I play a lot of golf and you’ll often hear me equate that hobby with photography because there’s a lot of learning overlap for those of us that don’t do either professionally.
Well, a while back I read something about how the enjoyment, is in the improvement. Read that again… the enjoyment of an activity, lies in our improvement over time.
(Side Note: I’d love to hear your thoughts so please leave them below)
It got me thinking… What if some one could implant the knowledge of mastering your camera overnight right in to your head. So, when you woke up tomorrow, you would feel comfortable photographing any scene (or in my case a better golf swing).
Would I be happy?
I think the knee-jerk answer is “Yes, I’d be thrilled!”. But after thinking about it, I’ve come to realize that there’s really some truth to how the enjoyment of something is closely tied to the improvement steps we take to get better at it.
After thinking about it, I feel if some one implanted that knowledge in my head overnight, I would actually lose something.
I’m not trying to be arrogant by saying this, but I would consider myself an expert photographer and photo editor – both in using the tools and also in knowing my subjects and how to photograph/edit them. And I often have people say/write to me, “I wish I could download everything you know in to my head immediately”.
But do you really? Have you ever done something with the camera, or on the computer and had that “Ahah!!!” Moment? You stopped, and looked at it and excited about what you accomplished. It’s fun right?
It feels good.
To be honest, it’s hard for me to get that feeling in photography anymore. I have to work at it and grind to make small gains, and when I take a photo I know is good, I don’t really get as big a feeling of accomplishment as I used to. So I have to push more and work more to get there – and that pushes me to better photography that I didn’t know I was capable of 5 years ago.
Back in 2015, I was just happy if I photographed action and it was semi-sharp. I never knew why it was, but that was enough to make me happy.
When I play golf with a really good golfer, they hit an amazing shot and I’ll say “Dude… that was fantastic… I could never dream of hitting that shot”. But they’re very nonchalant about it. It’s because they expect it. They do it many times when they play. But that confidence also pushes them to do things THEY think is hard, and of course better scores than I could think of at this point.
So I really do think there is something to this – how the enjoyment of something, is in the improvement of it.
I’ll tie this back to action photography because I have to – because I have a course to talk about 😉
Whether you photograph (or want to photograph) animals, people, cars, planes, bikes, etc… it’s a hard process for many people. There are a lot of things we have to know in our camera to make this happen, and it can seem daunting. I bet for some of you that may be good at photographing birds or sports, at some point you were just happy to have a sharp bird or player in the frame – forget about whether or not the shot was good. But maybe today, you’re at a different level. And there was a lot of joy that you felt along the way.
Well, I hate to tell you, but nobody is coming to implant all of that information in your brain to get you there. However, I do believe the joy of knowing your camera’s most advanced features of Auto focus and knowing what makes a subject sharp, is fun and can lead to confidence. You paid a lot of money for your gear, and spend a lot of time trying to get in front of a good subject.
SO LEARN HOW TO PHOTOGRAPH IT with confidence.
And when you do, that photo of a flying bird, or a child running in a soccer game, or a plane in the air, won’t seem so hard to get. It’ll free you up to concentrate on the really hard part of photography. The part where you know you’re advanced if this is what you think about – getting your camera in front of great moments.
But if you’re stuck just hoping for a sharp photo, it’s really tough to get there.
I’ll close with a shameless sales pitch… I hope you swing by and take a look at my new course on Action Photography. I want to help you photograph all of those moving things that you may come across. Nobody can implant this information in to your head, but let me tell ya’… I believe I can really help you enjoy the process of getting better, and make that process happen more consistently, with less hassle and you’ll have more fun along the way.
I love teaching and photography... In that order. I feel that enjoying photography, and photo editing can get WAY too complicated. So my personal mission (and favorite thing to do), is to create education that simplifies the process of taking great photos, and how to edit them to get the results you’ve always wanted.
Knowing my camera has taken time and persistence. To this day I do not know or use all its functions. It is not because they don’t interest me, but would not benefit me at this time.
Hello Matt,
You’re certainly on target. Participating in a hobby or practicing an occupational skill is almost as much a reward as the end product.
