As a new photographer I made many mistakes. Some of these were easy to fix while others are mistakes that I still make from time to time. I believe that what is most important is your attitude to mistakes. Do you use them as learning opportunities or as excuses to convince yourself that you will never make it as a photographer? Seeing mistakes as learning opportunities, analyzing them and finding ways to fix them, will help you grow as a photographer and improve the images you take. Like any skill worth learning, photography takes time to master. You have to constantly work on improving your photography skills. Making mistakes is part of this process; learning from these mistakes is what will make the difference to your photography. Here are 20 common mistakes made by beginner photographers and how to avoid them. 1. Forgetting to take an extra battery. One of the advantages of using a camera over a mobile phone is that we are not using battery except for our photos. That said, it is surprising how quickly a battery can run down when we spend a day shooting, so what we don’t want is to run out of battery during our shoot only to discover that we have forgotten the spare. I learned this lesson the hard way. I was on holiday in beautiful Lake Garda. I had my camera with me during the day, and took lots of shots, then headed out again in the evening to watch the amazing sunset which had become a daily highlight of my trip. On this evening it was particularly spectacular, with the sky showing a beautiful array of colours, turning from the deep blue of day, to deep pink, purple and into vibrant orange as the sun set. I was only a few shots into this unique performance of nature when I realised what is every photographer’s nightmare – I had run out of battery and the spare was on the charger in my hotel room! Thankfully, I managed to get some shots with my phone, but I do feel that I missed a unique photo opportunity by not paying attention to this fundamental requirement. TIP: Always keep a spare battery with you. 2. Realising your memory card is full when out shooting. This can be annoying especially when you have everything lined up to take those special photos and you get a message telling you that your memory card is full. And what makes it worse is if you haven’t backed up all the photos already on the card, so re-formatting on the go may not be an option. TIP: A good idea to avoid this issue is to upload your photos after every shoot and regularly re-format your memory card. I find that having two cards with less space is preferable to having one large card. That way I can keep a spare memory card in my camera bag for emergencies. 3. Not knowing your equipment well. This can apply to camera or lenses, or any part of your equipment which you need to be sufficiently familiar with to use on the go. As a beginner photographer I was delighted to move on from my kit lens and purchased a 50mm fixed lens. I had my camera at a family function, practising in a real setting, when I was asked to take a group photo. Imagine my embarrassment when I discovered that I was too close to get everyone into the frame with my 50mm lens and had to admit that I was rather an amateur before asking the group to bear with me while I changed lens! I was grateful to go back to my familiar kit lens! TIP: Get to know your equipment inside out. Read the manual, study the camera settings, get to know everything you need to know so that when you are out shooting you can concentrate on composing your shots rather than worrying about camera settings or which lens is right for the job. 4. Poor composition. I regularly made this mistake when starting photography. I would arrive at a scene, see the beautiful view in front of me, and take a shot. Most of the time I was including far too much in the frame and the viewer had no idea what to look at. Nothing stood out in those images; they were just snapshots. Maybe nice snapshots, but snapshots all the same. On other occasions I would run into the opposite problem. I would include too little in the frame, also resulting in an uninteresting image. And I won’t mention all those pictures with slanting horizons! Composition is everything in photography so if we want to improve at photography we have to improve at composition. TIP: Take some lessons in composition, watch some videos, look at the work of other photographers, read about composition ‘rules’ and put them into practice. Poor composition is a mistake anyone can make when starting out in photography, but it can be improved, and this is something worth spending time on. When I started in photography all my horizon lines were in the centre of the frame, splitting the image in half. Then I learned that having the horizon a third of the way from either the top or the bottom made for a more pleasing image. Most often I go for one third sky but in this image I liked the way the colours crept up into the sky so leaving two thirds sky seemed best. One of the joys of photography is getting to experiment with what works best for us. 5. Not varying your images. When I started photography most of my images were landscapes. Granted, I did go to different locations to get some variations in my images, but they were still mostly landscapes. And because I was not experienced and didn’t have proper equipment for landscape photography, they were not particularly good landscape images. When I realised this, I began to vary my images. I went out into the streets and did some street photography; I tried out flower photography and nature photography where more close-up shots were acceptable. I began following my instincts and photographing things that drew me. I experimented with aperture, giving a different depth of field to some images. Now I vary my images and the photography journey has become much more exciting. TIP: Don’t stick to the same type of images all the time. Even if a particular genre of photography doesn’t appeal to you, try it out, you might be pleasantly surprised. I was. Street photography was not my favourite type of photography - until I tried it! 6. Expecting new ‘gear’ to make you a better photographer. I have indeed been guilty of falling for the lure of ‘Gear Acquisition Syndrome’. ‘Maybe if I had a better camera, I would get better shots,’ ‘None of my lenses are quite right, I need a new one.’ Is this your view? It is the view of many people starting photography. We don’t want to start off with the most expensive equipment as we may not keep up the pursuit, then we start to blame the inferior camera or lenses for what we think are poor images. I have had to change my view as I came to realise that my camera can take perfectly good shots; it’s the person taking the shots who needs to improve! This fact was brought home forcibly when I read that Ansel Adams, arguably one of the world’s best photographers, had equipment which was inferior to anything we have today, yet he was able to produce amazing images. The lesson I learned was to concentrate on improving myself as photographer and on getting to know my current equipment well before I go out and buy more ‘gear’, because no camera or lens will make me a good photographer. Granted, there may come a time when you are good enough to want better gear because better equipment will help you improve your photography even further. Until then, stick with the gear you have and improve your skills. TIP: Use the gear you currently have, get to know it so well that it helps you make good images. Only then, when you have truly outgrown your equipment because it is preventing you taking your photography to the next level, should you invest in something new. 7.Not ‘working the scene’. There are two phrases often used to describe approaches to photography. One describes the ‘spray-and-pray’ type of photographer, the one who takes lots and lots of photographs in the hope that some of them will turn out well. The other approach is the ‘one-and-done’ approach, which involves arriving at the scene, taking the shot and leaving. Neither of these approaches will give you the best chance of capturing a good image. A better approach is to ‘work the scene’. This would involve taking a few initial shots, then taking more shots from several different angles and perspectives, perhaps waiting for light to change and taking more shots. You might make some close-up images, vary the depth of field, look around for a more interesting viewpoint. The point is, you will be actively involved in making decisions, looking for optimal conditions, making rather than just taking your shots. TIP: Get into the habit of working the scene. Take several shots in each location, from different perspectives, levels and viewpoints. Maybe none of them will be the image you were hoping for, but if you cover all bases you might just get an image to be proud of. (Slideshow) I took these three images in my local park, from different angles and perspectives. 8. Not taking advantage of all the camera has to offer. I have to admit, I stayed on Auto mode for quite some time after getting my new camera. All the while I knew that, while the camera did a decent enough job, I wasn’t really developing as a photographer or capturing the kind of images which a DSLR is capable of capturing. I gradually made the move to Program mode, then to Aperture Priority, before taking the plunge and tackling fully manual. I do have more creative control over my images, but I know that there is much about my camera that I have yet to learn. It has a menu packed with features and options which are available for good reason and I do a dis-service to my photography by ignoring them. TIP: Spend some time investigating the camera menu, reading the manual and getting to grips with the controls. An experienced photographer once said that we can become creative photographers only when we know our camera so well that it doesn’t get in our way. I am not at that stage yet, so I need to take my own advice here and spend some time investigating all that the camera has to offer. 