Our guest author today is Edwin A. Hernández Caraballo, a freelance photographer and teacher, and he brings you an article in which he reveals the keys to why we fail to take good photos.
"If I could have one important message to give to the beginner, it would be that there are no shortcuts in Photography."
Edward Weston (1886-1958)
When we finally got our first camera, we started to experience a paradoxical mix of feelings. On the one hand, the excitement of being able to create permanent memories, memories to access whenever we want. And, on the other, the frustration of not being able to take the same images as those who inspired us to be photographers.
The causes of that second sensation are, in general, quite simple to identify. Fortunately, they have nothing to do with not having a full frame camera, or not being able to travel the world and visit those exotic destinations that we see in National Geographic. Next, I show you what those causes are and how you can, with effort and dedication, become the photographer you want to be.
1. WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO HANDLE THE CAMERA
"Buying a Nikon camera doesn't make you a photographer, just a Nikon owner."
Anonymous
Digital cameras are complex machines that are packed with buttons, wheels, and levers on the outside, and loaded with even more features on the inside to help us capture what we see with our minds (yes, our minds! ).
Despite the fact that manufacturers make efforts to create user-friendly interfaces, it must be admitted that at first it is intimidating to face such machines. However, our cameras are accompanied by an accessory that, although it has been designed with old technology, can significantly help us to achieve good photos: The Camera Manual .
Well yes! Believe it or not, all the functions of your camera, and how to access them, is summarized in that booklet. Unfortunately, most new photographers are so taken with their new toy that they never check it out. As a result, their cameras end up being underutilized, as they only use the most trivial functions.
Before charging the camera battery, inserting the memory or the lens, take the manual out of the box and review it carefully. Consult the recommendations that appear at the beginning, and then study the different chapters, in order to know what you can (and cannot!) do with your camera. If you are one of those who prefers to read on your phone or tablet, then you can download the digital version of the manual. All manufacturers of photographic equipment have PDF versions of them, which can be accessed on the corresponding web pages.
Take your time. That first step will pay off later. I promise you.
2. WE SEE THE WORLD WITH OUR EYES ONLY
"You don't just take a picture with a camera. You bring to the act of photographing, all the images you have seen, the books you have read, the music you have heard, the people you have loved.»
Ansel Adams (1902-1984)
One of the most recognized photographers of the s already said it eloquently. XX: Ansel Adams . Need we say more? OK that's fine. I'll try to stand on the shoulders of that giant and elaborate a bit more on it.
Have you ever noticed that a group of photographers facing the same slice of reality take totally different pictures? Have you stopped to think about why that happens? The reason is deceptively simple: seeing and perceiving are two different processes.
Indeed, the visual stimulus is received through the eyes, but it is in the mind where said stimulus is processed and assigned a meaning, that is, where it is perceived . Consequently, different individuals, with different life experiences, will perceive reality in their own way and this will result in clearly different photographs.
Have you heard the expression: "Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder"? Well, we could make an equivalent version and say that the photographs exist in the minds of those who imagine them . Therefore, as photographers, we must read a lot, and not only photography books, but also fiction, suspense, and even fashion magazines and advertising catalogues. We have to go to the movies, visit museums, talk to other people, listen to the children. Anything that can nourish our mind will help improve our ability to take good photos.
3. WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND LIGHT
«The mastery of light is a prerequisite to control the final result in photography.»
David Bailey (1938- )
Ah, the light! That element that is an indivisible part of the word photography , but to which at first we do not dedicate the attention it deserves. Perhaps we think of light when we are contemplating one of those sunrises or sunsets that leave us amazed with its explosive yellows, oranges, reds and blues. But beyond that scene, what do you know about light and how to use it to create good photos?
Hard light and soft light, direct or indirect, diffuse, reflected, natural, artificial, ambient, available, continuous... Each of these adjectives is associated with a property of light that, handled appropriately, allows us to write a visual message.
It is not enough that “there is light”, it is necessary that it have the characteristics that the photographer requires, to be able to make a certain image. The definition of the muscles of an athlete in a sports photograph , the sensuality of the body in a boudoir photograph , the perception of volume in a product photograph , etc., are achieved when the language of light is mastered.
Now, you should not believe that a million-dollar investment is needed to be able to make proper use of light. Often, just knowing the basic physical principles is enough to be able to transform almost any light source into part of our creative photography arsenal.
4. THINKING THAT THE PHOTO IS TAKEN BY PRESSING THE SHUTTER BUTTON
"When I'm about to press the camera's shutter release cable, I've already tried to anticipate some of the challenges I'll face in the darkroom."
John Sexton (1953- )
There is a group of photographers called “Purists”, who boast of creating photos just by pressing the shutter button on the camera. And if at this moment you are thinking: “Isn't that what you do?”, you may be surprised to learn that shooting only takes you ? of the way… or at least that is what those of us who are not part of that first group think. (I wonder if that will make us “Impurists”, but I don't think that word exists, so…).
Our cameras, however sophisticated they may be, are equipment that does not see the same as our eyes. Consequently, it will always be necessary to make some type of change to the captured photograph.
These changes can be made by the camera itself, at the moment we select to store the file in JPG format, and some of the settings available in the corresponding menus (the so-called Picture Style, in Canon, and Picture Control, in Nikon). They can also be carried out by the photographer, on his computer or Smartphone, with any of the programs (Lightroom, Photoshop) or apps (VSCO, Snapseed, etc.) currently available.
Editing an image can mean doing something as simple as adjusting the sharpness, because our camera lens is poor in that regard. You can also just straighten out the horizon in our landscape photography, because it didn't get straight when hand-holding the camera. On the other hand, it is possible to change the color of the leaves of the trees, because they are not green enough for our taste, eliminate acne on the face of a person who has many details on the skin, or even remove a few centimeters from the waist. , because you do not feel satisfied with your figure.
Any option is valid, as long as it fits the intentions of the photographer. Even doing nothing is equally a possibility.
However, considering that you've already come all this way and already know how to operate your camera, are able to visualize the image in your mind before pressing the shutter, and speak fluently with light, why don't you continue with this adventure, and do you learn one more skill? Your photographs will be your own reward.
CONCLUTION
"There is a big difference between taking a photo and making a photograph."
Robert Heinecken (1931-2006)
Taking pictures is an adventure that begins when we have our first camera and never ends. As in many cases, beginnings can be fraught with obstacles. Multiple buttons, hidden functions, exposure variables, composition rules, are just some of them.
Don't let any of them shorten your trip prematurely. Consult the manual of your camera, look for tutorials on the Internet, educate yourself, ask those who have walked this path before, practice all the time and, especially, do not compare yourself with others. You will see that, over time, the photographs that come out of your camera will look more and more like the ones you imagine in your mind.
This is an article by Edwin A. Hernández Caraballo, teacher and freelance photographer. You can follow his work on Instagramor Twitter.
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