Sunday, June 12, 2011

The “Magic” Digital Photography Mindset

Your frame of mind is perhaps the most important factor towards becoming a great photographer. The difference between a world class photographer and a merely “good” photographer often isn’t their equipment or their photography technique, but their mindset. These are some of the “magic” success factors that great photographers develop.

 


Having the Patience to Wait for a Great Photo

Patience is often a critical factor in taking a great photograph.
 
If you’re photographing unique cloud shapes for example, your likelihood of taking a great photo goes up if you’re willing to wait several hours, getting shots from different angles and lighting while you allow clouds and sunlight to shift.

If you’re photographing people on the streets, giving yourself time will allow you to catch those “magical” moments that you wouldn’t have caught if you hadn’t had the patience to wait. A child letting go of a balloon. A man helping an old woman across the street. A screaming match between hot dog vendors. Whatever it is – You won’t catch that “moment” unless you were there waiting for it.

No matter what kind of photos you’re taking, having the patience to wait for the perfect shot is a crucial aspect of being a great photographer. One photographer, who now has his own Discovery movie, waited one whole year to catch photographs of a particular kind of bat drinking the nectar from desert cactus – An event that only happens once a year.
 
Some of the best photographers in the world are willing to wait months, even years to catch the right photograph. Develop your patience and the right shots will come to you.

 
Capture a “Feeling”

If you listen to the language of beginning photographers and the language of experienced photographers, you’ll find that they focus on different things.
 
New photographers generally focus on their equipment or their camera techniques. They’ll talk about the latest cameras, newest features or different kinds of lenses they want to buy. They’ll talk about different kinds of photography techniques or different ways of taking pictures.

If you listen to experienced photographers however, you’ll find that they talk about completely different things. Although equipment and technique are important, it’s not their main focus.
 
Instead, experienced photographers focus on the feeling. They’re trying to capture an experience in the shot.

An experienced family portrait photographer doesn’t focus on cameras or techniques – They focus on capturing the family feel in the camera.

A nature photographer might be trying to capture the majesty of nature, the danger of epic cliffs, or the beauty of a flower.

The focus isn’t on technique, but feeling.

A great photographer knows what kind of feeling they’re trying to capture and are willing to wait for that perfect moment to capture that picture.
 
If you want to become a first class photographer, someone who takes great photos and gets paid well for it, then take a look at this article to learn how.

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