I’ve been shooting for decades and once did work professionally. Unfortunately, I had to pursue a different professional path but to this day I still marvel at the mystery of the photographic process. Actively shooting varied subjects and disciplines and experimenting with new techniques continues to give me a real jolt of satisfaction. Back in the day, I loved the old “wet” darkroom and enjoy the electronic process even more.
My joy in this hobby is the never ending opportunity to expand and improve. I look forward to exploring this new instruction.
You’re spot on with this one. There’s been an ebb and flow to my efforts to improve my photographic skills, but every time I do the work to apply what I learn from an educator such as yourself, the thrill and satisfaction from moving myself forward is so gratifying. My most recent course purchase from you is your Perfect Print lessons…..very well done! Thank you for those moments.
It’s the journey, not the destination. I’ve been at this for 54 years and i still have so , so much to learn!
I am in my late 80s and became interested in photography around 2002 as a hobbyist with my husband. We took classes in photography for about fourteen years, same instructor, same class. It has become more of a photo group. I no longer care about the camera settings or even work with them. My camera is set on program and rapid fire. Since 2019 and Covid, my interests have changed. My go to programs are Photoshop (which you have helped me with tremendously), Topaz Labs, PaintShop Pro and On1. Post processing has become my favorite photography adventure. I shoot raw and jpg and have been doing photobooks of before and after pictures. It is very rewarding to me to take a nothing picture and turn it into a useable work. I mainly shoot birds and animals now. Very rewarding to capture that pic at just the right time. I can’t thank you enough for introducing me to blending photos. I now also do my own textures, thanks to you, and really enjoy my photography and what I can do with my pictures. I do not like generative AI and very rarely use it, the end result has to be mine, not something artificially generated. You are one of the few that have taken me to new levels in my photography and I sincerely thank you.
Looking forward to the Lightroom Summit in May, always interested in what you have to teach us. Take care.
Well, since I live in sunny California, I guess it’s time to take off for the beach and find some birds that need to be featured in my next photobook. Thank you again, you are one of the best out there for overall learning in the world of picture taking.
I think your “challenge” these days comes from trying to impart your knowledge of photography to us, the humble masses! And you’re pretty good at that. I do agree though that coming back from the field and having met the challenge of getting a good shot, you still take joy from that even though you “expect” it more maybe than the rest of us. I’m old so I remember the days of my old Canon f-1, which I still have, a totally manual camera. To capture action back then, you set up a zone of focus and hoped the action moved into it and made sure you took advantage of the “decent” depth of field your lens offered. (Along with a fast enough shutter speed, Of course, we had to wait sometimes weeks until that roll of film was developed to gage our success!
Interesting article.
I am at that point in my photography for my client zoos that I am not actually sure it is possible to get any better. I keep trying, but I think my only improvement is in knowing what shots I might eventually use. So I shoot fewer and fewer shots, concentrating on peak of action and facial expressions.
I have improved in the area of post processing as the software gets better. Masking in Lightroom for example.
Not that it really matters. I have fun, the zoos get shots they love, and I have photos to share in various Facebook groups.
Now, there are other genres where I could stand considerable improvement. But that is a different story. I am beginning to feel guilty about not getting out and shooting more Arizona landscapes now that we have moved to a place that is photography worthy.
The thing is, many people, including you, have been implanting the knowledge into my brain via videos and conferences. Just not overnight.
But yes, you make a great point. Earning your improvement is more satisfying than being handed skills on a silver platter.
I started learning Photoshop in 2003. It was a slow hard slog for years; as was composition and using my camera. Today I am still learning lots of stuff, like I am still learning to age gracefully. Ah-ha moments still come…….and maybe they are even richer.
Maybe Elon could do a nuralink implant? Jokes aside, in many things, it is the journey as much as the destination. Thanks for everything!
I agree with your assessment, I am an avid golfer/photographer as well. I expect to take good photos but I also appreciate my improvement and don’t take it for granted. I know the time and learning that went into being where I am. I can accept my golf game not being as good as it once was, you only get out of something what you put into it.