9. Taking Out of Focus images. Images end up out of focus for a number of reasons. One reason can be camera shake, which can result in a blurred image, while another reason is failure to focus on the right spot. A mistake I have made, which has resulted in disappointingly blurred parts of my image, has been using the wrong shutter speed when there is movement in the frame. TIP: Having photos that are in focus is key to becoming a good photographer, so it is important to learn how to use the auto focus settings on your camera and to practise manual focusing. Choosing a single point auto focus, rather than multi-point, can help you take sharper photos. When using a phone camera or a camera with touchscreen, don’t forget to set focus before taking the picture rather than relying on the camera to get the focus right. In this image the feet are out of focus due to the fact that I didn't get the shutter speed correct. 10. Taking all photos from the viewpoint of a standing adult. This is a common mistake of many photographers, not just beginners. Using a tripod, while necessary to avoid camera shake, can often contribute to this problem. It appears to be the most natural position from which to capture our shots, but if we want to make more creative images it is important to explore different angles and perspectives. We can try shooting upwards, crouching down and getting a worm’s eye view, stepping up on something and shooting down from above. These approaches will give a more interesting look to our images and, particularly if we are practising photography as amateurs, will help us to develop our photographer’s eye. TIP: Next time you are out shooting, try at least one new perspective. Doing this regularly will bring your photography to a whole new level. Shooting upwards can give us a perspective we don't normally see 11. Thinking there’s nothing to shoot. You have been to all your local locations, you have been to the places you know are popular for photography, you have scouted for new locations and you feel you have nowhere left to go. This can be a problem for all beginners in photography, but the good news is, there is always somewhere to go, something new to shoot, a fresh approach to take, a new perspective to try even in a familiar location. Instead of a wide-angled landscape shot, we can try a close-up; instead of shooting in a rural area we can attempt urban photography, or vice versa. We can try seascapes or cloudscapes. We can try architectural photography. We can even concentrate on creating a portfolio of shots of one subject such as trees or doors. In fact, even though I thought many times that I had nothing left to photograph, I continually realise that the only limit to the images I can make is my imagination. TIP: When you feel like there is nothing left to photograph, look online, read a photography book, join a photography group, search your imagination for ideas and they will come. There are endless possibilities for making photographs, we just have to be open to finding them. 12. Not turning around when shooting. Most times when we are out shooting, we keep going forward, looking for photo opportunities to present themselves. Then we turn around and see what we could have missed. TIP: Make a point of turning around regularly when out shooting, then you won’t miss that great opportunity that has opened out behind you. 13. Not sharing your images. You spend hours out shooting, you have several shots that you like, but you don’t do anything with them only upload them to your computer and leave them there. Take the opportunity to show your images to the world – post on family or friend group sites, social media sites, or create your own portfolio website and invite visitors. Part of the joy of photography is allowing others to view our creations. Don’t miss out on that side of this amazing hobby. If you do, you may be denying yourself another opportunity to develop as a photographer. TIP: Choose at least one platform or photo sharing site and share some of your favourite photos or join an online or face to face photography group where photo sharing is encouraged. There are lots available. 14. Image is over or under exposed. This is a mistake that I regularly made when starting out in photography. The problem was that I didn’t fully understand the exposure triangle, the relationship between ISO, shutter speed and aperture. I won’t say that I always get exposure right, even today, but it is something that I can continue to perfect. TIP: It is worth spending time learning how to get the proper exposure in our shots. Take some time to learn about light and the role which light plays in creating an image. Learn about ISO, Aperture and Shutter Speed, which are the foundations of photographic exposure. There are many online tutorials which explain this concept well, it is the basis of every beginner photography course and you will find an explanation of exposure in most photography books. Personally, I found that it was helpful to study the concept from many different sources. 15. Unsightly objects in the picture. There are more photographs being taken now than in any time in history, mainly because most adults always have a camera in their pocket. Unfortunately, though, more photographs do not mean better photographs and many people do not pay attention to what they include in the frame when taking photographs with their mobile phones. Often, we end up receiving images that would have looked good except for the tree sticking out of someone’s head, a pole spoiling the beauty of an otherwise natural landscape or a piece of litter looming large in the foreground of our scene. Unwanted objects on the edges of the frame can also spoil our picture. Fortunately, these issues are easy to remedy with a bit of care and attention. TIP: Always pay attention to what is going on in the frame. If necessary, take a few steps to one side, or pan sideways with your camera, to remove an unwanted object. Getting the picture right in camera can avoid a few embarrassing moments later. 16. Photos are not very interesting. This point relates in some ways to point #10. Often, the most uninteresting photos are the ones we take from the standing adult viewpoint. Changing our perspective, shooting from a higher or lower vantage point can pay dividends here, as outlined in point #10. Sometimes, though, it is the subject itself which is not so interesting. Making an image which is of interest to ourselves and to our viewers is at the heart of photography. TIP: A good idea is to study the work of photographers you admire. What is it about their photographs that appeals to you? How do they compose their images that make them interesting? Doing this will not only help you understand what it is in images that appeals to you, but it will also be of benefit in creating more interesting images of your own. An empty beach may not be very interesting but by getting down low we can add a little more interest to the shot. 17. Over-doing post processing. It can be tempting to keep working on a photo in a post processing, but we must know when to stop. It is particularly easy to over-do saturation, leaving the colours looking unnatural. It is suggested that 80 per cent of the look you want should already be in the image. TIP: I find that it is a good idea to work on a photo for an initial period then leave it and come back later. It is usually easier to see whether we like our post processing when we return afresh. 18. Not doing any post processing. Most, if not all, photos need a small amount of processing to make them look more pleasing to the viewer. While today’s cameras are very capable, no camera can capture that same range of light that our eyes can handle. By making small adjustments to exposure and white balance, for example, we can produce images which are closer to that which our eye sees. We are attempting to produce images that are the best they can be. TIP: It is worth doing at least a small amount of editing on your images before posting them publicly. Even very basic edits on your phone can make a difference to your images and you may want to progress to a more advanced mobile editing program such as Snapseed. When you become more familiar with what you want to do you might try Lightroom or Photoshop. 19. Not learning from your mistakes. We must realise that we all make mistakes in photography. Whether we are beginners or have been doing photography for years there will still be things we won’t get right from time to time, and that’s par for the course. What we can do, however, is learn from these mistakes so that we will make them less often. TIP: When your image is less pleasing than you would have wished, take some time to analyze it closely to see what went wrong. Do you have a clearly defined subject? Is the image in focus? Is it over or under exposed? What about the composition – have you applied some of the composition ‘rules’ to your image? By evaluating your image you will begin to name your mistakes and take steps to avoid these next time. 20. Not taking time to enjoy what you are doing. We all like to come home from a day’s shooting with some worthwhile images, and if we follow some of the suggestions here we are likely to do that, at least some of the time. But photography is not all about getting perfect images. It is as much about enjoyment of our time out shooting; it is about being present in the moments, appreciating our surroundings and enjoying discovery and learning with our camera. Of all the mistakes you make as a beginner in photography, not taking the time to enjoy the process might be the one that will result in you getting disillusioned most quickly. So whatever else you do with your photography, be sure to enjoy it! Can you add to this list of mistakes? This might not be a great image, but I did enjoy experimenting with my new iPhone camera.

I am a great believer in the practice of mindfulness. It is something I want to increasingly incorporate into various aspects of my life as I find it to be genuinely beneficial. Mindfulness is often described as ‘being present’. Being present in the moment means that we are more focused and aware. Being present to another person is often the best gift we can give. Once we become aware of what mindfulness is, it can be a simple technique that only takes a second but which can bring a host of benefits to our life. Many people attest to these benefits and more and more people are turning to mindfulness as an antidote to anxiety and stress, as well as for general well-being. Recently, as I sat in an optician’s waiting area, I happened to see an article in a magazine entitled ‘Music as a gateway to mindfulness.’ In the article the writer discussed how, to cope with severe anxiety, she turned to her lifelong interest in music and, by renewing an earlier passion for playing the harp and beginning to play regularly, she found herself in a calmer, less anxious space. There are many ‘gateways’ to living a less stressed, more mindful life. All we have to do is find the one that suits us. A few weeks ago I spent some time in my local park, wandering through the walled garden, taking photographs of plants and parts of plants, observing a little bird hopping around which I tried to capture on camera, noticing how the first signs of spring were already in the air. As I did this I had no thoughts of anything that had gone on in the past nor had I any worries or anxieties about the future. I was fully immersed in what I was doing. In fact, I realised later, photography doesn’t really allow us to be anywhere other than fully present or we might as well not be there at all! While I don’t claim to take what others might call ‘good’ photographs I do want to take the best images that I can take and one of the secrets to doing this is to be fully present in the moment. In photography, being in the moment means having a connection with our subject or our surroundings. We can’t be creative if our minds are consumed with thoughts of something that happened yesterday or last week, or if we are concerned with what will happen in the future. The practice of being in the moment, being fully present, being mindful, helps keep us in ‘the zone’; helps us get into ‘flow’, two states of being which are well documented as being beneficial to our mental health. Other creative pursuits – singing, dancing, painting, playing an instrument – can achieve the same results. Writing, for me, also provides that opportunity to be fully present to what I am doing, but it is photography that really encourages me to engage with the moment through noticing, observing and then capturing an image. Photography actually encourages mindfulness by heightening my awareness of seeing. And combining a daily walk with mindful photography is truly a gift to my health and well-being. As I walk, taking in my surroundings, I begin to become more observant, noticing things that I hadn’t noticed before. I become more aware of people immediately around me, activities that are going on, how light is playing on objects in my field of vision, the ever-changing sky. I notice the first spring buds appearing or the way trees are silhouetted against the sky. I visualise what I want to capture with my camera, how I will compose/frame a picture, how I will use light to enhance an image. I am using my eye before I use my camera. When I decide on what images I want to shoot on this particular day I begin to experiment with angles and perspectives, getting down low or shooting high to get a better point of view. This to me constitutes more mindful photography and it helps me to feel connected to my subjects and to feel invested in the images I shoot. I recall reading an article from a travel photographer who talked of the photographer as being a ‘silent witness’. I love this description. It suggests bringing a consciousness to our practice of seeing, but also suggests watching and waiting, not frantically trying to grab the next shot. By being a silent witness we actually see more and hopefully take better, not more, pictures. We might miss the one we thought we wanted, and get a better one instead! For me, photography has become a constant exploration of life. It has helped me to discover new places, to see new things in familiar places and to look at life from different perspectives. All it takes is to be open to seeing what is there in this moment and embracing what we find, but in so doing we also develop our eye and that, in photography, is never a bad thing. “The best way to capture moments is to pay attention. This is how we cultivate mindfulness. Mindfulness means being awake.” – Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder of MBSR (mindfulness-based stress reduction). if you enjoyed reading this post please share it on social media.

There are times when I almost believe that if I buy a better camera or a different set of lenses I could make better photographs. Yet I know that this is no more accurate than saying that buying a bigger or more expensive car will make me a better driver. Essentially, photography is an art form carried out by technical means, therefore it is by becoming more proficient in the technical aspects of the craft that we will begin to make better photographs. But that is only part of the story. The other part involves the mind of the photographer, the photographer’s vision or intent. Although we do, and should, strive for technical excellence, I do think that individuality is equally important. Our vision, our intent as we shoot our images, is what brings individuality to our photography craft. Helen Keller said, “It is terrible to see and have no vision.” Vision is something that belongs in the mind of each individual, it is how we see, it is what we see that others don’t see, and in photography our photographs are how we express that vision to others. In order to communicate our vision we need to spend time reflecting on that vision, thinking about our intent as we make our photographs. Randomly taking photographs will not express our vision. We need to look at our work in progress and think about where we go next. This reflection can take place any time, not just on a photography shoot. In fact, it is much better done away from the camera so that we can experience our own creative space. I found that I enjoy making abstract pictures from flowers, and experimenting with minimalist photography. This gives flower photography an added interest and gives me something to work on. What is vision? Your vision is your personal way of looking at the world. You can ask yourself why you want to take photographs. Why did you start this craft in the first place? Your honest answer to these questions will illuminate your vision. If you want something more from your photography than just snapshots then it is likely that you have some vision for your work, some intent for your photography. It is easy to see why vision could make a difference to the images we make, as without vision we have nothing to inspire us, nothing to motivate us to change this or that to see if it will make a difference to the final image. Our vision is our motivator, it is what gets us beyond commonplace images as we strive to express our own personal view of the world through pictures. Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others. Jonathan Swift Recently, I have been reading a lot about the vision aspect of photography as I believe it is an area for improvement that goes hand in hand with technical improvement. When I started my photography journey I didn’t really have a vision or an idea of what I would like to photograph. I soon found that the question, ‘What type of photography do you like?’ was the most often asked question so I began to think about what I liked to photograph. Initially I was taking pictures of landscapes, and I really like that area of photography. I also found myself drawn to making simple images and to trying out new techniques with different aperture and shutter speeds. I thought I wouldn’t like flower photography but discovered, when I tried it, that as a medium it had a lot to offer. I experimented with close up photography and I know I haven’t even begun to realise the potential which this area of photography has to offer. As I progressed from week to week, getting out there and capturing the images to which I was drawn, I began to clarify my vision, refine my intent and discover my preferences. Some of my earliest photographs were 'watery' landscapes. I now realise that I need more skill to capture proper landscape images, and this is an area of photography I constantly try to improve. (This was taken on auto mode. I have since abandoned using auto and am trying to master aperture priority and manual mode, to varying degrees of success!) Much has been written on vision in photography by photographer and writer David duChemin, who has written a number of books and blogs on the subject. He believes that, “Vision is the beginning and end of photography. It’s the thing that moves you to pick up the camera, and it determines what you look at and what you see when you do. It determines how you shoot and why. Without vision, the photographer perishes.” (Within the Frame, The Journey of Photographic Vision. David duChemin) I recently completed an exercise from duChemin’s ‘The Visual Toolbox’, in which my task was to sit down with my favourite photographs to see what they have in common, looking for hints about how I see the world and ‘intuitively try to express that.’ What I discovered is that my favourite images are of small things, parts of flowers or plants, and hidden landscapes. I love finding beautiful things in unusual places, seeing beauty around me in the ever-changing landscape and in things that ordinarily go unnoticed. I love to see swans glide up and down the river. I love flowers and parts of flowers, even dying flowers. I love waterfalls and water flowing in tiny streams. I love to catch an unusual action or expression and to tell ordinary stories of people and animals through my images. On the technical level, I love blurry backgrounds and freezing the motion of water. And I love to experiment; to experiment with composition, with light, with perspective. I love to find a unique shot, something hidden, a place or subject that is mine to explore and capture. Doing this assignment has helped me to recognise my vision and will go towards enabling me to refine that vision as I shoot my images, which hopefully, in conjunction with technical learning, will help improve my photography. If you would like to improve the images you make, this exercise is well worth trying. DuChemin claims that the photographs that mean the most ‘are the ones made in that tension of learning to express your vision.’ This suggests that expressing vision is not easy. It may be challenging but it is part of our photographic journey, part of our way of grappling with how we see the world and making images to convey that view to others. And because our vision is not something that others can see, finding and expressing our vision is a process that we have to go through by ourselves. Part of the work is reflecting on our vision, knowing what our vision is, what it looks like, even how it is changing, the other part is getting out and making images that try to express that vision. These two aspects of the process are interdependent. Reflecting on our work leads us to taking new approaches and trying new things, while creating new images leads us back to reflecting on what we have created and seeing how it fits with our overall vision. For me, one way of reflecting on my vision is writing about the topic in this blog, so blogging has become an important element in my photographic journey and has helped me become more passionate about the photographs I make. ********************************************************************** Sometimes I see something I like and just capture the image! I think the tree looks like it is taking a rest! I will admit, it needs some work in an image editing program! Occasionally, I find on a photo shoot that there is nothing to take, nothing ‘calls’ me and I go home empty handed or with a few shots of which I am not very proud. At other times something will draw my eye and I will do anything I can to frame the perfect shot for myself. In photography, every time we line up our shot - choose the location, angle, light, distance - every time we wait a moment, adjust our focus, change direction, every time we move a little closer, move to the left or to the right, every time we include or exclude something from our picture, it is an expression of our vision, of how we see the world, of what is important to us. Even the images we end up deleting are not total rejects - they teach us something about what we want and don't want, how we want our image to be, what we need to do to achieve that image. I remember taking this shot - I was on a photo shoot experimenting with depth of field. I almost ended up falling down a grassy bank in my effort to get this image, but it was the one I wanted! It expresses something of myself at that moment in time, how I felt about that particular image that I nearly injured myself trying to capture it! I used to love capturing pictures of swans! As my photography journey continues I hope to bring more of myself, more of my vision to the images I make. How do you express your vision? “Photographs are everywhere. The destination is much less important than the vision you bring to it.” – Dan Carr. Updated May 2021 If this post has been useful to you, please feel free to share it.

One of the main things I have learned since coming back to photography is just how much there is to learn, and I realise I will always be learning. Photography is a skill that I will never perfect, but that’s ok because for me the real joy is in learning, not just learning photography, but learning about myself as I make this journey. I have mentioned in other posts how I have come back to re-learning photography after an absence of many years. This brought its own dilemma – I wanted to learn properly and be as good as I could be, but I knew I was never going to be an expert photographer. I didn’t want to invest in expensive equipment as I wasn’t sure how much use I would make of it. I knew that potentially I would be dis-heartened when comparing myself to other photographers, even to those from whom I was learning. These three ‘dilemmas’ have come together to help me realise that if I am to progress with my learning, continue to build my confidence and not become disillusioned by comparing myself to others then I have to develop my own style of photography. What is style in photography? Some people would describe photographic style as relating to the genre you prefer; whether you like to photograph landscapes or portraits, whether you prefer street photography or taking macro shots, or whether storytelling through photography such as photojournalism is your preference. I think that individual style goes further than photographic genre. As you make more and more images you come to realise that you make decisions based on how you want the image to coincide with your photographic vision. I think your style is a combination of all the decisions you make on a photo shoot; decisions such as what your focus will be, how you will compose the shot, what you will include and exclude, what angle or perspective you will shoot from, what lens you will use, and so on. Your style is about your preference as to how your final image should look and it will become apparent that you have a particular style to which you adhere. I love to photograph reflections in water, often with a foreground, which could be a flower, a rock, a hedge or some grasses How do you realise your photographic style? One way to become aware of your style is to look at lots of photographs and get to know what appeals to you and what doesn’t. Your taste in photography will inform your own style. Another way to think about style is to look for patterns in your own image collection. When I look for patterns, I find lots of images of parts of objects, old or un-used things, unusual trees or even dead plants or trees. I have many images of hidden landscapes and places off the beaten track. I love to show subjects through a natural frame or create a blurry background. My subjects tend to be similar yet treated differently on each occasion. Style is related to your vision for your photography: your vision is what you want to create, your style describes the way you bring that vision to reality. Why is it important to develop your own style when learning photography? I have identified 7 reasons why I think it is important to develop your own photography style, particularly in the beginner stages. 1. It helps build confidence in your work All learners need confidence building to help us persevere on the not so good days. On days when I compare myself unfavourably to others, I need to remind myself that my photographs are unique to me, that they express my vision and intent at the time of capture, and for that reason they are worthy of my regard. 2. It gives you freedom to experiment Being true to your own style means that you are free to create the images you want to create. You are creating for yourself, not for anyone else, so you are free to experiment, to go where you want to go and to do what you like to do. I love to have this creative freedom and it feels particularly good on a day when I come home with images that may not be so good in themselves but that have provided a learning experience and a motivation to do things differently next time. 3. It gives you ‘tailor made’ learning experiences There are so many photography teachers, lessons, tutorials, tips and learning tools, particularly online, that you can become overwhelmed by all the learning that is on offer. I am constantly being offered ‘all I need to know’ type articles but since I have managed to distil my preferences to a few specific areas I can target my learning more accurately. I am currently viewing landscape videos by Nigel Danson and Simon Baxter, whose work and photography style I admire, and iPhone landscape photography lessons given by Clifford Pickett. Another time I might learn from a photographer whose tips for improving photography are easy to follow and achievable or follow the Instagram accounts of certain photographers. Being able to identify my own needs and tailor my learning to meet those needs has been helpful in keeping myself motivated with the right amount of challenge. 4. It helps you understand your own tastes Developing and becoming aware of your own style of photography is a step towards self-development as a photographer. Before I became aware of the style of photography I liked to practice, I was taking pictures randomly and I had no sense of satisfaction with any of them. As I developed a style it helped me understand my tastes and directed me to the right locations to do my photography. As I defined my style, I became more aware of what I wanted from my photography and more motivated to constantly try to improve my images in line with my photographic vision and style. 5. It helps you develop your strengths We all have our strengths in photography. I find portrait photography difficult because of the time pressure and the expectations that are involved. I like landscape and nature photography in particular because when I can take my time, relax, enjoy a location, and identify a subject that I want to photograph, I find that I can easily follow the guidelines that I have learned. My style of photography is relaxed. I enjoy taking a mindful approach to photography, spending time on my own, choosing when, where and how I make my images. By not trying to meet the expectations of others or produce images on demand I believe I can build on my strengths and improve at my own pace. 6. It helps to develop your creativity I have written several articles on the importance of developing our creativity and on how photography can enhance our creativity. When you establish your own style in photography, you begin to realise that what you create is uniquely yours, a result of your unique vision, something that only you can create. Creativity involves your process; it involves the decisions you make and actions you take to create your finished product. Your creative process is about doing something in the way you want to do it. When you embrace your own style, you are embracing your creativity. 7. It increases your enjoyment of what you do I believe that the biggest barrier to enjoyment in anything we do is having to meet expectations that put us under pressure to please someone else. When we are acting on our own behalf, when we are comfortable with what we do and remain true to our own vision and style, it is much easier to enjoy what we do. I love to watch clouds and try to photograph interesting cloud formations. As I was admiring the view on this beautiful day I spotted a cloud coming across the sky. It almost looked like a plane coming in to land. I got out my phone and took the image before it moved off Developing your own photography style can be a daunting task, particularly as a beginner. Yet if we don’t listen to our own inner voice, if we don’t pay attention to our own likes and dislikes, even if they change occasionally, then we won’t be able to produce creative work that we are proud of. So it is worth getting to know your style, learning what it is that makes your images stand out as uniquely yours. You may be photographing the same thing as others but you do it your way, and that is what will make a difference to your photography. Have you discovered your photography style? If you have found this post useful please feel free to share it. You might like to read an earlier article I wrote on a related topic https://www.wildwillowways.com/post/composition

In my last blog post I ended with the observation that there appears to be a tension between being an observer who looks and experiences fully each moment of life and a photographer whose main intent is on capturing a beautiful image of that moment. It begs the question - does the photographer miss the moment? Or does he or she become so fully engrossed in observation of the scene - being acutely aware of light, beauty, emotion - that the moment of pressing the shutter becomes part of the overall experience? Do our attempts to document the moment mean that we miss the experience of being in that moment, or does photography, by forcing us to observe more closely, to appreciate beauty and to notice little things, actively encourage us to live more fully in the moment? Jon Kabat-Zinn, who helped to introduce mindfulness practices to the western world, defined mindfulness as “paying attention, in a particular way, on purpose, in the present moment and without judgement”. You might say that it’s easy to see how this definition fits with photography. Interestingly, however, Jared Gottlieb, in a National Geographic article entitled ‘The Art of Mindful Photography’, posed a very pertinent question when he said, “Photos can be a wonderful way of sharing meaningful experiences with others, but I worry that my attempts to document the moment make being present in it a challenge. Does photography support awareness of my immediate experience, or detract from it?” Professional photographer Andrew Paynter, who has shot photographs for a host of well-known clients such as Coca Cola, Adidas, Converse and Apple, makes a similar point when he says, “We are here on this earth to experience, and that is number one. The camera can document our experiences, but there’s a risk of not being a part of what is happening.” www.andrewpaynter.com Like many others I have heard and read a lot about mindfulness and how its practice can support our mental health, and indeed for some time I have been trying to include aspects of mindfulness into my daily living. The great thing about mindfulness is that it’s not just a practice that we use during specific times of our lives, such as during meditation, rather it can be used to enrich all aspects of our lives. It wasn’t a difficult jump to become interested in the art of mindful photography and to consider it as a useful tool for looking after mental health. Due to my interest in mindfulness and its benefits to mental health, it was easy to become interested in mindful photography But can mindful photography really lead us to a more mindful way of living? It is certainly true that we are currently taking more photos than ever before, and we are being inundated with images on various social media platforms. If our aim is to document as many experiences as possible, or to compete with others for the best image, then we could safely assume that our aim is not to engage in mindful photography. The important issue here is intent; what is my intent as I go out with my camera? If my primary intent is to walk mindfully, be aware of my surroundings, pay attention to what is around me, take photos of those things to which I am drawn and not to be judgmental of my shots then I am engaging in mindful photography. By setting aside time to go out and take photographs, with no rush and no expectations, we give ourselves time to be present in our surroundings and freedom to explore the world around us. If the observations of Gottlieb and Paynter are accurate in today’s world, then maybe mindful photography is exactly what we need to practice. If we are at risk of documenting too many experiences with our cameras, posting too many images online, and not being part of or experiencing what we are documenting, then mindful photography may be what will draw us back, help us to slow down, notice what is around us, become aware of those things that make us pause for a moment. If our photography practice is to become a mindful photography practice it will ask us to tune out the busy world, retreat into the silence, and to listen to what that silence reveals to us. Perhaps Jeremy Sutton has struck a balance when he says: “While we often snap photographs without thinking, a camera can hold the key for reconnecting with the present. But it must be used sparingly, with thought and engagement with the subject.” https://positivepsychology.com/mindful-photography/ When walking I simply capture images of subjects which catch my eye. They may not be big subjects of beautiful things, but to me they have their own unique beauty In my next blog I will discuss why I tried mindful photography and how it has completely changed my photography practice. You might also like to read my previous blog, How Photography Can Help Us To Appreciate Life's Precious Moments Know anyone who might enjoy this post? Please feel free to share the link.

