO 100, 1/250 sec)
Instead, my photography focuses on landscape and nature scenes, which lets me be comfortable while enjoying my work. I take on the odd portrait job when I feel ready to do so.
Of
course, many of us want to learn to embrace that fear and conquer it.
The best way to do this is to expose yourself to the thing that makes
you uncomfortable. Learn what about it makes you feel that way until you
no longer have the same fear for it.
Work on becoming more comfortable around people on a small scale, so that you’ll be ready to speak confidently to your clients.
Know your gear well, and be knowledgeable about the particular
service you’re providing. This will give you something stable to hold
onto while interacting with your customers.
2. Shooting in public
Street photography is a popular form of photography, and some of the biggest names in our hobby dabble in it, at one time or another.
However, it also exposes the photographer more than some other forms
and can make us feel nervous and vulnerable. This is because many people
don’t care to have their photograph taken. Knowing that can make the
photographer reluctant to open themselves up and capture the beautiful
moments they see before them, for fear of being called out or
confronted.
Many street photographers deal with these issues by using gear that
is better suited for those situations. Small, light, and inconspicuous
mirrorless cameras and smaller lenses are readily available. These make
the photographer and their actions less visible. It allows them to be
more comfortable and focus on making great images.
Shooting in public, in view of others, is another common fear of photographers.
(50mm, f/8, ISO 400, 1/640 sec)
It is also helpful and important to know the rules and laws regarding
photographing people in public or other spaces. That way, if someone
does confront you or question what you’re doing, you’ll be well-prepared
to answer them.
The bottom line is to respect everyone’s wishes, whether it’s a legal
issue or not. If someone is uncomfortable with you photographing them,
be a decent person, and just stop. You don’t have to delete the images
or anything that extreme, as they are your images, but don’t continue
photographing them. An upset subject isn’t going to make for a good
photo anyway.
At the end of the day, keep in mind that there are thousands of
people out there right now, taking pictures of daily life, people,
places, and events. Chances are, you’ll go out and enjoy the experience
without any problems, and you’ll bring home some unique images.
3. Rejection and failure
This is a common fear for many people, and unfortunately, it is one
that we all experience at times. Rejection of your work or failure to
produce work that you consider great will be a commonplace occurrence
throughout your relationship with photography. Even the great ones dealt
with rejection at times, and they often used these failures to learn more and make adjustments to be even better.
Although there is nothing you can do to completely avoid rejection or
avoid producing an imperfect image, you can certainly learn to cope
with it and overcome photography fears.
Conquer your fear of failure by tackling challenging situations. (iPhone, 4mm, f/2.2, ISO 640, 1/4 sec)
Firstly, don’t try to block out the emotions that come with rejection or failure. You need to know what it feels like and embrace that feeling. It will make you stronger, and you will be better for it.
Keep in mind that failure is an exception, not the norm.
Also, remember that repetition is the key to improving.
Tackle some challenging situations, such as a dark and challenging lighting scenario.
Go through the possible solutions and execute them until you’re
confident that you can solve that problem in a dynamic, on-demand
environment.
And, talk to someone.
Talk to anyone who knows you and understands how passionate you are
about your craft. Friends, family, and colleagues who lift you up and
encourage you can provide tremendous help. They can remind you that
rejection can happen to anyone, and is a learning tool to improve your
skillset.
4. Cameras and gear
The title of this section might need a little explanation. Of course, we’re talking about the fear of using your cameras and gear, not fear of your camera itself! That would be weird.
The equipment we use can come in various levels of complexity.
Regardless of your familiarity with cameras in general, it may
inadvertently become another source of anxiety.
Fortunately, the days of being stuck with nothing more than a printed
manual are gone (isn’t it nice when we still see them, though?). The
current digital age allows us to learn everything we need to know about
our cameras from many sources.
Blogs like Digital Photography School, digital manuals and online
resources from camera manufacturers, Forums such as Reddit, and YouTube
all provide endless means of learning about the ins and outs of your
equipment.
Knowing your camera and other gear inside and out can help bolster your confidence.
(50mm, f/4, ISO 100, 1/640 sec)
The bottom line is, the more you know about the equipment you’re
using, the more confident you’ll be in the field or studio. The more
informed you are about the camera, the less an arising problem will
shake you.
Learn all you can as early as you can. Like one of my favorite old sayings goes, knowledge is power.
5. Knowledge of business and marketing
Last in the tips for overcoming photography fears is our knowledge of business and marketing. Many of us have a fear of the business side of our passion for photography.
If you intend on working as a professional (meaning you make any
amount of money off of your photography, regardless of your time input),
you are going to need to understand the basics of how business works.
You need to know how to price your products and services, and how to interact with clients on all levels.
Again,
through the wonder of technology, the internet is a treasure trove of
information (often free) that can give you a good background and bolster
your confidence with knowledge.
Many people feel that it’s tough to get a good working understanding
of how small business works without taking classes or even having a
business degree.
Fortunately, that’s not the case. A quick Google search will reveal
many free blogs and other resources that can help you, and many of these
are even specific to the business side of photography.
dPS has a great e-book on Going Pro – Making Money from Your Photography.
Fear not, my friends
Overcoming your photography fears may not seem simple, but I hope
this article has helped you identify some of your fears and worries when
it comes to being a photographer. Maybe it even pointed you in the
right direction of overcoming those photography fears.
Remember, this is your passion, and you do it because you love to, not because you have to.
At the end of your day, there is nothing to be afraid of, because you’re doing something that makes you happy.
Are there other fears you experience that we didn’t cover here? Sound
off below and share them with the rest of us. You’ll probably be
surprised to find how many other people feel the same way!