Your article brought a big smile on my face so thank you for the real expression. 🙂 when I left my relationship, I picked a bag, my pets, my kids and my camera not knowing why this camera, slowly it is making sense. A great source of joy 🙂
I see our point. The joy is in the journey. I get a brief bit of enjoyment getting a new camera or lens and then a steady stream of Ah-Ha moments as I figure out how to make use of all the new capabilities. I wish I could say I carefully consider all those features before buying something new, but I don’t. I buy something and then tinker with it until I figure out how to use it well. I suppose that is the difference between a profession or a hobby. I am definitely on the hobby end of that spectrum.
I am a year into learning Photoshop and do get great pleasure every time I improver and/or have more skill at my disposal with each photograph.
BTW= I enjoy your podcast with Blake and these regular emails – thank you.
The real joy comes from being able to enjoy your progress through actually doing what you enjoy. When I have time I go back to my LR catalogue to review and critique my early efforts. With a smile, I ask myself why did you ever save that shot.
Now I find that my “keeper: standards are higher, but my keeper rate also is higher.
Admittedly, practice, understanding and better gear all play a role in the level of happiness as do the things I have learned in some of your courses.
I hadn’t thought about these things until I read this piece, but you’re absolutely right on both counts. The joy in both is being able to improve on current performance. But after 40 years of playing I strongly believe that golf is by far the more frustrating of the two!
Absolutely… in order to even play golf you have to swing this little club and hit this little ball. Barrier to entry is immediately higher because it takes athleticism. With a camera… anyone can push a button right? Doesn’t mean they’ll get a good photo, but it’s definitely easier to progress.
Hi Matt,
You have a good point. A problem that I am seeing is editing programs using artificial intelligence to make a badly taken photo acceptable – but not like the original scene. in my opinion, that is not photography, it is photographic art.
Having the information on the camera or photoshop planted in your mind is no better than an instruction book in your pocket. The Process of learning and practicing what you learn gives understanding and knowing what and how to do what you want. Simple example, learning how to ride a bike: Once learned, you dp not have to think about how to ride – you just get on and go. It is the same with using the camera. The joy is in what you do, not how.
I guess I would say if some one gets an acceptable photo who cares how they got there – as long as THEY are happy with it. Nobody said you have to be happy with it right? There is no definition of photography that you can find me that says the photo can’t be edited in certain ways and needs to look a certain way compared to the original. It doesn’t exist, so my thought is who cares what some one else does… It’s not my business how some one spends their money, raises their kids, or chooses to use the camera or computer.
The joy is in the journey!
Hi.
I just want you to know that I enjoy reading whatever you publish. I get a little better informed each time you have something to say.
I have enjoyed my photography more now than ever as I have settled down to liking my work myself as well as sharing it
with others.
I contine to improve by doing more of it but concetrating on the work of others the enjoy and seeing what they say
As in golf, the initial improvements are easier. Not that hard to break 100 though they say that only 30% of golfers who keep score honestly actually achieve this. Breaking 90 is harder, and breaking 80 and golfing in the 70’s is exponentially harder.
The point is that it is a not a linear improvement scale, and it isn’t always moving forward. Sometimes with new clubs (gear) you will actually backslide.
In golf and photography we sometimes make mistakes even when we know the right thing to do. That is not just humbling but also very annoying.
Personally I find photography less frustrating than golf. The technology in photo gear is far superior to the tech in golf clubs. If you have a great first nine and a crappy back your overall score still sucks. In photography at least you have some great frames from the front nine ?
I couldn’t agree more about both things.
Incremental pleasure gained after each step in a learning process is essential. Being able to become an instant expert is too complex and can be likened to instant wealth. What do buy next, what to do next? The point where nothing causes satisfaction or pleasure is quickly reached.
I fully understand your point of view, but still get enjoyment from the journey and the growth experienced as a result. I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t enjoy photography (or life) as much if everything I needed to know was miraculously downloaded into my head, making me an instant expert. That seems quite boring to me. Plus, there’s nothing quite like being out in the open air, seeing the sights, hearing the sounds, and (hopefully) overcoming the challenges. What I have noticed though, is that since coming through the pandemic, and recovering from some health concerns in 2023, I still experience a lowered level of both motivation and enjoyment of my photographic (and life) experiences. It’s like the bar has been lowered for so long that it’s hard to rise above middle. I’m hoping that a trip to Texas for the eclipse in a couple of weeks will breathe some life back into my life and my photography, since I’ve never shot an eclipse before. Maybe an instant download would actually help in this case. 🙂
I don’t think it is the improvement per se; it’s more the pleasure of overcoming an obstacle
Matt,
I live near Pensacola, which gives me an opportunity to shoot the Blue Angels several times a year. I’ve gotten decent with my Nikon D850 but have found the FPS to be a limitation. Last year, I rented the Nikon Z8, hoping to take advantage of its higher FPS, for their Homecoming show. I found the transition from DSLR to mirrorless to be surprisingly difficult.
