tnypxl

Taking pictures is easy until you actually want to communicate something specific. Chasing artistic value brings more variables into the equation more so than taking a snap of your friends at the beach. Interpreting a moment or a scene for the purpose of communicating is most of the battle. The settings of your camera are maybe 20% of that battle.

I’ve gone on several photo walks and when I see a scene, I’m rarely ever thinking about my camera settings. Of course I have some basic settings to gain good exposure and white balance, but for the most part I’m lost somewhere in the viewfinder. I think it’s important to care more about the composition and the story you’re trying to tell. If that comes as a second thought, you’re just exercising camera settings.

However, the camera will always afford you some benefits in regards to getting quality shots. But the camera is at the end of the quality equation. Your images may be sharp as a tack, properly exposed and perfectly white-balanced, but if you put no thought into your composition and what you’re communicating, none of the previous items matter at all.

As always, I’m learning as I go and sharing it. While it may sound officious, it’s only one perspective among many in this space we call photography so take it for a grain of salt.