Craftmanship and Photography

Learning the craft of photography was truly a labor of love. Becoming an accomplished photographer in any concentration requires mastering specific technical skills. My definition of a professional photographer is someone who can envision the result before taking the picture. Knowing your craft guarantees a successful outcome.

I started taking pictures when I was eight, and back then shooting on film was the only option. Learning photography required an artistic and scientific understanding of photography; there were no shortcuts. Without this basic understanding of the rules of photography and the science behind it, you could not succeed. Photography was expensive, and a photographer could not shoot thousands of pictures to get it right. I don't miss shooting on film as a professional; however, there is an argument to be made for learning the craft of photography by shooting on film and printing in a darkroom. MFA programs teach students to shoot on film because this process requires us to slow down and think about why we are taking a picture. To shoot on film, you must apply the rules of exposure, depth of field, composition, and lighting to get proper exposure that results in an acceptable photograph. A miscalculation along the way will lead to failure.

Learning the art and science behind photography is time-consuming and expensive. I remember studying books by famous photographers like Irving Penn, Richard Avedon, and?Henri Cartier-Bresson. I learned how to ask questions and hit many roadblocks. All of which fueled my desire to become a photographer. The harder it was, the more I wanted to succeed.

Fledgling attempts gave way to minor successes, and eventually, I knew enough about the science and art of photography to repeat success until I could build a portfolio. As a young assistant, I worked with Bill Helms, a commercial food photographer who became my mentor. He taught me how to work with clients, commercial photography, and how to shoot food. I found my professional path as a photographer through years of exploration. It was a slow process, but it taught me patience and made me a better photographer.

Repetition is the mother of skill, and the ability to shoot thousands of pictures digitally can decrease the learning curve and make you a great photographer when you apply an understanding of what makes a great photograph. Photography is easy now; everyone has a camera in their pocket. The big question is: is this generation of photographers better off because of technology, or are they missing a valuable component of their photographer's journey?

Having lived in both worlds, I am not so sure. I would not want to go backward, and I might have been a better photographer faster, shooting digitally. The lessons I learned from shooting on film made me examine why I was taking a picture. Each frame in a roll of film was carefully thought out; like precious water in a desert, I could not afford to waste a single drop. Wasting a single frame by being careless, by not waiting for the precise moment, the perfect light could cost you dearly. Recognizing that moment was what a photographer needed to do to get the perfect shot.