I was working with one of my long-time students yesterday. He is becoming a great photographer. He’s only been at it about four years, but he’s getting there.
He was reminding me that what he liked about my work, was that he could still see the fire in my eyes. He noticed that as I approach my fourth decade as a photographer, I still have the passion for it.
It got me thinking about how somebody becomes a great photographer. While I am sure there are plenty of other factors, I think the primary forces behind greatness in photography, or any pursuit for that matter are patience, perseverance and passion.
Let’s break these down and talk about what they really mean. Patience is the habit of being patient.
1: bearing pains or trials calmly or without complaint
2: manifesting forbearance under provocation or strain
3: not hasty or impetuous
4: steadfast despite opposition, difficulty, or adversity
If you want to be a great photographer, it’s nearly impossible without patience. Waiting for the right moment, going to the right place, looking for the right background, finding the right light, moving in on the right subject and learning your equipment well enough that it’s second nature to use it properly, all take amazing amounts of patience. Without patience, you have the opportunity for great shots through luck. But you have little opportunity for true greatness in general.
Closely related to patience is perseverance.
1: to persist in a state, enterprise, or undertaking in spite of counterinfluences, opposition, or discouragement
Wow this one is tough. Photography, when practiced at the highest levels, is a pursuit that is full of amazing highs and terrible lows. There’s so much that can go wrong in a photograph that I am usually stunned when it works out. If you’re just happily shooting snapshots and documenting life around you, there’s little chance you’ve encountered these wild highs and lows. But if you pursue photographic greatness, then they are no stranger to you. The “counterinfluences, opposition, or discouragement” we face in today’s world are many. There’s the war on photography, a global recession, huge competition, bad light, bad backgrounds, crowds, cops, gear failure, bad weather, etc. I could go on but you get the point. There are many forces working against making the truly great image, and only those who stick it out despite those forces massing against them, can be great.
Lastly, but in my opinion most importantly, is passion.
1: intense, driving, or overmastering feeling or conviction
2: ardent affection
3: love or a strong liking or desire for or devotion to some activity, object, or concept
4: an object of desire or deep interest
These are strong words. Note that they might describe how you felt about your first serious boyfriend/girlfriend. That’s the kind of intensity you need to feel about photography to be a great photographer.
When you go to bed, does a certain photo you wanted to get but missed haunt you? Do you daydream about your next big photo expedition? Are you willing to give up dinner and a movie three out of four times in order to save money for that new camera? Will you work to get the shot no matter what? That is the sort of passion I see in great photographers. When you hear someone describing photography who really loves it, you’ll know what I mean.
While you can argue for many other factors to be considered when discussion great photography (and I am sure you all will :)), I’m convinced that the big three are patience, perseverance and passion are at the top of the list.
Not everyone wants to or needs to be great at photography. But if you pour a little more patience, perseverance and passion into your next image, you might not achieve greatness, but I’ll bet your pictures get better.
________
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Wow deep!
My passion gets stronger everyday! When I can do this and only this for a living I will be a happy man!
Wow deep!
My passion gets stronger everyday! When I can do this and only this for a living I will be a happy man!
Great and very inspiring post!
I found it especially interesting what you chose to *not* include: technical skills and equipment.
Good equipment makes taking good photos so much easier and some are only possible with dedicated equipment. But good equipment on its own doesn’t make great photos or a great photographer.
Technical skills is something in my opinion, that *needs* to be learned but it is something that *can* be learned. As a newbie to photography, that is what I am still struggling with. However, there are so many ways to learn about those these days: from studying books, photo websites to going wild and experimenting with the camera to the heart’s desire.
Still, in a lot of places on the net there appears to be to me a fixation on the technical aspects: is *everything* sharp? Is there *no* under- or overexposed spot?
The other days, I had the chance to visit a great exhibition that showed some of the oldest and greatest photos of photographic history like albumin prints from the brothers Brisson. I just stoot there, awed by the photos these people had shot with those “primitive” cameras.
