Advancing Your Photography

Marc Silber demonstrating how to “frame” a photograph

I wanted to provide you with some of the points that I believe in that will help you in advancing your photography.  At the end of the day I want you to take photographs that you love.

Here’s what we stand for:

1. Photography is more than an art form; it is a way of life and a culture that embraces life as you grow.
2. Learning photography should be fun, even when it’s hard work.
3. I believe in learning as much as I can from others, but not to try be them or be like them, just to learn from them and use that knowledge myself.
4. Gear:
   1. You don’t (necessarily) need lots of gear, you need the right gear and need to know how to use it.
   2. Gear-head: someone who falls in love with the stuff, not what it’s used for. Often found to be full data, which is (attempted) to be used to dazzle and impress, much like a magicians flourish of the cards.
   3. We are not gear heads, we love the pictures we produce with the gear and in that sense love to have the right stuff.
   4. You can take great photographs with any camera. The best camera is the one you have with you, as our friend Chase Jarvis said.
   5. Having said all that, I will pass along helpful tips about gear learned along the way for from my guests.
5. You’ll learn best when you’re committed to using what you hear on an AYP show. You may not consider yourself a wedding photographer, but why shouldn’t you be able to shoot one?
6. If you’re not a pro now, you never know when you’ll become one someday. Act like one now and you’ll get there faster. Even if it’s a fantasy, go for it. I won’t tell, if you don’t.
7. You have to know how to shoot on Manual. Then you can go to Aperture priority if you want. But in the old days everything was manual and we learned to see and read light, not put it on auto and expect the camera t know more than we did.
8. Getting critiqued is an important part of learning. If all you learn is to not care what others say, it’s worth it. My toughest critic was my mom, because I really cared what she had to say.
9. Photography is a part of life, so to improve, be curious about all sorts of art, it all fits in to your vision.
10. Change up what you’re doing and grow: If you always shoot from a certain angle, go lower or higher. If you always shoot with available light add a strobe. If you shoot people mostly, get out and shoot landscapes. If you’re afraid of shooting strangers, make yourself go out to shoot street photography.
11. Study the masters. Study how Rembrandt used light. Look at Picasso’s serious-playfulness that kept him young. These folks have a lot to teach us if we “listen.”
12. Get off your computer and go out and shoot. This will almost always get you out of a foul mood. It’s really hard to stay upset once you pick up your camera and use it.
13. It’s more fun to hang out with other photographers who are like-minded, that’s what we’re hoping AYP (Advancing Your Photography) will be for you.