[life lessons] What has photography taught you?

[filmtwit]

1) Nikkor 50mm viewer will scratch the **** out of my glasses every time I use it.
2) Just because you thought you loaded the M5 correctly, doesn't mean you did.
3) A Camera can be a great way to keep you mind working, it can also be social crutch.
4) Just because I want something, doesn't mean I need it (my bank account thanks me every time I reminds myself of this rule).
5) Much like motorcycle racing, great equipment in the hands of a novice is a waste. But crappy equipment in the hands of a really good photographer can still make for great work.
6) Even with great new digital tools, desaturated color makes mediocre B&W images.

 

[Chris101]

...
8. Film is dead. If it were alive, it'd be hard to wrangle it into the camera, now, wouldn't it?
...

Not to mention cruel.

 

[rogerzilla]

That eBay is full of charlatans.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Not entirely sure, but when I grow up I will try to answer you. 😛

In the 1970s, a friend and I founded the Peter Pan Club, for those who have not yet decided what they want to do when they grow up.

Senior Membership is available to those under 30, Junior Membership to those over 30. I hereby enroll you as a Junior Member.

Cheers,

R. (Probationary Founder)

 

[Gary Briggs]

When it comes to cameras, there are so many roads to go down.....

 

[koven]

A man who lived one day could live for 100 years in prison, he would have enough memories to keep him from being bored. That line in the book the stranger had a profound effect on the way I view photography and life.

http://mrelllis.tumblr.com/

 

[redisburning]

a photograph is like a piece of fruit. pick it too early and it will be sour. too late and it will have rotted. and if you weren't hungry to begin with it will go to waste.

sorry I am watching an Enigma music video and an old man was picking fruit so I thought of this cute little analogy though I suppose it's more obvious than deep.

Although the second part is really the important bit. If you have no emotional connection to the picture it will not be good. Love, hate, curiosity or fear will all lead to good photographs if enough gets through. Androids may dream of electric sheep but I doubt they good particularly compelling photographs.

 

[claacct]

What I have learned is that photos are far more revealing of the photographer and his psychology than he/she would like to admit.

 

[Messsucherkamera]

Trust yourself, trust the source

Trust yourself, trust the source

Keep an open mind...

There's always room for improvement...

You can learn something from anyone...

Experiment...

Look a what the other guy is doing...take what you like...

Never say Never...

Trust your vision...

You're never too old to be discovered...

Amen to all the above! 😀

Especially "Trust your vision."

To trust your own photographic vision is to trust your self and to trust the source of your vision (The Universe, Karma, the great spirit, the Almighty or whatever you choose to call it).

 

[sara]

1. People who shoot digitally are twats.
2. Shoot it eventhough you're not sure, you may regret later.
3. Don't be scared and just shoot it (I have confidence issues but photography made me go up to people on the streets).

 

[ScottAlexander]

Don't spend too much time comparing your results with those of another person, you'll never get ahead if you're always trying to be a step behind someone.

 

[lynnb]

Get closer. To everything. Especially to pretty girls, brides, cute animals, and children.

Practice might not make perfect, but it's a bloody good idea nonetheless. Learning to see takes practice.

It always pays to be observant. And prepared - always carry a camera.

Learning never stops. You're never too old.

Often the best moments in photography, and life, are emotional. Tune in to your emotions, and the emotions of your subjects.

What does your inner voice tell you? Do you have a passion? Follow it. You always do best what you enjoy the most.

There's always someone else whose work you will think is better. Don't let that stop you from trying. Learn from others; there's plenty of room for everyone.

If it's not fun, try something different. Life's too short to be miserable.

 

[al1966]

Photography has taught me to see more in the little or mundane things.

But it is what photography gives me that comes to mind more;
The sense of excitement every time I develop a film or go to collect it.
The joy of those photographs that work
The feeling of wandering around a city with camera in hand can not be described, a state of bliss.
The power of that camera in my hand is such that I can overcome my health condition and I can wander around for far longer and in less pain than I can day to day.

 

[Ducky]

Photography has taught me that I'm not good at it.

 

[Shade]

I have learnt that pictures are memories frozen in time.

 

[rudolf]

For me, photography opened my mind. To other people, to the beauty of the world.
It allowed me to meet great people and know a little bit more about people and their emotions.

BTW, did you see this article by Eric Kim?
I like it, photography really can make some persons better. Myself included. 🙂

 

[TXForester]

To the original question I'd say there is always room for improvement.

How much of this is to do with photography and how much is just a question of growing older/growing up?

I'm growing older, but I refuse to grow up. 😀

 

[FrankS]

Photography has taught me that you miss 100% of the shots you don't take.

No wait, that was hockey.

 

[rovnguy]

My photos are the connecting dots of my life.

 

[Pikapig]

It taught me to be

1) Patient...wait for the right moment...
2) Creative....try create the mood you want if it don appear before u...
3) Forgiving and forget...If you cant get that picture becos of lighting, focal distance or limitation of the camera...then just forget about it and treasure what you can see instead of trying n trying to capture it...