My new years resolution? Mastering the technical aspects of photography that I can start concentrating on what really makes a picture great and strive to become a great photographer.
Thanks for reminding us what that requires, Scott.
Great and very inspiring post!
I found it especially interesting what you chose to *not* include: technical skills and equipment.
Good equipment makes taking good photos so much easier and some are only possible with dedicated equipment. But good equipment on its own doesn’t make great photos or a great photographer.
Technical skills is something in my opinion, that *needs* to be learned but it is something that *can* be learned. As a newbie to photography, that is what I am still struggling with. However, there are so many ways to learn about those these days: from studying books, photo websites to going wild and experimenting with the camera to the heart’s desire.
Still, in a lot of places on the net there appears to be to me a fixation on the technical aspects: is *everything* sharp? Is there *no* under- or overexposed spot?
The other days, I had the chance to visit a great exhibition that showed some of the oldest and greatest photos of photographic history like albumin prints from the brothers Brisson. I just stoot there, awed by the photos these people had shot with those “primitive” cameras.
My new years resolution? Mastering the technical aspects of photography that I can start concentrating on what really makes a picture great and strive to become a great photographer.
Thanks for reminding us what that requires, Scott.
I am still haunted by the photographs I’ve missed, still giddy every time an image is published and get depressed if I don’t photograph for more than 48 hours.
Passion and desire to continue to learn your craft. knowing the technicials are important. But, being a good technician will not make you a great photographer. It really is much deeper. I work toward that goal every day.
Rosh
I am still haunted by the photographs I’ve missed, still giddy every time an image is published and get depressed if I don’t photograph for more than 48 hours.
Passion and desire to continue to learn your craft. knowing the technicials are important. But, being a good technician will not make you a great photographer. It really is much deeper. I work toward that goal every day.
Rosh
Thanks for this…I’ve entered into my 2nd year of my photography hobby and really enjoy it. I’ve been able to see my progression over the last year and have been trying to get over the “just taking pictures but want to do much more” hump.
I recently took a lighting your artwork for photography class at my local community college and the instructor happened to be a national portfolio reviewer. For the second day he told us we could bring in our portfolios or just some pieces of work and he’d give us an honest review and some tips to get better. The price of the class was nominal but the information he gave was really valuable. Your post has helped me reinforce what I need to do. My task was to find the energy behind what I photography or in simple terms…what makes it effective.
I think I’ll print out your article and put it in my notebook and read when I start feeling inpatient. Thank you!
Thanks for this…I’ve entered into my 2nd year of my photography hobby and really enjoy it. I’ve been able to see my progression over the last year and have been trying to get over the “just taking pictures but want to do much more” hump.
I recently took a lighting your artwork for photography class at my local community college and the instructor happened to be a national portfolio reviewer. For the second day he told us we could bring in our portfolios or just some pieces of work and he’d give us an honest review and some tips to get better. The price of the class was nominal but the information he gave was really valuable. Your post has helped me reinforce what I need to do. My task was to find the energy behind what I photography or in simple terms…what makes it effective.
I think I’ll print out your article and put it in my notebook and read when I start feeling inpatient. Thank you!
Good points made Scott. I’ve right there with you especially with the passion. Coming up on 40 years of picture taking myself as well.
Good points made Scott. I’ve right there with you especially with the passion. Coming up on 40 years of picture taking myself as well.
Excellent post. I like that you mention he’s “only” been at it for four years. I’m currently going into my 2nd year and often think that’s a long time and I should be much better. I know that I’ll never stop learning and if I do, something must be wrong. Patience is my hurdle at the moment, I’ve never been a patient person.
Good post and very helpful information.
Excellent post. I like that you mention he’s “only” been at it for four years. I’m currently going into my 2nd year and often think that’s a long time and I should be much better. I know that I’ll never stop learning and if I do, something must be wrong. Patience is my hurdle at the moment, I’ve never been a patient person.
