January 31, 2021

The last day of the first month of the New Year is already upon us. Even in a pandemic time flies… You know I am an avid reader of the Digital Photography School (https://digital-photography-school.com/) newsletter and learn a lot from them. A New Year always gets us lists and I want to share a couple of pointers out of three lists:

  1. Sayings by Van Gogh
  2. Points to live by (as a photographer) and
  3. Good habits to have (as a photographer).

Here are 4 sayings by Van Gogh, that certainly apply to photographers:

  • I’m always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it
  • Seek only light and freedom and don’t immerse yourself too deeply in the worldly mire
  • It’s looking at things for a long time that ripens you and gives you deeper meaning
  • If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere.

And 5 things to live by:

  • Shoot often, share few
  • You’re not special, so don’t act like it
  • Learn constantly
  • Shoot for fun
  • Your work is neither as good, nor as bad as you think it is

And then 8 habits, that if you use them, will make you a better photographer:

  1. Check your settings every time you turn on your camera
  2. Check the surroundings before you take each photo
  3. Only get out to shoot during the best light
  4. Shoot every scene from 5 different angles
  5. Use the rule of thirds to begin every composition
  6. Post-process all your good photos
  7. Take one image every day to increase your skills
  8. Look at beautiful photos every single day.

Of course I disagree with point #3; I think you need to learn to make beautiful photos during every time of day, under all circumstances, but these habits are certainly a start and I will try to implement them in my daily routine… that’s my resolution for the New Year.

I hope that it will be a good and creative one!

Till next time,

Ans