BPP 334: Photography Manifesto for Beginners - Focus on The Essentials
It's 2023 and that means it's time for a fresh start.
This year we don't have resolutions, we have a manifesto.
A set of rules to live your life by as a photographer.
In this episode I reflect on the decisions that have shaped my journey in photography. As an entry to the digital photography space in 2003, when I purchased a Gateway DC-T50. Though not perfect, the camera still served as a foundation to his knowledge in photography and stirred me passion even further. Additionally, I discuss me goal of getting a Buell Motorcycle, but ultimately had to settle for a Kawasaki Ninja 250. I hope my experiences reminds you of the importance of small decisions in our life journeys and to appreciate them.
Download a printable version of the manifesto at - https://beginnerphotopod.com/rules
The Beginner Photography Podcast Photography Manifesto
The point of photography is to enrich the human experience
To be a half way decent photographer you must dedicate all of your time to it
Moment matters most in a photograph. Not settings
You dont need to know everything about photography to know anything.
Your camera gear is not holding you back, you are holding yourself back.
If there is no intention, there is no image
The only photographer you are in competition with, is yourself
Community is the only external source that will make you a better photographer
You cant make money from your creativity as a photographer
Kill your photography teachers
Start small and build up.
Starting a new venture can be daunting, especially when it involves something that you are unfamiliar with. This can be especially true when it comes to photography. As a beginner, it can be difficult to know where to start and what equipment to use. However, the key to success in photography is to start small and build up.
I learned this lesson the hard way. In 2003, I bought my first digital camera, a Gateway DCT-50. It was a five megapixel camera, and it was all I could afford. I treated it like any other camera, and I was so excited to use it. Unfortunately, the camera had some major drawbacks, such as a short battery life and an incredibly slow shutter lag. Despite these issues, I was still able to learn the basics of photography.
At 15 years old, I was eager for independence. I had been saving up for a Buell 1200 cc motorcycle, but I soon realized that I could not afford it. Instead, I opted for a Kawasaki Ninja 250, the lowest of the low. It was a tiny bike, but it was enough to get me to work and save up for the bigger bike.
The same principle can be applied to photography. It is important to start small and build up. Instead of buying the most expensive camera and equipment right away, start with the basics. Get a camera that you can afford, and use it to learn the basics of photography. As you get more comfortable with the camera and your skills improve, you can upgrade to a more advanced camera and equipment.
Starting small and building up is a great way to get into photography. It allows you to learn the basics without breaking the bank. It also gives you the opportunity to upgrade your equipment as your skills improve. Starting small and building up is the key to success in photography.
Photography enriches human experience.
When I first started out, I bought an underpowered 250cc motorcycle. It got me around town, but it didn't sound as cool as some of the bigger bikes. It couldn't handle the streets like a Buell, but it taught me a lot of lessons about not only how to ride a motorcycle, but how to interact with others who are not in motorcycles.
Two years later, I had the cash and the time to get the bike I wanted. Unfortunately, the Buell I was planning to buy was sold the day before I was going to pick it up. I settled for a Kawasaki ZR7, which was a 750cc motorcycle. It was three times the size of the 250 and had more power than I had ever experienced.
I realized how thankful I was for not going straight to a 1200 because this 750 was more power than I could handle. If I had started with a 600 or 750, I don't know if I'd be here today talking about photography. This experience was very similar to my journey in photography. I wanted the top of the line, big fancy camera, but I couldn't afford it. So I had to go with what I could afford.
My love for creating imagery and seeing photos that I envisioned in my head and being able to show them to others was infectious. Even though it wasn't the perfect tool, it taught me so much about becoming the photographer I wanted to become and that I am today.
We live in a world where new photographers are fixated on starting a business through their camera instead of focusing on the creative expression and storytelling that can be done with a camera. Despite having more creative tools at our fingertips than ever before, we believe that because we have access to all of it, we must use it all. This can lead to fatigue and discouragement when we don't reach the artificial bar we set.
After 240 months, I've realized that I subscribed to this way of thinking for far too long. That's why I'm sharing with you my 10 rules for becoming the best photographer that you can while still being true to yourself. These rules are designed to guide you when you feel lost, inspire you when you feel empty, and give you the roadmap to become the photographer you can only dream of today.
