How Normal Amateurs Develop Their Shooting Skills

This post is for a friend of mine, who, like many of us, really wants to improve his photographic skills, but cannot seem to find the time to do so. How do we improve our photography when we already have a busy life? Well, I am in the same situation, really: just another amateur who wants to improve. Here was what my friend said:

I took the camera out to Big Lake with us Saturday and saw some really good shots, yet somehow, I took no shots. There is going to have to be a shift for me to do more shooting. I don’t have extra time on the weekends to go out and shoot like I would like to. So, I’m thinking that as I go and do the many things that have to be done I need to set in my mind that I’m going to have to slow down and take some shots. There was a town that we passed through that was like we just stepped out of Texas and into Old Mexico. The building architecture shifted. Would have been some great shots, but alas, I was in too big a hurry to get home.

Yes, one solution may be to slow down the pace of your life so that when you do see opportunities, you can stop to take them. That is really a big change, though. It is hard to completely change the pace of your life just to shoot more. I cannot tell you how many picturesque little towns I have driven right through…crying for the lost opportunity.

Part of my solution has been to keep my camera with me at all times. I <strong>rarely</strong> would have time to stop and capture the essence of a town. However, I <strong>often</strong> have time to take a few shots of this or that. That is a five minute change as opposed to a one hour change in plans…much more workable.

Sure, I think it would be good for the soul to stop every once in a while. Break the schedule (if the wife permits, hehe). Savor the moment. Life is too short to always drive through, but I have to be honest that such a big change would be hard to practically implement.

Another part of my solution has been to combine a photwalk with a normal fun walk with the boy. He likes going out and just seeing things, and that is exactly what I would like to photograph: stuff, life, people, places, neighborhoods, etc. So, for the past few weeks, we have been going out on Saturday morning walks. He is in the stroller and if I want to stop for a few minutes to shoot, he rarely cares…as long as there are birds, dogs, roosters, cars, truck, bike, and the like to keep him amazed.

This Saturday morning walk is just one example, but photography can be woven into many different aspects of life. I have let myself become the photo nerd who always carries his camera. Much of the time, it just stays strapped to my back collecting sweat (we are in Thailand, after all), but it is there and ready to be woven into life when opportunity knocks.

Sometimes people ask (or recently, politely force) me to take photos of such and such an event. And other times, I just do it anyway. They like the photos; I get to shoot more. Though the subject matter might not be the most inspirational you have ever seen, you are gaining experience with every frame, so that when that inspirational moment does arrive, not only do you have your camera on hand, but you know exactly what needs to be done to make that photo work.

Cooper Strange Written by: