Photography: how do I start?
I know a lot of people who had that sparkle to do photography. In order not to confuse you guys I am talking about photography as an art. Their first and the main mistake was to make tons of money by making masterpiece from the first click and then creating exhibitions where photography critics would lose their consciousness. Guess what they all have failed because the motivation from the very beginning was wrong. They’ve invested a lot of money into top professional and expensive photo equipment thinking that this is the key to success. After making a couple of hundreds of pictures and creating entire albums, portfolios and electronic databases with usual picture taken by not a talented individual but by a hi-tech digital camera. Pictures that have no sense or soul. All of those guys at the end had to sell their fancy equipment because they had families to provide for and rents to pay. As a result we have money, efforts, time losses and depression. You have probably done all the necessary conclusions by just analyzing the information above but in order to make myself clearer I will quickly go through “how do I start?” methods I know.
So first of all it does not really matter how much does you camera cost, It can be even a freaking 1.3 megapixel phone camera. If you really have that feeling of a frame it does not really matter to you what to use in order to take the picture you just take it. As opposed to being all damn dressed into last models of digital cameras with all those $1000 lenses and tripods wondering the streets like an idiot picturing god knows what representing 0 value as a work of art.
If after 10-20-50 shots you’ve lost that sparkle of a photographer - you never had it. The motivation or, I should say, passion you were experiencing was nothing but an envy that came to your head after you’ve heard on the news that some fellow sold his photography collection for X million dollars.
If after more than 100 shots you can pick up at least 5 pictures you like and after showing 20 so-so pictures to your friends they say “not that bad” to at least 2-3 then I think you have it. BUT that’s far from even “so-so” remark of a photography critic. It can be a good beginning of your hard work becoming an amateur and then evolving to sort of professional.
Never lose passion, always be open for criticism of whoever you show your photographs to. Always take your time and observe works of famous photographers, read/listen what they say, they are never too greedy to share experience.
And one more thing, I think the most important one. Don’t you ever think to quit your job that generates your monthly income, feeds you and dresses you to do photography before you have reached a certain level where photography generates more monthly income than your job as whatever you are.
by Eugene Korshunovich