The first rule is that the point of photography is to enrich the human experience. Photography is a powerful tool that can be used to
Compete with yourself, not others.
tell stories, capture moments, and evoke emotions. It is an art form that can be used to express one’s innermost thoughts and feelings. The second rule is that in order to become a halfway decent photographer, you must dedicate all of your time to it. This means to intentionally pay attention to those moments in between, like while you are driving home in the evening or while you are grocery shopping. It is important to be aware of the beauty that exists in the world around us.
The third rule is that moment matters most in a photograph, not settings. This means that when you look at the photos you have taken, you don’t necessarily care about the light or the composition, but rather you care about the moment that was captured. You care if you were able to capture the emotion or the story that you were trying to convey. This is why anticipation is so important, as it allows you to be prepared for the moment that you are trying to capture.
The fourth rule is that you don’t need to know everything about photography to know anything. You can start with the basics and build up your skillset as you go. You can start with a basic camera and learn the fundamentals of photography without feeling overwhelmed by the amount of knowledge that exists.
The fifth rule is that your camera gear is not holding you back, you are holding yourself back. It is important to remember that even the most entry level camera is better than the flagship film cameras of yesteryear. You don’t need to have the most expensive equipment to take great photos.
The sixth rule is that if there is no intention, there is no image. This means that it is important to choose what you want to focus on and to make decisions about exposure, moment, framing, subject, and light. These are the decisions that will make a photo your own.
The seventh and final rule is that the only photographer you are in competition with is yourself. It is important to remember that you are the only one who can determine the level of success that you will reach. You should strive to be the best version of yourself, not the best version of someone else.
In conclusion, it is important to remember that the point of photography is to enrich the human experience and to focus on moments, not settings. You don’t need to know everything about photography to know anything and your camera
Grow your photography skills.
gear is not holding you back. Instead, you are holding yourself back. To be a better photographer, you need to dedicate time to it and be open to learning from others in the community. You also need to remember to shoot for yourself and not for money, as money can cloud your creative judgement. Finally, you need to “kill your photography teachers”, meaning that you need to learn from them, but eventually forge your own path.
Photography is an incredible art form that can be used to enrich the lives of others. To be a great photographer, one has to be willing to dedicate time and effort to learning and honing their skills. It is important to remember that you are your own photographer and to be open to learning from others in the community.
The first step to becoming a better photographer is to dedicate time to it. You need to practice and take as many photos as possible in order to stay sharp with your photography skills. This could be one photo a day or 600 photos a day, depending on your goals. It is important to remember that photography is a muscle and it takes discipline and reps to grow.
The second step is to be open to learning from others. This means looking to other photographers, not as masters, but as teachers. Once you learn enough from them, you can go out and shoot for yourself. It is important to remember that there is no perfect path in photography, and that you need to forge your own.
The third step is to remember that the point of photography is to enrich the human experience. This means that you need to have intention behind your photos and not be shooting for money, as money can cloud your creative judgement. It is important to remember that you are not in competition with anyone else, but with yourself.
Finally, you need to “kill your photography teachers”, meaning that you need to learn from them, but eventually forge your own path. It is important to remember that photography is a journey of self-discovery and that you need to be confident in your own skills and ideas.
By dedicating time to photography, being open to learning from others, and forging your own path, you can grow your photography skills and enrich the lives of others.
Make progress: shoot!
Making progress in photography means taking the time to shoot. It’s easy to make lofty goals and resolutions, but when it comes time to put in the work, life can get in the way. With yard work, soccer practice, and big projects, it’s easy to let photography slip by the wayside. But if you want to make progress, you have to make the time to shoot.
One way to make progress is to learn from others. Head over to beginnerphotopod.com/rules to find a printable version of the 10 rules that can be kept in your photo bag, saved to your phone, or hung above your computer at work. You’ll also get monthly check-ins, reminders, and tips from the host of the podcast to keep you on track.
In addition to learning from others, it’s important to forge your own path. Every shot doesn’t have to be a masterpiece. In fact, it might be garbage. That’s okay. As long as you are taking photos, you are making progress. Instead of watching a YouTube video or listening to a podcast, go on a walk around your neighborhood and take photos of all the plants growing out of the cracks in the streets or the sidewalk. Spend 10 minutes less on Instagram and daydream about the photos on your creative bucket list.
By making progress, you can enrich the lives of others. You can share your photos with your friends and family, or even use them to help others. For example, you could use your photos to document a cause you care about, or to capture the beauty of a place that is important to you.
Making progress in photography can be difficult, but it is definitely worth it. Dedicate time to photography, be open to learning from others, and forge your own path. You can make progress and enrich the lives of others in the process.