You Can’t Rush Experience
[by Paul Bartholomew]
I often get emails and calls about my work from emerging photographers. I’m always open to sharing what I know and feel it helps educate those who may affect the future of our profession.
Some of the most asked questions are about the camera or lens I use and if I use some special technique in Photoshop. Some think that buying the same equipment will achieve the same results. These are just plain technical questions that are easy to address because they tend to have straightforward answers. However, I can talk all I want about techie stuff but it all comes down to experience and the intangible aspects of what a photographer does to get the results.
So what are the intangibles? Intuition, creativity and sensitivity to the subject come to mind. This all takes time and requires dedication and talent to nurture. My advice for those starting out is to ask questions no matter how simple or odd they seem. Finding a mentor who is comfortable and open will help you find the right path. Even after 13 years in business I’m still finding new mentors. We all have our own personal journey but we often need some company along the way.
Paul S. Bartholomew is an architectural photographer based in the Philadelphia & New York region. His work can be seen at www.psbphotography.com
2 Responses to 'You Can’t Rush Experience'
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Here Here !!
Paul, I believe that the photography industry has become a place for propeller heads and not artist. So many photographers (myself included) get enamored with the technology and not the art.
While I believe we have always been a little techie oriented, the move to digital has really brought propeller heads out of the woodwork. With film it was certainly much more about the print/slide than the gizmos. Getting our hands on a new film stock from Kodak was about as excited one got over a new product.
Good job and thanks for reminding us about the real value offered by a working professional photographer.
I hear the same questions from people not even in the industry: “Which camera was that?” “I have got to get that preset?”…the list goes on.
The ever-changing technologies and advancements in digital processing, along with the raving in the industry about these changes, tends to mask that which photo-retailers dont sell, or stock on their websites, experience. I often respond to these type questions with “You dont ask the chef at a 5 star restaurant what brand pots they used, do you?!?”
I think that the merit of the up and coming photographer will be to test their theories about the latest and greatest technology, realize it wont jump-start their fame and fortune and still stick it out to actually begin to learn how to be the best photographer they can be. Hopefully to create their niche based on ideas and not PS Actions or Presets in LR.