Most of us underestimate the power of gratitude to boost our mental wellbeing. When I was young, I often heard the phrase ‘count your blessings’ but I certainly didn’t realise the multitude of positive effects which counting our blessings can bring, including increasing our happiness and life satisfaction. Today I have come to believe in the power of gratitude to make a difference to our outlook on life and thereby improve mental health. When I am grateful for life, for health, for beauty and for the love that is abundant in my life, and when I focus on this gratitude and have an appreciation for what is, I cannot at the same time entertain self-pity, envy of others or negative thoughts, and this has to be supportive of my wellbeing. But that is just my opinion. What does the science say? There is a sizeable amount of research to back up the claim that gratitude increases our happiness. One of the main cornerstones of positive psychology is the psychology of gratitude. I have an interest in this area and I recently wrote a post entitled What is Positive Psychology and How Could It Change Your Life? Positive psychology starts from the premise that most people are happy most of the time and that this sense of wellbeing can be built upon. One of the areas of our lives that we can develop is the area of gratitude, and there are many reasons why we should cultivate an ‘attitude of gratitude’ in our lives. In positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships. Giving thanks can make you happier. Published: November, 2011 Harvard Health Publishing - In Praise of Gratitude There is a growing body of research which suggests that gratitude can be seen as a ‘life orientation’ in some people. in other words, for these people gratitude is not just practised when they are thankful for something done for them. Rather, their feelings of gratitude stem from noticing and being appreciative of the positive things in life (Wood et al., 2010). Other researchers refer to the existence in some people of a ‘grateful trait’ (Watkins, Woodward, Stone & Kolts, 2003). We can all develop this attitude of gratitude and become more appreciative of the little things that are available to us every day, and what emerges from the research is that feeling gratitude is extremely powerful. There is a strong link between gratitude and happiness, and happiness is related to life satisfaction and general wellbeing. Cultivating gratitude will therefore benefit our health in a multitude of ways. Often when I look at photographs from a certain place they bring back memories of that time, the people who were with me and the emotions I felt, which all invoke a sense of gratitude As well as having images in our general photography collection which bring back good memories, one of the benefits of doing photography more mindfully is that it increases our sense of gratitude and, as we have seen from research, it follows that this will bring benefits to our mental health and wellbeing. But how exactly does mindful photography help to increase our sense of gratitude? Louie Schwartzberg, a cinematographer, suggests that the work he does with time-lapse photography can be a form of meditation. Schwartzberg states, “Nature’s beauty is a gift that cultivates appreciation and gratitude,“ and he talks about how there is a connection amongst us all, and a universal rhythm in life (Schwartzberg, 2011). I can easily see, when I think of a typical mindful photography shoot, how this is so. I go to my chosen area and observe my surroundings, using my senses to really be in the place and in the moment, listening to sounds and becoming aware of any smells around me as well as taking in the visual environment. I look around for photo opportunities, assess the possibilities for landscape images, close up images, how to use different perspectives, how to vary depth of field, and so on. I consider how best to compose my image and how I can convey the emotion I feel in this place. When I fully absorb a scene in this way, I become aware of aspects of the scene that will not be part of my photo shoot, such as the gentle swaying of flowers and grasses in the breeze, the lapping of water onto the lake shore, the twittering of birds and the buzzing of bees, the warmth of the sun on my face. Seeing, hearing and sensing the beauty of nature produces moments of awe and wonder, moments when I can leave aside the busyness of everyday life, of ‘doing’, and spend a few moments just ‘being.’ It is in these moments, which are part of the mindful photography experience, that I feel gratitude for being alive and for all that life gives me. Most of my mindful photography experiences are in places where I am close to nature, such as woodlands, lakeshores, near mountains or by the sea. Even when I am close to home, in a built-up environment, my mindful photography practice urges me to see beauty wherever I can, particularly to try to find beauty in the mundane. No matter what environment I may be in, I can walk slowly, observe, listen, and appreciate what I see and hear. Mindful walking has become recognised as a way to connect more with the world around us, so when we add a camera to that experience, we use our photography as an acknowledgment of the unique beauty that we see and that we are privileged to capture. We begin to appreciate what is on our doorstep as well as the magnificent landscapes and beautiful places that we may be fortunate enough to visit. In mindful nature photography we can see trees, hedges, plants and flowers with different eyes, while in urban landscapes there is an abundance of features, such as lines, shapes, texture, contrast, reflections, light and shadow, to draw our eye and extend our powers of appreciation. When we begin to notice that which we were previously too busy to notice, we become open to hearing how our images speak to us. Our final images are always a collaboration between ourselves and our subject. Regardless of how great our equipment may be, we are still influenced by weather, light, creation (natural or human) and time, and our interaction with each, in order to produce our final image. When we ask ourselves what we have learned in making each image, and acknowledge our interdependence, we have a perfect opportunity to show gratitude to our subject, to show gratitude for the experience and to show gratitude for everyone and everything which had an influence over our final creation. In mindful nature photography we can see trees, hedges, plants and flowers with different eyes ********************************* This is one in a series of blog posts relating to mindful photography. You might also like to read my previous blogs: How Trying Mindful Photography Really Changed My Perspective Does Photography Support A Mindfulness Experience Or Take From It How Embracing Mindful Photography Has The Power To Transform Your Life 3 Powerful Reasons To Embrace MIndful Photography If you know anyone who might enjoy this post, please feel free to share the link.