Good post and very helpful information.
My passion is for knowing where photos were taken. Where please? I’m guessing somewhere on the Colorado Plateau in the Cedar Mesa formation.
My passion is for knowing where photos were taken. Where please? I’m guessing somewhere on the Colorado Plateau in the Cedar Mesa formation.
@JimF – I made this image two days before Thanksgiving this year at Arches National Park.
@JimF – I made this image two days before Thanksgiving this year at Arches National Park.
There was one photo opportunity I passed up that still haunts me. I was in the woods on top of a mountain – the sun was going down, but I didn’t know how far I had left to hike. I glanced back and saw the most amazing sunset – a golden light through the fog and the silhouettes of the trees looking over the mountain range. But I chose to pass it up, because it signified that I had mere minutes of light left (and that shot was only seconds long). I guess survival took precedent, so I continued to run on instead of stop and take my camera out.
There was one photo opportunity I passed up that still haunts me. I was in the woods on top of a mountain – the sun was going down, but I didn’t know how far I had left to hike. I glanced back and saw the most amazing sunset – a golden light through the fog and the silhouettes of the trees looking over the mountain range. But I chose to pass it up, because it signified that I had mere minutes of light left (and that shot was only seconds long). I guess survival took precedent, so I continued to run on instead of stop and take my camera out.
I wander around photographing every day (I live on the Oregon Coast), some to practice, some because my passion for light is so strong it’s as necessary to living as air, food etc. At night, I dream photos I’ve taken and some I haven’t but would like to.
I wander around photographing every day (I live on the Oregon Coast), some to practice, some because my passion for light is so strong it’s as necessary to living as air, food etc. At night, I dream photos I’ve taken and some I haven’t but would like to.
Nice post Scott. I think passion is one I’m working on pumping up – getting fired up to make sure I take the best photos possible, rather than just something pedestrian. For me, it’s easy to get excited about the gear, the idea of getting a great photo, and you can get into the technical nonsense when you’re out and about. Proficiency is key of course, but I think staying really passionate about capturing a beautiful image is a real differentiator.
Nice post Scott. I think passion is one I’m working on pumping up – getting fired up to make sure I take the best photos possible, rather than just something pedestrian. For me, it’s easy to get excited about the gear, the idea of getting a great photo, and you can get into the technical nonsense when you’re out and about. Proficiency is key of course, but I think staying really passionate about capturing a beautiful image is a real differentiator.
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As someone that is limited to a pretty good panasonic lumix TZ5 P&S camera, I find these tips more useful, yet harder to realize, I owned a great a great Nikon SLR that was stolen from me and therefore my growth as shooter was stalled. I still to go out and try as often as I can, I think Scotts most relevant point to newbies and amateurs specifically, is getting access to great shots because of rules of opposition seemingly designed to make photography harder such as at live events, and patience is indeed a major virtue, one of my favorite shots last year was one where I waited almost 40 minutes at the Bronx Zoo for a peacock to finally show his stuff and be close enough to shoot it.
Some day I hope to be able to get another get another great Nikon camera such as the D3 or d90 and more lenses to work with. Until then–I am grateful for any tips I can get, and adapt them within my current scope
As someone that is limited to a pretty good panasonic lumix TZ5 P&S camera, I find these tips more useful, yet harder to realize, I owned a great a great Nikon SLR that was stolen from me and therefore my growth as shooter was stalled. I still to go out and try as often as I can, I think Scotts most relevant point to newbies and amateurs specifically, is getting access to great shots because of rules of opposition seemingly designed to make photography harder such as at live events, and patience is indeed a major virtue, one of my favorite shots last year was one where I waited almost 40 minutes at the Bronx Zoo for a peacock to finally show his stuff and be close enough to shoot it.
Some day I hope to be able to get another get another great Nikon camera such as the D3 or d90 and more lenses to work with. Until then–I am grateful for any tips I can get, and adapt them within my current scope