Ever so often, we hear of new products being released that supposedly enhances our potential to take better pictures. The manufacturers are hardly lying - there has never been a better time in history than now to take a technically superior picture. But we are talking about potential. Has the new equipment actually helped you take significantly better pictures ?

It is totally fine to embrace technological advancement. But simply purchasing funky new gadgets in the hope that your pictures will automatically improve is bad faith. There are few advances in equipment that actually makes your pictures better without your active participation. Sure, I could think of a few like automatic fill-in flash, DX-coding, motorized film advance, more accurate lightmeters....  But in general, you really have to know the basics of photography to enable you to take advantage of the new technology. For example, autofocusing may be fine and dandy, but you have to know how to best use it and when is the best situation not to use it.

This article will discuss the most basic commonsense knowledge of photography, to refresh our perspectives on photography and avoid being overwhelmed by the promises of the manufacturers. There is nothing radical nor fresh about the points, and they are something which your photography guru would have preached to you at some point in time. But this is meant to be a collection of the points, plus some elaboration, for all of us to be reminded that good photography ultimately rest in our own hands.
 

1. Photography is the fusion of art and science
- To see, observe and comprehend is art;
- Reading, thinking, learning and practicing techniques is science.

There are many ways to look at photography, and one of the most popular way is to see it as a fusion of art and science. Unlike pottery and painting, photography is unique in the sense that it depends very much on technology to carry it off, and its limits depend on both technological advances and your artistic creativity. Thus, to master photography, you have to be competent both in your artistic sense and your grasp of technology.

To train your artistic aspect, you could observe the works of others, and look at the way the others opt to express their feelings. You could also look around you for inspirations and take in the world around you. There is no hard and fast way to learn the artistic aspect (although some say you either have "it" or you don't). Observe and learn.

The science part is slightly more straightforward. Only by learning the proper techniques of using your equipment and knowing your materials can you express the artistic side of you. Knowing the techniques and technicality of photography allows you an array of methods to display your creativity. You could read books, observe or ask others for help on technical issues, and then practice to master the techniques. Only then will your creativity have a vehicle from your inner mind onto an actual image.

(See also Point 11 - Vision and technique go hand in hand. )
 
 
 

2. Equipment are the tools to realizing your vision, not the stumbling blocks

There is this psychology experiment where the subject is requested to look at a glass half-filled with water. He is then asked to describe what he sees. Some of the subjects said they saw a glass half-full of water, while some say they see a half-empty glass. So which one are you ?

Many of us focus too much on what our equipment cannot do, rather than what they can do. We use the lack of capability of our equipment to explain away why we cannot do certain shots, rather seeing the equipment as the tools to achieving our goals. How many times have you thought that you could never take pictures of flowers because you do not have a macro lens ? If you are the type who sees a half-empty glass, and see your equipment as stumbling blocks, you will be bemoaning your lack of equipment and not do anything about it until you manage to buy a macro lens. If you see a half-full glass of water, you will treat your equipment as the tool to realize your vision. Rather than isolating a small flower, you could photograph a bunch of them. Or perhaps choose a variety of flower larger in dimension. How about adding a cheap close-up lens or maybe extension tubes ?

Your attitude determines how far you equipment can bring you.
 

(See also Point 13 - Think of what you can do with what you have)
 
 
 

3. Spend more money on buying books, films and printing

Again, this is commonsense knowledge which most people refuse to listen. Like your mom who keeps nagging at you to eat your vegetables because they are good for you, we ignore good advice because other alternatives are more attractive (at least that's what I do). Our guardian angel whispers into our ear that knowledge of photography techniques, referring to good pictures and practicing is the way to better pictures; yet our devil self  keeps whispering into other ear how sexy the new equipment is, and how we can take better pictures with that new lens. Many times, we ignore the guardian angel and succumb to the devil and invest in new equipment.

I'm not saying that buying new equipment is an evil thing. It expands the horizon of possibility for photography opportunities, but we need to balance it with acquiring photography knowledge and practicing. The next time you feel tempted to buy a new piece of equipment, ask yourself if it can really help improve your photography, or can the money be better used to buy books and films. But don't take this advice to the extreme - sometimes buying new equipment can be highly motivating !!
 