I had several days to set up and practice with the Z8 before the airshow. Whether I was photographing butterflies, birds standing still, or (eventually) the Blue Angels, the percentage of decent photos was dramatically lower than with the D850.
No doubt, my technique needs improvement. I always learn from your courses and will be purchasing this one shortly. Looking at your course outline, I didn’t see anything specific to this topic. Then again, maybe this topic is specific to me.
However, I am curious if you or anyone else who reads this comment has any perspective on my initial challenges shooting high-speed action shots with a mirrorless camera vs a DSLR?
Thanks Matt, great read. I loved golf so much that I played everyday, either practicing or playing as many holes as I could before or after work. Photography is the same, I am retired and go out as often as I can and I get so excited at times that I forget to change my settings. I have learn a lot from your teachings, so its just a matter of staying clam and remembering what to do in the field.
Thanks again,
Semper Fi,
Joe W.
I have been watching your videos for quite some time and, recently, have been listening to your podcasts. In a way, I think you have implanted some knowledge into my brain. Yet, I don’t think it has made me a more successful or happy photographer. Rather, you have sometimes inspired me to try new things. What brings me joy is to just be out there where I can see the unique things nature has to offer. If I can capture that in a photograph and I find out other people have found pleasure in viewing my photograph, that is another kind of joy. I also have become proficient enough in the technical aspects of photography that I have begun to experiment in post processing. I believe that nature speaks to some of us. So, in order for one of my photos to speak to more than just me, I use post processing to allow it to speak louder so others may hear it. That sometimes takes the picture out of the actual realm and into the abstract or surreal. But, when someone views the picture and reacts with, “Wow,” that means the person has heard nature speak to them. And that is joyous for me.
Matt,
I think it comes down to savoring the results or the process. I tend to like results for some things and the process for others. Sometimes it’s both. Photoshop has kicked my butt for a long time and I finally said no more… even if I hardly use it, I am going to learn it… and the process is very rewarding. I may never “master” Photoshop but I’m feeling very good about the learning process watching videos from you, Blake Rudis (I like that you and Blake are buddies), and others.
Matt,
Throughout my lifetime, learning has been what sustained my motivation and many interests, including over 50 years of photography. As I get older, I am becoming more focused on not forgetting what I have learned although I continue to keep trying to improve too.
Re: golf – that’s a game where getting better is often mixed with intense frustration. It takes a patient and motivated person with good instruction to keep improving and, like most things, there is a point where additional improvement comes very slowly, if at all.
Hi Matt
Yes, I agree. When you are interested in an activity, the more you practice and improve, the better you get at it and enjoy it more. There is no way anyone will have a miracle and suddenly become perfect. How often have we heard someone say, “Weren’t you lucky to get that shot or putt?” only to be told yes? The more I practised, the luckier I became.
Some people have a gift or talent, but even they will tell you they learn something new daily. My only worry about spending time improving ourselves with a hobby is that it becomes an obsession to the detriment of other parts of life.
Many thanks for your efforts to help us improve and enjoy our photography hobby more and more.