“Landscape photography is the supreme test of the photographer – and often the supreme disappointment.” ― Ansel Adams Learning photography is difficult. Learning to do landscape photography well is particularly difficult as there is so much to master. You might ask, “Why not just use your smartphone?” Granted, the phone camera has taken a lot of the hard work out of photography, and for smartphone photographers the learning curve is not as steep as it is for those who want to use a DSLR or mirrorless camera. But if you want to improve at photography it is still important to know the basic techniques required to capture decent images, and there are a lot of them. Getting to grips with the basics I started my learning from a low base so there was plenty to master. Aside from the well known exposure triangle of ISO, aperture and shutter speed, and all the learning that this entailed, there was also learning about camera settings, understanding the influence of light on our images, knowing which camera mode to choose in which setting, metering, which I still have difficulty understanding, and of course getting to know all about lenses. Then there was the composition side of things; dealing with the numerous decisions and adjustments we have to make in order to try to capture that ‘perfect’ image. In the field At every location I spend time choosing the best lens, deciding which aperture to use, adjusting and re-adjusting the angle from which I shoot, looking for an interesting foreground, and dealing with a myriad of other considerations before I am finally happy with my shots. And inevitably, I have arrived at beautiful locations, tried my best to capture the beauty of the place, and left disappointed that the beauty did not translate into good images. This is one of my favourite places to visit, but my images don't do it justice. That disappointment often led to frustration and a sense of pointlessness; to a feeling that I’ll never be a good photographer if I can’t even make a good image in an amazing location. What changed? It was after numerous outings like this, when I put away my camera for the umpteenth time and left my location with a feeling of despondency, that I came across a sentence that was to completely change the course of my photography. I first heard this sentence in one of the early videos on a landscape photography course that was teaching me the basics of composition. Then I heard it again and it seemed to be repeated at the end of each video. After a lesson showing how to choose the best focal length for your landscape photos, or how to use framing to enhance your photos, or how to make use of leading lines, the photographer, Clifford Pickett, would say: Before you leave the location, put away your camera and take in the scene. Before you leave the location, put away your camera and take in the scene. And these words have had a profound influence on my perspective since then. I began to realise that beautiful locations had become just photography opportunities for me. I was often leaving these locations downhearted rather than uplifted by the beauty around me. I was failing to see and appreciate what was an amazing visual feast because I was so focused on getting my shots. I was failing to notice the way the evening mist covered the mountain top because the weather was dull and overcast and wouldn’t yield any good images. I was missing the way light played in the trees, because I was too focused on the fact that it was too bright to get a good exposure. I was missing how trees and houses and hills were reflected in the lake on a late summer evening because my attempts to capture the scene in an image were flat and uninteresting. By concentrating my focus solely on the image I wanted to make, I often missed the beauty of the place Then I heard that sentence. And I began to make one change after each photo shoot. Instead of putting my camera away and leaving the scene, I put my camera away and stayed. I stayed just to ‘take in’ the scene. These two words stood out for me in the sentence. It wasn’t put away the camera and enjoy the scene. What I was being urged to do, after the time I had spent manipulating the elements of the scene to give me a good image, was to ‘take in’ the scene around me; to observe, to be present, to really see before I left, and not to leave disappointed because my desire to capture a certain photo wasn’t realised. And it was that action, based on that sentence, that changed my perspective on photography. It has increased my gratitude for the beauty that I formerly took for granted. It has given me a new appreciation of the natural world. I now take the time to see what is around me, to listen and hear the sounds of nature, to notice the small things like tiny flowers, unfamiliar grasses, unusual rock formations, busy insects or the gently moving clouds above me. Putting down my camera and taking in the scene has allowed me to slow down, to take time for myself, to spend quality alone time rather than always rushing from one moment to the next, from one location to another one. An added advantage of putting away the camera and taking in each scene for a while before leaving is that it helps you become generally more observant. Learning to be more observant will increase your chances of capturing more interesting shots, regardless of the type of photography you practise. There is so much to see in every location. When you slow down you begin to appreciate all that is around you Conclusion Hearing and acting on this sentence has helped me slow down. The benefits of taking time to slow down and appreciate what is around us rather than frantically moving from place to place has a beneficial effect on our photography. But the benefits of slowing down extend beyond photography. Most of us rush at breakneck speed, hardly taking a moment to notice what is around us. By putting away the camera and taking in the scene, our perspective changes. By slowing down and taking this time we will begin to live more fully in the moment and be part of the world around us. So next time you are out taking photographs, before you leave the location put away your camera and take in the scene. It will be worth it.

“There is only you and your camera. The limitations in your photography are in yourself, for what we see is what we are.” Photographer Ernst Haas (1921 – 1986). I took my camera out on a late December afternoon, away from the madness of the post Christmas sales. There appeared to be nothing worth shooting; no glorious sunset, no fabulous rainbow, no amazing light turning an ordinary scene into something extraordinary. But I wanted to get some shots. These are some of the results. Trees in Winter I love to see in winter Bare branches held up high In lovely, lacy patterns Against a cloudy sky. I learned this poem in primary school and it comes to mind whenever I take a winter walk and see the trees stretching their branches to the sky.