 

4. Your best picture is the one you've yet to take

Complacency corrupts, and absolute complacency corrupts absolutely. The moment you feel that your works cannot be improved anymore is the moment that your standards start sliding backwards. Never ever think that you have been shooting the best pictures of your life, or that your pictures are good enough. Because there is always something new to learn, something to improve. Always try to outdo your own standards with your next picture, and to raise your expectations after you meet them successfully. However, be realistic and don't be overambitious, or you just might end up trying to reach for the moon and feel demoralized after that.

Set realistic goals.
 
 

5. Shooting on film is like painting on a blank canvas
- You can either create a good picture or a bad one, on the same piece of film.

Whenever I buy film, I will tell myself that film is film. Why is it that professionals can create a great image on it, while I can only produce a mediocre one using the very same material ? An unexposed film is like a blank canvas - you can either create a good picture or bad picture, on the same piece of film. When it is unexposed, it has the potential to develop into a great image or a bad one. The deciding factor is you. Your competence will decide the final results of the piece of film. By putting yourself into the equation, you will adopt a frame of mind to be more careful whenever you shoot anything. You will become more critical of what you want to shoot, and how you want to shoot it. Because you know that your decisions will determine whether the final results are qualified to be hung on a wall, or destined for the wastepaper basket.

(See the next point - Think before you shoot)
 

6. Think before you shoot

Before you accuse me of insulting your intelligence, let me say this - people may not do something even when they know it. Everyone knows that smoking or overeating is bad, yet we continue to do it at the risk of our health and well-being. Likewise, everyone knows that thinking before acting is the wise choice, yet many of us choose to forgo the mental aerobics and simply shoot without thinking.

Automation has relieved us of many tasks, but unfortunately thinking is not one of them. Thinking involves making conscious choices at many stages, from the choice of film and lens, to the exposure and composition. Like said before, thinking will increase the probability of making a better image on the same piece of film. Since your aim in photography (I assume) is to take better images, why not exercise some thinking before you shoot, to turn a average picture into a great one ? For example, thinking about what you want to emphasize in the picture will result in you searching for a better viewpoint. Takes only a second for so, but it makes a big difference. It gets easier everytime you think, and may even become second-nature.

(See also Point 8 - Hindsight is easier than foresight)
 
 
 

7. There is no picture until you go out and take one
- Don't sit in your armchair imagining pictures you could take; go out and take it !

This is pretty amazing - many people actually imagine that there will be great images once they bought certain pieces of equipment. I am not kidding, most of us are guilty of this. We think that by having certain gears, we are capable of producing great pictures. The problem is - it remains a capability and possibility, until we go out and do it. It is a simple fact which everyone knows - there will not be an image until you bring your equipment out there and shoot something ! How often have we sat in our armchairs thinking of what great images we can shoot, or looking at pictures taken by others and exclaiming "Hey, that's nothing. I can do that too !"

Moral of the story:
We judge ourselves by what we feel we are capable of doing;
Others judge us by what we have done.

So don't just sit down there and imagine what you can do; Just do it !!
 
 
 

8. Hindsight is always easier than foresight
- It is always easy to criticize or see how a picture worked; it is substantially more difficult to create a picture that worked at the moment of exposure.

If I knew that number was coming out in the Toto draw, I would have betted on it. Yeah, right. The use of the phrase "If I have known" symbolizes how often we look backwards in time. How about looking forward for a change ? Hindsight is always easier than foresight. My economist friend had this joke about their jobs: Economist spend the first half of the year speculating what will happen in the year, and then spend the second half explaining why it didn't happen the way they predicted.

We often look at a good picture and then analyse why it worked. Maybe it's the lighting, maybe it's the expression, or is it the composition ? On the other hand, we criticise a poor picture on why it didn't work. Perhaps the snow misled the meter into underexposing ? Perhaps the focus was out ? Perhaps the photographer should have chosen a less distracting background ?

There is nothing wrong with criticising or analysing a photo for what worked and what did not. It is a good exercise to train your visual mind to spot the mistakes and know what makes a good photo. But can you apply that knowledge to the moment prior to exposure ? Are you able to use foresight to spot the potential obstacle to a great image, before pressing the shutter. Everyone knows that great lighting is crucial to a picture, so do you know how to spot great lighting ? It is easy to criticise a poor picture, but much harder to create a great one. Use your critic powers as you survey the scene before you, and before you press the shutter.

It will turn you from a great critic to a great photographer.
 
 
 

9. Photography is the painting and manipulation of light

Photography is derived from a Greek word, meaning "painting with light". That is to say, without light there is no picture. Quite obvious you might say.