Michael
I played a lot of golf when I was younger and had a handicap index of 7.1. But had lower back surgery in 2013 and took me a year to recover from that surgery. When I started playing again, it was the smell of the grass, the sound of the ball hitting the sweet spot and playing with my friends that I missed the most. But the back pain continued to increase so I’ve given up golf and switched to photography as a way to get some exercise in 2020. I’ve always been interested in photography. I took a class in high school (1972) where we learned to use a dark room to develop film. Then when we were living in Walnut Creek, CA in 1983 I took a one day a week photography class that lasted ~10 weeks. I had a point-and-shoot camera (Canon S-95) and would take jpeg images of all the places we travelled — Ireland, France, Israel, Hawaii. I’ve made some bad decisions on buying DSLR cameras. I bought a Canon 5D Mark IV and a bunch of lenses. Sold it to KEH and bought a Canon 5DSr because it used the same lenses. I sold the camera all of the lenses to KEH and now I own a Canon R5 and R6 with several lenses, a Fujifilm X100V and used X-T5 which I bought from MPB with a bunch of lenses. I should have just purchased a Canon R50 or R100 and mirrorless and the RF 24-105mm lens which would have been smarter. The Canon R5 wasn’t available in early 2020.
You are absolutely right about this. And that’s probably why I drift in and out of photography as a hobby. I just came back recently after a couple years and I’m amazed at the changes in Lightroom. It’s revitalized my passion and has caused me to go back and re-edit old images. It’s the learning and improvement that fires me up. (Well, that and the cool gear) It’s the same reason I shifted away from golf to tennis several years ago. There’s so much more room for learning and improvement in my tennis game than in golf. So even though I’m a better golfer than tennis player, I enjoy tennis more these days.
The way we develop a healthy self respect is by overcoming obstacles and learning something difficult.
Matt;
Just bought the course. I trust that it will help me as much as your other courses have done. All of your courses have helped to implant the knowledge. You are correct in saying that when a skill sticks, it really feels good. Thanks for all you have done and for your friendship. Hi to Diana. , Neal
This is true, that the challenge of improvement nurtures pleasure and pride, whether in sports or in arts, or in a profession.
A corollary is that inability to improve, despite dedicated effort, must be recognized. That was the story of my years practicing violin. My wife was relieved when I quit. I then devoted my time to other interests in which effort was better rewarded.
I think you are partially right. However, if you had all the knowledge overnight, you would lose the experience of improvement, but still retain the experience of achievement.
I think photography is similiar to IT in that it is such a broad area that I will never stop improving or learning about each one. ( I was a network Admin, programmer, data expert(SQL, FOCUS, and others), desktop helpdesk, etc in my work life).
Just my thoughts
Hmmm. Would you have the experience of achievement if you didn’t actually achieve anything? I’m not sure. And don’t get me wrong… there are certainly nice aspects if I were to all of the sudden be a par golfer. I could bet more people money and I certainly wouldn’t make a fool of myself on the tee box as many times as I do now. That’s definitely worth something 😉
Thanks.
I’ve been into photography since 1960! I actually sold 8×10 B&W prints to a pharmacy when I was just 13 years old. (Now you know how old I am!)
I used my Dad’s camera (he had given up photography) which was a 4×5 Speed Graphic. That may predate you. We didn’t have a darkroom, but we had a garage. I developed the film and made the prints in the garage that evening. Then the next day I sold them. I got $10.00 which was a huge sum of money for me then.
I didn’t know much about printing. I had never heard of dodging and burning and wouldn’t have known how to do it if I tried. Now I compare that to the photos I’m taking on my mirrorless Nikon. It is so much easier now. I can change the ISO without having to get different film. There is no messing around with developer and hypo. I don’t need to control the temperature of the chemicals for developing film. And the results (good or bad) are available instantly. Wow! What a change.
Thanks to you I’ve learned the basics of Lightroom and Photoshop. I’m not an expert, but my friends are delighted with the results. I volunteer at my car club to photograph their events. I photographed 17 events last year for them and processed nearly 400 photographs. All were posted on the club website. I get lots of folks telling me how much they like the photos (and I don’t ask what they think.)
I’m so grateful to YOU for the instruction and encouragement you pass out to us all. My home is full of beautiful photographs from all over the world. I took and processed them all. When we have guests they all comment on how great the photographs are. And I have YOU to thank for all of this.
So you are right. I didn’t learn this skill overnight. It has taken decades. And it is something that will survive my time on this planet. And I know I still have a lot more to learn. That’s why I follow you, buy your courses and enjoy every minute! Thank you!
