Most Important Thing you Learned?

[Stephen Willard]

I have learned are three parts to a great photograph. They are the technical craft, the composition, and the visual drama (or artist rendering) of the image. Most of my best selling images have all three aspects in spades. However, I do have several best selling images that are technically marginal but are well composed and visually striking.

Thus, I have learned to sacrifice technical execution to get something that is well composed and exhibits strong visual drama if time is critical. I will rough in camera movements and compensate with larger DOF (f64), and even guess at the exposure and then increase the exposure by one stop to make sure I get all detail when the scene is momentary in nature. My success rate with this type of shooting is one in ten, and when I get it right, I have leaned it can be a grand slam or like a jolt one gets from a double shot of tequila.

[mdd99]

Never sell anything.

[jb7]

Here's something I learned just last week-
Alway check that the high quality 2' cable release
attached to your camera mounted, mint condition Nikkor M 300
isn't caught in the car door before you walk briskly away-

joseph

[johnwnyc]

- Shoot a lot, in bursts. Be spontaneous. Then, take time off from shooting.
- Always create some objective distance from your work. If you have to, wait a month (or longer) before developing your film. Good editing is 50% of good photography.
- Develop your own film.

(Garry Winogrand was a big influence on me.)

[Robbie Shymanski]

The sun and clear days are not your friend.

Always ask questions, especially of those who know more than you. Knowledge and opportunity will usually follow.

Have a ladder available.

Don't pass up on equipment.