Thanks to all who have been following some of my blogs as I make what for me is an interesting and exciting journey into the world of photography. I would love to hear your comments, advice or questions. Please do contact me with any of the above, or just to say hi, at wildwillowways@gmail.com Photography is the simplest thing in the world, but it is incredibly complicated to make it work. Martin Parr, photographer. These words of photographer Martin Parr are very true. So many of us can take photographs easily with our smartphones and post them on social media for all to see. And we are very pleased with them. But yet of how many of these images could we really say, ‘that works as an image!’ And what is it that makes an image work anyway? That is the question I have been asking myself over the last number of weeks. I have studied aperture, shutter speed, composition, light, focal length, and yet I still ask the question, What makes an image work? Maybe I should re-frame the question and ask, Does the image work for me? Is it saying something that is important to me? Are these images presenting my own voice, illustrating my vision? When I started out on my photography journey I read much advice about finding out what type of photography I favoured before investing in expensive lenses. I started out with landscape photography, found that I enjoyed close-up photography and progressed to taking up challenges in many varied types of photography. A couple of months in and I find myself generally going for simplicity in my photographs. Cluttered images don’t appeal to me. I like to isolate the subject and blur the background in some situations, concentrate on a particular aspect of a scene when composing a shot in other situations or focus on a single aspect of a landscape rather than a wide, sweeping photograph with a lot going on in it. The desire to isolate a subject and keep a shot simple has not been by design but has come about spontaneously. I seem to be naturally drawn to creating a simple image and using techniques such as experimenting with depth of field or shutter speed to make the image more interesting and visually appealing. Unfortunately, without proper feedback, they may only be visually appealing to myself. However, photography is in essence very subjective. Photography is our unique way of seeing the world, of learning to be present in the moment and translating that moment into an image. Each of us needs to communicate our own vision, therefore it is important to continually develop our own creative awareness. While shooting on a seaside promenade recently I took lots of photos of people walking but I didn’t really like any of them. They were too ‘busy’; nothing stood out for me. My favourite photos of the day were the simple ones. These two were experiments with depth of field using manual and aperture priority. I also like the simplicity of these images. The whole philosophy of this blog is simplicity. I am not aiming to be a professional photographer and essentially I am learning as I go along and sharing that learning. I make mistakes, lots of them. I take many bad photographs. But I have learned to love some of my mistakes and bad images because they are evidence that I have at least made an attempt to learn something new. The difficulty and challenge of the craft—the way it stretches you and demands more of you than you expected—is not an obstacle to getting where you want to be; it’s the path to getting there. David DuChemin, Photographer

Photography's WOW moments! Photography has an interesting history. I imagine that when Joseph Nicéphore Niépce discovered that he had actually captured an image that didn’t react to light, the first permanently fixed image that he could show to his friends, he experienced one of life’s ‘wow moments’. The photograph, which is the earliest known surviving photograph made in a camera, was taken in 1826 from an upstairs window of Niépce’s estate in the Burgundy region of France and is known as ‘View from the Window at Le Gras’. The first colour image, taken by James Clerk Maxwell in 1861, probably produced a similar reaction, as I’m sure did the first digital image when it was produced in 1957, almost 20 years before Kodak invented the first digital camera. Photography as an art form has such a steep learning curve that it produces many ‘wow moments’ for the photography student. Aside from capturing occasional stunning landscapes, for myself these moments came when I managed to capture an image with a nicely blurred background, when I captured motion in a scene, when I began to see how to work with different lights to create different outcomes and effects, such as the ‘starburst effect’. As was the case throughout the entire history of photography, progress in the art of photography is about continual practice and continual surprise when an effect or composition turns out as intended. Playing with light Here I experimented with silhouettes of trees using different light. In the first photograph the image was deliberately overexposed while in the second the image was properly exposed according to the camera's light meter and the fading light. Both photographs were taken on a late November evening. The final images are slightly different as a result of the different light. I see this as a first step in learning how a camera responds differently in different lighting conditions and getting to know how I can set my camera to get the most pleasing exposure or to experiment with different effects. The importance of light What makes photography a strange invention is that its primary raw materials are light and time. John Berger (art critic, painter and poet) The essence of photography is light; without light there would be no photography. The word photography itself means ‘drawing with light’. It is also about the balance between light and time; how much light will hit the sensor and for how long. Understanding the role that light and time play in photography will make the process of making images more rewarding. George Eastman, the founder of Kodak, once said, Embrace light. Admire it. Love it. However, above all, know light. Know it for all you are worth, and you will know the key to photography. Understanding the ‘exposure triangle’ has been a big part of my learning so far, and learning to read the camera’s light meter has helped me move from auto or semi-auto into full manual mode. I am assured that the process becomes more intuitive with time and practice. Added to this, I have tried to take lots of photographs and made a project out of improving my techniques in different areas. Most of my photographs don’t produce the wow factor but, as the photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson remarked, “Your first ten thousand photographs are your worst.” In that case, I have plenty of room for more practice and more improvement.

Following on from my last post, a second aspect of my new learning was what to do with shutter speeds and how this knowledge might enhance my photography. My only initial knowledge was that the shutter closes for a period of time once the shutter button is pressed and that the length of time for which the shutter is closed can be varied. I also knew that we were talking fractions of seconds. What I didn’t know was the range of shutter speeds available and what effect a ‘fast’ or ‘slow’ shutter speed would give. Once again, out with the camera for some experimentation. There was a fairly small amount of movement of the water over stones in these images, but the setting did allow me to get close enough to experiment with shutter speeds. My first attempts were not so good, although I do see a difference in the images due to the variation in shutter speeds. In the first two photographs the bubbles are obvious where motion has been frozen, while in the third the silky look means that motion is captured to some extent. I made another attempt, this time with slightly better results. Freezing motion seemed to be a bit more intuitive and yielded better results than conveying a sense of motion. I decided to have a go at capturing the motion of vehicles as they passed on the road. I enjoyed the results as in these photos there is a definite sense of motion going on. In each of these attempts I was using shutter priority mode on my camera, where I changed the shutter speed and allowed the camera to determine the aperture and ISO. I decided to have a go with capturing motion using fully manual mode for the next image, below. Both aperture priority mode and shutter priority mode enable us to add variety to our images and become more creative with our compositions. They are well worth learning and using to enhance your photographs.

When I started on my photography journey I knew very little about the vocabulary of photography. Terms such as ‘bokeh’ were new to me, and while I was familiar with the term aperture, I didn’t know how it worked in photography terms. After some study into this area I now know the basics and have become familiar with how aperture works to create depth of field. There are lots of good articles that describe and explain aperture much better than I can, but to put it simply, when I have a wide aperture (low F stop) I am able to focus on a subject and blur the background, in other words create a shallow depth of field. I recently took this information out ‘into the field’ to put some of my learning into practice. I started in my own garden isolating some flowers and blurring the backgrounds. My lens allows an aperture of F1.8 but I discovered that I couldn’t focus properly at this aperture so mostly used a slightly higher F stop. I did a few experiments indoors and further afield, attempting in each case to isolate a subject and blur the background. Normally choice of subject would be important in shots like this as it is the main focus of the shot, although for experimentation purposes I wasn’t too concerned with that. Taking the experimentation with aperture a little further, in the next shot I attempted to isolate the third pillar and blur the others, while in the apple experiments, using an f stop of 2.8, I tried to focus on each apple in turn, blurring the others. This technique would be useful for focusing on one person in a crowd and blurring everyone else. My second experiment was with opening the aperture to different widths and taking shots of lights. My next experiments will be with shutter speed.