Overcoming Self Doubt when Using Your Camera.
It’s not uncommon for photographers to feel self-doubt at some time. How can you learn to overcome these doubts in your own capabilities when you are starting out with new cameras and photography?
Here are a few suggestions which may help you get started.
Don’t hesitate: We tend initially to get overawed with the camera and its complicated operation. Hesitation to use it stops you from being creative. Best images are mostly taken when you are so engrossed in the art of photography that you have stopped being worried that you will do the wrong thing with your gear. You are then also less critical of your own ability. Simply ‘have a go’. Create first and ask questions later. It is not as though you have a consequence for failure. You just delete the images that don’t work out.
Take a lot of photos: It’s much more difficult to doubt yourself when you have literally done everything possible. Invest enough time, and you will be able to see the outcomes of what you are doing. You cannot really doubt yourself until you have had more than enough time to play with your gear and become comfortable with how it works. Read the manual, but use it as a reference as you need it to answer a query.
Most people bumble around in their first few years, and then they have this brilliant stroke of insight. Where does it come from? I would hazard a guess that it’s the combination of skills they have learned over this time period. They start putting everything together, and it becomes a reality.
Do your best to remove emotion from the equation: Negative emotions harm you in many ways. They sap your motivation, and they make your creative time dull and tedious. This is the hardest one to overcome because it seeps into your life when you are not aware. Whenever you feel it coming, just remind yourself to be rational.
Try not to get caught up in what other people think of your work either. Some people like certain things, and others like other things. If you’re trying to become a good photographer, it’s even more difficult. Just find the crowd that does like your work and create for those people. This may be you, many photographers shoot to please themselves. It is only if you wish to sell your work or have it accepted by society that you need to please others.
Believe in yourself. You will get so much more out of your photography than you will from being naturally talented.
How to Use Photography to Help Your Community.
There’s nothing quite like helping others just for the fun of it. At some time or other, we all want to do a little extra to make others feel special. Your photography skills are very valuable to those who either don’t have the equipment or just don’t know how to get the best images possible. Here are a few ways to help them out.
Take Photos Of Your Friends And Family: This is the easiest thing you can do, especially when you are good at photography. The next time you are with your family or friends, do them a favour and snap a few photos. They will usually appreciate these images - ones they do not take of themselves or their children. It is also fun to surprise them with photographs you took from an event that happened a long time ago.
Be careful to manage the surprise aspect because as soon as you are expected to be the family photographer, it is not nearly as much fun anymore. Take pictures when you feel like it, and only give them because you want to. These days this can take the form of images attached to an email of thanks.
Help a Friend Who Is Building a Business or Group: If one of your friends is an entrepreneur, go ahead and help out with some initial photography work. This will set your friend’s business apart from all of the other business that uses stock photography for their website, brochures, and other marketing materials. If your friend sells a product, take a few nice pictures and give them away. When the business takes off, your friend will never forget your kindness and goodwill.
Don’t just limit yourself to business images. Even if a friend of your is simply trying to sell something on Ebay, a nice picture can make all the difference. It only takes a few seconds.
Take Photos When You See Tourists:
Whenever you’re near a landmark and you see a family or a couple who could use your help, don’t wait for them to ask you. Engage with them and ask if they would like you to take a photo for them. This is really simple gesture which will be appreciated. Think of yourself in the same circumstances.
Take Photos of Community Events and Share Them with Others:
Maybe your kids play soccer or they’re involved in a school program. The next time there’s a big game or an event, become the photographer and give everyone copies of your pictures. This is not only a great way to share your skills; it can become a nice way to market your photography services. You never know who will see the pictures. Be careful to seek parental / guardian approval before photographing children.
Teach Your Friends Your Photography Skills:
If you’ve got a friend who’s just getting into photography, take some time to teach them the finer points. Often, this may involve having a few casual chats about camera settings while appraising some of their work. It is even more fun when you organize photo walkst. They will benefit from your knowledge, and you will get a new photo enthusiast to share your interest.
Join or Form a Community Group: Find a popular gathering place (your recreation centre, library, or local coffee shop), and post a few messages on the noticeboard. It can really be fun to get everyone involved.
Our Library Photo Group is an example. You are most welcome to join us any third Thursday of the month. Our current Workshop Group hopes to share experiences back into our monthly Seminars for benefit of all. You could likewise use the newsletter as a hub for promo, information gathering and feedback to the email network group. Please contact me if you are interested in forming a group in your community.
A Quick Exercise to Improve Your Photography.
Have you ever wondered why some photographers just seem to have a knack for what they are doing? It’s almost as if they have some sixth sense for photography, an uncanny ability to pick anything of interest from a scene and make it stand out. How is this possible?
Try this quick exercise: Position yourself at a location and take time out to notice everything going on around you. Simply allow the ideas to flow to you.
Literally sit back and notice everything going on. Bring a pen and a piece of paper with you to write it down if this helps you to organize your thoughts. Here is a handy list of things which may help you to focus your attention.
- Light intensity
- Light direction
- Textures on subject
- Interesting patterns
- Geometry and shapes
- Presence/absence of foreground elements
- Type of light (diffuse, direct, etc.)
- Small details that could look interesting close up
- Framing possibilities (how can you get your photo to follow the rule of thirds?)
- Angles above and below your subject
- Reflections in glass or eyewear
- Presence/absence of clouds and weather
- The effect of your lens on the subject (is there distortion? etc.)
- Mood of the setting
- How your subject is feeling in the given situation
A great photographer is someone who is always taking mental notes on all around. The more complex your understanding of a photo becomes, the more likely you are to produce an outstanding image.
Once you feel you have exhausted your time out, spend additional time to ensure you have missed nothing. It is then time for you to setup your shot. By this time, you will usually have noticed at least a dozen different things that will influence your photograph. Each observation is tied to an action you will eventually take to ensure your best photograph from the scene in front of you.
