Every single photographer from rank amateur to seasoned pro makes mistakes. Of course, the idea is to minimize the occurrence of said mistakes so you can focus more on being creative and not have to worry about missing a shot. If you're just starting out, here are five mistakes to be aware of when you head out to shoot.
Coming to you from B&H, this helpful video details five mistakes that most beginners make at some point (I know I was guilty of all of them). Of them, I think the most damaging is not knowing your camera. As a test, can you close your eyes right now and tell me the exact button and dial sequence to change your ISO to 1600 without thinking too much? It might sound like a contrived exercise, but the purpose is two-fold: first, you never know when you might happen upon a great shot and not have much time to get your settings dialed in, especially if you're shooting a genre with a lot of action. Second, if you have to actively think about how to use your camera, you're devoting valuable cognitive resources to tedium when they could otherwise be spent focused on the higher-level creativity of a shoot. The camera should become an extension of your body when you know it well. A second aside: the rule of thirds is a great guideline, but of course, it's not a hard and fast rule. Don't be afraid to experiment.
very good article for beginners. thanks for sharing!
Is this Ignorable mistake?
Get sucked into YouTube videos
This is a really good one. Get out and shoot!!!
Shoot, David Flores is as engaging as the material. What a great way to learn... happy, encouraging, inclusive so I don't feel like an outsider as a less experienced photographer. Now if I could just get to the city on a day B&H is open! Haha. Or not... to save my bank account. :)
I still need to make a trip to B&H one day; it looks like my Disneyland in pictures. :)
Haha, I was walking through NY one day not even thinking about B&H and came across it. Spent the next 3 hours in there. Its definitely Disneyland.
Alex... a heads up. The B&H link has gone 404 wonky.
Thanks for catching that!
Great share, thanks for the article!
I failed... I always change ISO via the Q button, then move via the joystick from wherever I was last to the ISO setting (I'm rarely in a hurry), but your example made me think if I wanted to change it with my eye still in the view finder... I knew it was one of the top buttons, but I wasn't positive if it was the first or second... I would've had to chimp that one for a quick moment.
As a quasi seasoned amateur, I'd agree knowing your equipment is foremost. As a second shooter to a wedding photographer, I was asked to get to a certain position and shoot a sequence in AI Servo with a specific metering mode. He also wasn't shy about letting his frustration known at an assistant who didn't know how to turn a light down a stop.
Don't worry, I just got my first Sony ILC and I'm going through that process all over again! Wedding photographers are definitely demanding, but given the job requirements, they have no choice but to be.