The new era for photography, with the proliferation of digital photography along with the mirror-less system camera technology, has changed the photography landscape by huge waves, some of the topics had been debated and discussed over the years. What are the challenges that photographers faced ahead into the new future, the new era of photography and beyond? I don’t have the answers and will not have the answers to them.
As I am thinking hard, consolidating my thoughts, feelings and ideas, there would definitely be some topics that may not be written down here today. One of my mandates was lifelong learning, in life, in work, for my passion, interests and hobbies. My photography journey over the years were self-learned through books, photographing and photographing, invaluable advice from photography seniors/mentors and learning from photography masters through their works and sharing. A key and important life learning personal development skill that is applicable universally, is that by teaching/mentoring people, you would improve your skills, knowledge and experiences in your field of expertise. I gradually applied this to my photography journeys and the truth dawned upon me on that I still have a lot to learn while I am teaching/mentoring a fellow photographer.
I shared a lot of photography tips from photography masters, photography websites and sometimes sharing my own tips/experiences on my Facebook Page. The Facebook Page is where I leverage and follow photographers FB pages and photography websites FB pages. Recently, there were a few posts by photography masters that got me reading, thinking and learning again. Now is the time to share and reflect.
Which are the posts that triggered my learning again?
Sebastiao Salgado
A common understanding, probably a topic of concern/interest is, are we photographers losing the art to see, feel, touch and compose a photograph? Are we too obsessed with areas such as the technical specifications on the number of megapixels, mirror-less versus DSLR, whatever features I have inside my camera is better than your camera? Post processing and editing, how much is too much?
I once shared with a fellow photographer friend – “I can share with you, I can teach you about the technical aspects of a camera. I cannot teach you creativity, it is something you have to explore and find it yourself”.
I am not going to lie and say I do not wish or I do not need to upgrade my camera setup. I have my wish list for my next DSLR body upgrade and creating a mirror-less camera setup. Yet, I was also awaken by David duChemin post “Stop Using A Camera, Start Making Photogrpahs” – to go beyond the Gear Acquisition Syndrome and Start Making Photographs.
Start Making Photographs, it’s an artwork that goes deep into your heart, your mind, your soul, through your eyes, you let the feelings flow through your heart, think, plan and once you see it, capture it down, the priceless moment.
Understand what you want to shoot, the impacts and beyond your photographs can bring to the world. Study beyond the art and subject of photography, from sociology, anthropology, geography and economics. These are the words from Sebastiao Salgado.
“Your Eye, Heart and Soul Are Your Most Important Gear” – a personal photography philosophy that I regularly shared with my photographer friends especially those that were mentored by me. These words came from Steve McCurry, a renowned world famous photographer. Steve was one of the first few photographers that I looked upon a lot, just by looking and learning from his breathe-taking photography artworks. He was a big influence in my photography learning and adventure.
Now, the truth has come to light, my personal photography tip “Shoot with your heart and soul, through your eyes” came from learning and observing the master photographer Steve McCurry’s works over my photography journey years. The circle is complete, sub-consciously over the decades, I learned it from him.
With a wide mixture of photography tips and sharing, it might be confusing for some photographers, it might be enlightening for some of you photographers. If you are lost, why not let the inhibitions go away, free the pressure and expectations to photograph a photograph? Make a photograph instead.
Alright photographers, grab your camera gears and equipment, time to head out and start making photographs!