Fuji X-E2, 18-55mm, ISO 200, ƒ/9, 20 sec
If you want to be a better tennis player, you play with better players. If you want to grow as a photographer, then surround yourself with other photographers and better photographers.
This past weekend, I traveled around the Big Island of Hawaii with 8 of the 16 students in the School of Photography class at Youth With A Mission. We were sightseeing together, visiting some of the Island’s sights.
The top photo depicts Volcanoes National Park at night. Here, most of us were using tripods. This advantage was that you could see each other’s work and ask what they were doing. Again, this helped people learn how to capture such a problematic situation.
No, when you are on these trips, take the time to find those who are better than you, or at least more experienced. Ask them questions and learn what you can.
Karen Walker is one of the students in the workshop I am teaching this week. She would find me and ask great questions. “What are you looking for here?” might be one of the questions Karen would ask. She was just a sponge, seeking me out as much as possible.
She then wanted to be sure she wasn’t annoying. So I told her this is why I am here to help teach.
What surprised me was how few students asked me questions about photography. Every year this happens. I come as a visiting guest speaker, but the students often will not take advantage of my presence to grab me and ask questions.
My recommendations:
- Find a group to do some photography
- Find a professional to take a class with
- Ask questions beyond the lecture time
Remember, why take a class in person or buy a video if you don’t ask questions? Take advantage of the instructors and people around you. Ask why they are doing what they are doing. Ask how they are getting the photo. Clarify how they knew to do that. Sometimes they don’t know, and if it was just luck. You learn by engaging with others.