Matt, you’re correct — a lot of the enjoyment is in the learning and watching yourself (or have others notice that you’re) getting better. I will, however, take issue with one point. You note that it’s “hard to get that feeling in photography anymore” of doing something right. Well … while I’m not (as) accomplished a photographer, I still get a good “high” when I do something right. And in other things (where I am considered an expert, one of the tops in my field) I also still get excited when I complete a job that others might have found daunting, but that I’ve done hundreds and hundreds of times. Life is too short NOT to get excited about doing something right, even if it’s “just routine”. That’s my 2 cent’s worth. Keep up the good work.
Emerson said “it’s not the destination, it’s the journey “
Hi Matt:
I played a lot of golf several years ago. I enjoyed it tremendously. But I was never really good at it. But that made those occasional birdies a very good day. I also made those shots that brought me back for more. I find my photography efforts pretty much the same way. But I do push harder at my photographic skills now in my senior years. I do go back to the days of film photography so the digital technology has opened so many doors and so much more to learn. I was a photographer in the navy many years ago and dealt with the limitations that made film photography a bit of a challenge. We just had to go out and get the shot. Us guys managed to do very well and we got good at it.
I find the find the digital technology a big challenge. But your courses make it so more reachable for me. I’ll never learn all there is to know about Photoshop or Lightroom, but that makes the study more like the chase of so much to learn. It keeps me very busy knowing that I don’t have enough years left to catch up with what I enjoy so much. Your presentation of the Photoshop technology makes it closer to reality for me. Thanks, Matt.
Your fellow New Jersey neighbor from Metuchen,
Jim Gerner
I golf a lot too, and when I hit a flush shot, or a spinning chip, or even better a whole round of solid…it’s a great feeling. I know it won’t last, but it gives me hope knowing that I can do it.
Photography is the same, sometimes I’ll take a shot and process it and think…yep, that’s a keeper. But, I also know that I haven’t cracked it, so I enjoy the moment, and move on. With practice, there are more good moments than bad ones, less reliance on luck…in golf and photography.
Gary Player: The more I practice, the luckier I get…when asked about a round where he holed a couple of bunker shots, and the questioner noted how lucky he was at bunker shots.
I do understand why you said what you did about the Joy is in the improvement. When I was in a camera club I shot to please judges. After years of that I became complacent, bored and disgruntled with my own work. I decided to change my direction and bought a mirrorless camera, took some classes about flower photography and then discovered Lensbaby lenses. I was taking these delightful images of flowers, and then added in textures or I was using a lens that was creative! I have never looked back and each time I take something better, or more interesting or is more creative in nature I get excited ! So I agree with you 100%
I totally agree! I have done landscapes for must of my life. A year ago I was very bored and decided to take on shooting birds. I bought your course a long the way and it has been a huge challenge. I find I am excited again by every small win. I had a great eagle in flight shot recently that I couldn’t wait to share with my wife and Facebook friends. It truly is in the challenge that the excitement lives.
I forgot to say thank you for all the great information and encouragement. It has made a difference.
Much of this is really a metaphorical question on the nature of life. It’s not the destination, rather the most intriguing part is the journey and I think this philosophy applies to photography as well. The way I stay motivated is twofold namely, staying in the moment, i.e. appreciating being in the place/time with (or without) others and constantly learning and improving at every opportunity. Maintaining this joyful approach to life means it is never boring nor mastered.
The biggest kick for me is finding new things to do with my camera, many of which were impossible in the days of film.
I started with a rangefinder Nikon knock-off of a German camera, and a light meter; so, remember how amazing it was to get a through the lens metering system (SLR). Then Zoom lenses started to appear, junk at first, but now I own two.
So, getting old, and not traveling so far: so, not so easy to find new things to photograph, until looking closer in the local forest. Going Macro (to 1:1 or even 2:1) and focus stacking; the camera can see more than our eyes see and a whole new world opens up.
Then there are all the new toys that have been coming out for Lightroom…
Looking forward to the course and the improvement!
I remember, a few years ago when I was still climbing the learning curve of photography, the excitement of seeing those videos of “How to” or “5 tips of …”. Everything was new and fresh, an was a thrill to try those technics on the field or on Lightroom/Photoshop. Now I find it harder and harder to find the motivation to go out and photograph since there isn’t anything new to experiment. So yes, the joy is in the improvement, I agree with you.
