When you're starting out in photography, a few solid tips can shortcut your way through common frustrations. These pointers, grounded in practical experience, can change your approach and improve your results dramatically.
Coming to you from Ed Verosky, this insightful video highlights that not all lenses deliver the same performance. Verosky recalls starting his photography journey with a basic 50mm lens on his Minolta XG7, which got him through but came with limitations. Nowadays, the standard kit lenses, typically 18-55mm, offer convenience but may sacrifice sharpness and speed. Recognizing early that lenses vary widely in quality can shape your purchasing decisions significantly. Verosky’s point here can help you prioritize investing in lenses that truly enhance your capabilities.
Verosky then stresses the importance of fast lenses—those with wide apertures that let in more light. Initially working with a telephoto lens limited to an aperture of f/4.5, he struggled capturing crisp images in dim settings like sports events or night shoots. When he finally upgraded to lenses such as an 85mm f/1.8 and later a 70-200mm f/2.8, the difference was unmistakable. Faster lenses not only handle low-light situations with ease but also produce smoother, more attractive backgrounds, drastically improving the visual quality of your photos. Realizing this early saves frustration and expands your creative possibilities significantly.
Another vital insight Verosky shares is about flash photography. Initially, he found his images harsh and unappealing due to improperly used on-camera flash. Many beginners use flash straight-on, creating unflattering shadows and overly bright spots. Learning techniques to diffuse and direct flash properly can transform your portraits. Understanding flash isn't about complex setups but mastering simple, effective techniques to soften and control light direction. Verosky emphasizes that knowing how to manipulate flash effectively can distinguish your photographs from amateur snapshots.
Gear overload is another common trap discussed in the video. Verosky admits he once carried every possible piece of equipment to shoots, a habit he later recognized as stemming from insecurity. He notes that having too much gear can distract rather than support your photography. Today, he prefers a minimalist approach—using fewer lenses and lights. With fewer distractions, your focus naturally shifts toward creativity and subject interaction. Simplicity often leads to clearer ideas and stronger images, teaching you to rely more on skill than on gear. That's just the start, so check out the video above for the full rundown from Verosky.
The Days or Years of FILM were Shoot and Note Taking of each Shot then WAITING for some times a Month, for me I was in the U.S. Navy and mostly in Europe the Mediterranean and one hour developing was hard to find so sending back to Kodak in the USA. The one positive thing was bad images or captures that were black for whatever reason Kodak gave a coupon for one shot credit on your next roll.
For anyone that would like to know a couple of great cameras that by blessing or just plain luck, but yes many other cameras were in the hands like Olympus that were smaller and lenses also lighter for the fact as a sailor on shore walking to places was the norm and there were no backpack camera bags just over the shoulder bags, talk about heavy after an hour.
My first was the Canon Ftb, a blessing, why it was as close to todays auto cameras. Hard to picture in your mind but it had to needles in the eyepiece viewer one needle moved attached a light meter and the second went up and down with the aperture or the lens and the magic was you dialed in your ASA of your film and the light meter moved wherever you pointed and all you needed to do is focus and put the round circle over the light meter needle. Inside and night time with the little flash was test and go a month later results. Also you had to use day film and night film for the different ASA film to load in. Went to the pyramids and to a surprise inside tour up to a treasure room but empty just a squire block of rocks by day film using a flash came out!!!
My other point to all this like is said in the article is I did not learn much when the digital cameras came out. I had no idea about ISO selection or F/# selection yep no real books to find in a library or book store so many of my captures 10 years after my retirement I used high apertures like f/22 vs f/4 and staying at 100 ISO, DA!!! Again even in 2009 no internet full of info just the magazines that I bought stacks after awhile mainly advertisements.
One thing about the f/# being fast glass today like f/2.8 or even 1.4/1.2 it was not for the lens bokeh but for hand held capture!
I did not have to retire my Canon FD lenses because when Sony came out with A7M1's and M2's there were adapters for many a make of camera and their film lenses as well as the later digital lenses. It was smart to give the info to adapter makers for Sony started with just a few starter lens.
But not really understanding f/# image 2. was captured at f/22 with the then new Sony FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS while doing a new to me bracketed capture, if you look at the foreground you will see what looks like a pirate holding a knife in his mouth and my little boot prints walking over it. Now for sunrises I do a group at a low ISO and max f/#.
3. Heading into the storm with USS America close by 1991 4. A capture of my wife when Saratoga went to Paradise Island for a week using a flash and a capture of the photo with flowers and forever ring on 30th anniversary
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