If I Had To Learn Photography Again, This Is How I Would Do It.

Pat Kay

13 Dec 202320:04

EducationalLearning

32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThis video provides a step-by-step guide for beginners on the most efficient path to learn photography. It starts with learning photographic history and genres, followed by basic gear knowledge. Next it emphasizes mastering exposure, focus, and quality of light. After getting out and practicing with thousands of photos, learn visual composition patterns. Then develop a workflow and aesthetic through photo editing. Finally, take a break to find inspiration and direction before reassessing gear needs. Getting feedback from communities, not just Instagram, is critical for improvement.

Takeaways

😀 Learn photography history and genres to understand the foundations.
📷 Master the exposure triangle for proper image exposure.
🔭 Learn about focus modes for sharpness.
📸 Shoot thousands of images to practice techniques.
☀️ Study light quality for visual impact.
🎨 Learn composition and visual patterns for strong images.
✂️ Edit photos to develop a visual aesthetic.
🎥 Take a break, find inspiration and purpose.
👀 Get feedback from communities for growth.
🛠 Revisit gear when you've outgrown it.

Q & A

What are the most important foundational skills to learn when starting photography?
-The most important foundational skills are learning exposure (the exposure triangle of shutter speed, aperture, and ISO), focus techniques, and understanding light quality.
What is a good way for beginners to start practicing and learning?
-Beginners should get out and shoot a lot, trying every camera setting and making thousands of mistakes. The goal at this stage is hands-on experience, not perfect photos.
When is a good time for beginners to start editing their photos?
-After building experience through taking lots of photos, beginners can start editing once they begin making good quality images. Editing bad images is not an efficient use of time.
What is visual language, and why is it important in photography?
-Visual language is using compositional elements like lines, shapes, patterns etc. to communicate meaning, similar to how grammar allows effective communication via written language. Learning visual language allows photographers to effectively convey messages through images.
Why is receiving feedback important for growing photographers?
-Receiving real feedback exposes areas for improvement that photographers often can't see themselves early on due to bias. It pushes skills forward much more quickly.
What gear considerations are most important for landscape photographers?
-Landscape photographers generally do not need fast aperture lenses, as depth of field is deep anyway. Priority should be sharpness and weight/portability over speed.
What is a common beginner trap regarding gear purchases?
-Purchasing complex gear too early that hinders learning due to not yet having the required skills or experience to use it properly.
What is the Dunning-Kruger effect in photography?
-The tendency for beginners to perceive their work as much higher quality than it objectively is early on, due to lack of discernment from experience.
What are characteristics of quality feedback?
-Effective feedback should provide objective assessments pushing skills forward rather than just flattery or reflections of personal taste.
What is a good goal for number of photos taken in the first years?
-Shooting 0.5-1 million intentional, deliberate photos within the first 5 years forces skills to progress quickly from high volume practice.

Outlines

00:00

😀 Getting Started in Photography

The first paragraph provides guidance for beginners getting started in photography. It suggests first learning photography history and genres to find direction and passion. Then briefly research basic gear without getting overwhelmed. Most critically, master exposure triangle and focus skills to properly capture images.

05:03

📷 Practicing Photography Skills

The second paragraph advises new photographers to practice by shooting thousands of photos with their newly learned basic skills. It explains how trial and error helps develop familiarity with camera gear. It also recommends reviewing but not editing images yet.

10:05

🌇 Understanding Light and Composition

The third paragraph shifts focus to improving image quality by learning about light quality and visual patterns for compelling composition. It encourages deliberate practice applying these conceptual tools through thousands more images.

15:06

✏️ Developing a Personal Style

The fourth paragraph guides developing a personal style once a strong foundation is built. It suggests taking an inspirational break to find photographic purpose and direction. Then emulating others' work to transform your own until an aesthetic forms through an iterative editing process.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡exposure triangle

The exposure triangle refers to the combination of shutter speed, aperture, and ISO that controls how much light reaches the camera's sensor. It is one of the most fundamental concepts in photography and critical for capturing proper exposures. The script emphasizes mastering the exposure triangle early on since it underpins all aspects of image-making.

💡visual patterns

Visual patterns refer to compositional elements and principles that create harmony, emotion, and meaning within an image. They constitute a visual language for communicating ideas or feelings to viewers. Learning them allows photographers to effectively 'speak' through their images.

💡quality of light

In photography, light has distinctive qualities based on its intensity, color, direction etc. that dramatically impact the look of images. The script recommends studying different light types like hard, soft, warm, cool light and learning to find and use light effectively.

💡visual aesthetic

A visual aesthetic refers to the stylistic treatment a photographer applies to images during editing, based on context or intent. It evolves slowly through deliberate practice. The script advises beginners to start developing their aesthetic via photo editing.

💡feedback

External feedback helps calibrate progress and address the Dunning-Kruger effect where new photographers often overestimate their work's quality. It creates friction that spurs learning. The script stresses getting feedback from communities to push one's craft forward.

💡inspiration

Inspiration from others' work can reveal techniques for achieving certain photographic looks and spark creative progress. The script recommends photographers to study inspirational images and emulate elements they respond to.

💡efficient learning

The video focuses on laying out optimal sequences and categories for learning photography effectively. It aims to provide guidance on mastering core technical and conceptual skills first to establish a solid foundation.

💡deliberate practice

Deliberate practice with intention and reflection behind every image allows skills to develop faster. The script advocates for thousands of thoughtfully-made images over time rather than random shooting.

💡iterative learning

An iterative learning process of repeated shooting - review - adjustment cycles based on feedback tightens skills significantly over time. The script maps out this workflow for continuous improvement.

💡style development

Developing a coherent style is portrayed as a long-term emergent process, not a fixed destination. It demands exposure to varied aesthetics and dedicated practice to find one's unique photographic voice.

Highlights

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Transcripts

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Takeaways

Q & A

What are the most important foundational skills to learn when starting photography?

What is a good way for beginners to start practicing and learning?

When is a good time for beginners to start editing their photos?

What is visual language, and why is it important in photography?

Why is receiving feedback important for growing photographers?

What gear considerations are most important for landscape photographers?

What is a common beginner trap regarding gear purchases?

What is the Dunning-Kruger effect in photography?

What are characteristics of quality feedback?

What is a good goal for number of photos taken in the first years?