Wow… you wrote exactly what I think a lot of us feel in any hobby/activity. Thanks and I hope you’re able to find some more joy in being better than when you started and the challenge that it takes to find new things to keep you moving ahead.
Your thing is golf. Mine is woodworking. When I start a new project I try to incorporate something new into the project; something I’ve never done before. This forces me to learn something new. This what I enjoy. Sometimes it works well, othertimes it doesn’t. But I enjoy the excitement of the hunt. For photography, I also like trying something new. I hope I never get to the point where I think “I’ve done it all.” I still enjoy learning and trying something new.
Curiosity, the strive for discovering, taking challenges, in the end creating something that is new for us, that we never before achieved is deeply human and brings all that joy of „I made it!“
There are times in this game when we just have to learn and to keep going – so just keep going and keep learning.
And from time to time we need to just stop, take a break and look back on the way we already came.
It helps me a lot to have always more than one „iron in the fire“. I photograph landscape, Infrared, love B&W and do compositing. Getting stuck and in a rut in one project, I can jump to the next one and later come back with fresh eyes and mind.
What a great course idea! I agree that the process and learning fills a need and brings greater satisfaction that you have accomplished something. I love to shoot fast (action). We live in an area where the eagles come through in the winter and I have spent three winters learning how to do that from mentors. Just when I got my ‘formula’ down I tried again this year and totally forgot that I had changed to mirrorless and had no experience photographing eagles with my camera. And to make things more fun, the day I realized this it was -11 degrees so not a great time to be practicing those skills outside. Lucky for me, it warmed up and I had other practice opportunities and I sort of figured it out. Your course would have come in handy for sure. I get a lot of experience with people, but not so much animals and other things, so this course can help with that.
I I would just like a little more knowledge in my head, but not at all as much as you have, because that would take some of the fun out of it for me
Ha! I like that approach. Just give me a little bit of a head start right? 🙂
I definitely find enjoyment in the learning process and in the improvement I see in my photography. Once I get close to mastering a concept, I look for the next challenge. I find a lot of pleasure in using things I’ve learned in your courses and in my camera club, either when I’m out taking pictures or when I’m post processing. I hope I never stop learning and, of course, improving.
After taking the “How To Photograph Action” course I hope to get back to my initial desire for shooting birds in flight and other “action packed” moving subjects. Before I moved to mirrorless, I had a custom scene set on my Canon 6D Mk II specifically for shooting birds in flight. But before I even got started using that custom function, I quit because I thought it was too hard. I’m looking forward to taking the course!
Thanks TC. You’ll get there. Believe it or not, the settings are easy. The hardest part is getting out there and doing it but hopefully this helps. Thanks
The greatest moments of joy come from the sense of accomplishment after the struggle to reach my goal. Right now, it is learning to focus stack, a goal I have not yet reached, but I am enjoying the climb.
I know where you are coming from. As a CPA in the 80’s, spreadsheet software was new to me and my peers. While we all had the basic skills, no one knew how to take advantage of all that the software offered. I spent many hours learning from a self-help book, then applying my newfound knowledge to my work. Along the way my body must have been pumping out the endorphins and oxytocin like crazy as I became the spreadsheet guru at our company. Now, in retirement, I’ve turned to upping my photography game. Friends, who run a small gallery at our church, were aware of my interest in photography and ask me to create an exhibit for them. I said I would, then was pushed to a deadline and had to create at least 12 prints with a common theme, fitting the guidelines of the gallery. Yikes!. Well, I purchased your Lightroom and Photoshop courses and took on the task. I got through the Lightroom course and applied all that I learned to this project and the results were a rousing success. With your help I’m, again, pumping out the endorphins and oxytocin like crazy. Thanks, Matt!
I think you are right – the journey is where fun can be found in the little steps taken and side trails investigated as we move along toward the destination. The concept of lifelong learning is important as it is probably fair to say we continuously change our destination as we get better and never or seldom actually reach the perfect destination.
I appreciate that you let us know what you think as a way to let us know what you have that’s newly available in your service and product offerings.
Getting to a high skill level in a sport or in Photography takes hard work, practice and time. Some individuals certainly have the ability attain skills and success faster than others but that doesn’t mean they didn’t work at improvisó their skill.