What makes a photographer a good photographer? Recently a friend and I had this discussion.
We talked about the technical aspects of the profession—lighting, lenses, white balance. We talked about level of experience and creative vision. And of course we talked about what type of camera the photographer happens to use.
The eye determines in an instant whether or not a photograph is “good,” and certainly some photographers possess more finely-honed skills than others and are superior to others. But when it comes to what makes a photographer good, I argued one important and perhaps easily overlooked element: The willingness to continually grow, learn from mistakes and improve. I believe being a good photographer (or being good at any craft, really) hinges on an attitude that is both humble and thirsty for knowledge.
Yes, I realize that to be a professional one must believe they are at least better than the average bear, and one must have the confidence to put themselves out there and charge for their services, but being a professional, in my view, never means being beyond the realm of discovery or advancement.
Anyone who knows me knows I am my harshest critic. Some people say I am good at what I do, and sometimes for a fleeting moment I believe maybe they are correct, but most of the time I think there are still so many things I want to learn and so many ways I want to improve. I will recall how I could have done something better or images that got away because I wasn’t quick enough, tenacious enough or decisive enough to seize the moment when the lighting or the conditions were ideal. It isn’t easy, after all, to harness time in such a way that makes jaws drop.
But I keep trying.
Below are some recent efforts.
This past summer I dipped a toe into the pool of Milky Way photography ( i. e. after-dark photography that records the night sky). There are photographers I admire who deliver phenomenal images taken beneath the stars, and it’s a skill I want to eventually master. My clumsy first attempts yielded mild success, but overall affirmed for me I still have much to learn. And that’s OK. I am up for the challenge. Capturing images in the darkness of night, after all, is far different from capturing the golden light of the magic hour before sunset. I am pleased I started the educational process, but I am nowhere near being satisfied with the results of my labors.
Honestly, it is difficult for me to imagine ever being so great at something that I would assume to know everything about it or have zero room for improvement. I acknowledge that I may indeed know more than some, but I will probably always consider myself more of a student than a teacher, not only in the school of photography, but also in the school of life.
So that brings me back to my original point.
I believe success is born from humility, hard work, dedication and a mind that is wide open to new challenges and information. Your attitude is the foundation for your technical ability, your business acumen and your ever-evolving artistic expression.
Maybe one day I will decide I am a “good photographer,” but until then I am just a woman with a camera trying to capture the extraordinary moments unfolding around me, sometimes nailing the target and sometimes falling short, but always, always, always—I hope!—improving my craft and learning.
Below are some recent landscape images that have received praise.
I recently heard this saying: “The only reason I look back is to see how far I have come.” What wonderful words to live by! In whatever you do, I hope when you look back you, too, can see how far you have come, and when you look ahead you can envision achieving a goal that will make you proud. Even if you fail, as long as you learn something from the failure then you can call it a success. (So goes the popular saying: “Sometimes I win, sometimes I learn.”)
That’s all for now.
Have a beautiful day and keep your eyes (and your mind) open to all the opportunities for growth that unfold before you.
