I Am Relearning How To Make A Photograph

“Don’t Think – Feel” — Yoda, The Empire Strikes Back

I’ve been a landscape and nature photographer for over 15 years. There was a time when I agonized over how I needed to configure settings on my camera for a given scene. I had even taken a photography class at the community college (that was super fun, btw). I think that was an essential formative period for my photography. It helped create fluency with how exposure works and how ISO, shutter speed and aperture effect each other. I thought a lot about exposure settings, even more back then than composition.

As time has gone on, though, more and more I found myself manipulating settings and adapting to the scene I’m trying to capture unconsciously. To be honest, this is the most I’ve thought about exposure settings and camera settings in literal years. I quoted Yoda in this section heading for a reason though. If you’re reading this, I want you to understand that while a picture that is properly exposed is important, your settings in and of themselves can, and even should be, an artistic choice. I’ve always been very interested in a mostly faithful representation of the scene in front of me. However, some of the photographers I follow have somewhat of a surrealistic bent that enthralls me whenever I study their work.

Knocking Off The Rust

I have not consistently done landscape and nature photography over the last 3 or so years. Expected of someone who has four young children. Family first and always. But recently I’ve had more of a chance to get back to photography. So what have I done to rebuild my skillset?

1. Just get out there and take pictures. Repetition really helps build and maintain any skill. This more than anything has helped me.
2. Focused on composition, almost to the exclusion of other factors. I’m a firm believer that composition can, in most situations, overcome a lack in others. Yes, lighting is often a main component to composing a shot. But the focus on finding an interesting scene and framing it in the lens is the first skill you need in landscape photography.
3. Enjoy my time outdoors. Yes, I will just sit, ignore my camera, and enjoy the scene, the sounds, and the stillness. I try to remember the feeling. It’s often tough to enjoy being where you are when you’re trying to take a picture of it.

What Is Limiting Me?

I think there are limitations for everyone. We all deal with things that are more important than something that is, for most, a hobby. My photography kind of blurs the line between hobby and job as there is a bit of income that my wife and I are able to bring in from it.

But rather than think of what are typically considered limitations, I’m trying to frame them as opportunities.

1. Back and other physical pain and weakness. I have severe back pain stemming back decades. This has for years been a major factor in where I choose to go and how much I can do. But it’s also an opportunity. I need exercise, and in most cases I might not otherwise get it without my photography.
2. Raising kids could definitely be limiting to photography. And for a long time, it has necessarily been the case. But now my kids are at an age when they can come with me and play in cool places and see cool things. Sometimes trying to take photos is frustrating with the little ones around, but those are also the ones I remember better.

What Next?

Well, there are lots of things I want photograph, especially living in such a scenic state. Lot’s of landscape photography subsets to get into. Something very popular here is storm chasing and lightening photography during the Arizona Monsoon season. As well, I haven’t spent almost any time in the Prescott or Sedona/Flagstaff areas, which I will hopefully be able to do over the next year or so.

So, I guess what’s next is getting out there. Taking my kids to see cool stuff, and taking lots of pictures along the way.