Gems of Wisdom

[ABERS]

What is the most significant and useful piece of photographic  advice you have ever been given? One that you've followed implicitly and always found to be useful.

Mine?

I had the great fortune to be tutored at night school by John Bardsley, a past president of the RPS, a kindly gentleman and a wonderful B+W photographer. His first piece of advice to all of us assembled in awe was, " If you want to be a photographer, use your eyes to look and learn from other photographers of note, and please never show me an image that you're not pleased with".

What's yours?

[picsfor]

A fellow train driver from Ipswich who really was an accomplished photographer of all things floral.
He was the cause of be getting a Canon A1 SLR camera and when working a train together ( i was only a drivers assistant at the time) i showed him the first set of pictures i had taken with the camera.

Compared with my old 110 format pocket camera the pictures were,in my opinion at the time, outstanding and filled me with pride.
So you can imagine the look that must have come across my face when he offered genuine critique as to how good they really were as opposed to my perception.
He was right but my pride didn't think so at the time.

On seeing the look on my face he just said "if you can't accept, or don't want, honest opinions of your pictures, whether they be critique or some ones personal opinions - don't show them. Displaying pictures is an invitation to comment for good or for bad"

It took a while to show him some pictures again but he was right!

[spinner]

My college photography teacher told us that if we managed one decent shot out of a roll of film we were doing well. It allowed me not to expect perfection in every shot and let me relax and take shots I might not have otherwise. (and in retrospect probably shouldn't have  )

[Jonathan]

The one that has always stuck with me is

"It doesn't matter what you point your camera at.  You are only ever photographing light."

[Bigbill]

Hewwo from Shivery Sheffy,,,,

My mate Steve Conway,,top bloke,,,,told me years ago "every pic ever taken requires the same amount of light,its about how you deliver it"

Nevewr have forgotten that gem.

Shine On

[Al Birmingham]

When putting your camera away, always leave it at the same settings. E.g. mine is always left at Av, iso 200, aperture as large as the lens allows. That way I know exactly what settings I have should a 'grab the camera' moment happen.

[chris@seary.com]

Always leave the lens cap on when you take the picture.

[chris@seary.com]

No, I mean always take it off.

I think that's right.

[Hybridphotog]

One gem of wisdom I can remember hearing of, is of a sign above the door of someones darkroom. The sign reads...
"Good enough never is!"

[SimonW]

For me it's simple:- Always have a camera with you. I still find I'm occasionally caught out though, such as recently a lovely rainbow appeared while I was taking the wife shopping, and both cameras were at home charging their batteries.

[skellum]

What is the most significant and useful piece of photographic  advice you have ever been given? One that you've followed implicitly and always found to be useful.

Mine?

I had the great fortune to be tutored at night school by John Bardsley, a past president of the RPS, a kindly gentleman and a wonderful B+W photographer. His first piece of advice to all of us assembled in awe was, " If you want to be a photographer, use your eyes to look and learn from other photographers of note, and please never show me an image that you're not pleased with".

What's yours?

Last year I was invited to be interviewd by BBC Radio Lancashire after a researcher had seen my prints on Preston Market. When I told my wife she said " You will have to get a haircut then "

[chris@seary.com]

I read an interview with Annie Liebowitz a few months ago in American Photo. She said that the one thing you must never skimp on is film.

What she was saying, film versus digital aside, is that you should keep shooting until you get exactly what you want.

[Oldboy]

I read an interview with Annie Liebowitz a few months ago in American Photo. She said that the one thing you must never skimp on is film.

What she was saying, film versus digital aside, is that you should keep shooting until you get exactly what you want.

Agree with that fully, as you can never tell if your first shot was good enough.