To me, the quality of the light is the most important aspect of the process of image creation. As Jim Zuckerman wrote in his book, there is no bad subject; you just need to see them at the correct time of the day. What he meant was that - with the appropriate type of light, anything can look good. Thus, the quality of light is above all other aspects in the picture making process, though that is not to say that other aspects are not important. Do take note that there is no good or bad light, just different types of light.

Knowing the importance of light in photography, the next logical thing is how to look for and create the light that you need. Understanding light is one thing, manipulating light is another. Fortunately, there are many books on light in photography which covers the different types of light and how to make the best use of them.
 

(See also Point 13 - Understand Light)
 
 
 

10. Be harsh with yourself, go easy on others

If you want to keep on improving your skills and keep your friends, be harsh with yourself and go easy on others. This is not telling you to be hypocritical and tell them how you adore their works when deep down you think it sucks. What I am trying to bring across is - you should be most critical of yourself and not rest on complacency, while being open-minded to others' works and being diplomatic about your comments. Harsh criticisms of other's works may not be appreciated by them, and may destroy their self-confidence. On the other hand, you should not be satisfied with your own works, and strive to emulate the better photographers around you.
 
 
 

11. Vision and technique go hand in hand.
- Vision without technique can never be realized;
- Technique without vision leads to properly exposed rubbish.

This is related to what I said about science and art.

Here are two situations:

a) Imagine if Celine Dion had lost her voice (yes, I know some of you hate her and wish it really happens), how could she express her feelings ?

b) Now, imagine you are granted an opportunity to sing beside Mariah Carey. Can you imagine how you will sound next to her ?

In the first situation, the loss of her voice meant that there is a loss of technique, although she is psychologically still capable of emotions and feelings. This is like a artist who cannot express himself/herself because he/she cannot draw or take photographs. No matter how good your concept is, there is no way for people to appreciate it if you don't have the necessary techniques to express yourself.

In the second situation, you will in all probability sound like a frog singing next to Mariah Carey. As a professional singer, she has to possess both soul (style) and technique (voice). Let's assume that you work in a fish-market and you could outscream her, and can reach the high octave that she can. But because she has a vision and a style to bring out, while you are probably trying to imitate the Spice Girls, so even though you have the necessary vocal range to match her, your singing would still not be in her league.

If you have a vision but not the necessary techniques, it will never be realised. If you have the techniques but do not have a vision, your images will turn out mediocre and lack impact because there is no message in it.
 
 
 

12. Distinguish the difference between having read about the technique and knowing a technique
- Anyone could read about techniques; it is doing that separates the preachers and the photographers.

The short story below is based on a fictional character, and any similarities to any real life person(s) is strictly coincidental.

Carl loves to go around talking about camera equipment and techniques. He is considered to be a expert on photography, and knows everything from the specifications of the latest SLR to the reciprocal failure time of Fuji Velvia film. Ask him about any techniques and he can explain to you the details. But there is something very mysterious about Carl.... no living beings have ever seen his pictures......   <scary huh ??>

Photography expert ? Yes. Photographer ? No.

There is nothing wrong with preaching photography techniques, or being well-versed in technicalities. But putting it into practice is another story. Many people know how to do certain stuff in theory, but have never done it practically. It is only slightly better than not knowing at all ! By putting into practice your theory and analysing the results, you can see for yourself what you have done right/wrong. And you can be sure that when you need to use it for real assignments, you are totally confident about yourself ! After all, if you call yourself a photographer, the final photograph is the thing counts isn't it ? Would you rather have a head full of photography trivial knowledge, or a portfolio full of images to illustrate your photographic capability ?
 
 
 

14. Think not what you can do with the equipment you do not have; rather, think what you can do with the equipment you have

"If I had a 400 mm f/2.8 lens, I would have been able to shoot the tiger as it pounced on the helpless antelope" or "If I had a fisheye lens, I could make distorted images of the world"

Rather than dreaming about imaginary pictures which you can take with fantasy pictures, why not start off with the equipment that you have and think of the possibilities you have with them ?

If it makes you feel better, think of it this way - everyone has something someone else doesn't have. If you have a EOS 50 and you're lusting after the EOS 3, think of the poor souls who just started photography and don't even have their own cameras. If you are fortunate enough to own any equipment, you should be grateful and try to maximize its potential rather than sitting around and wishing for even more equipment.
 
 

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