50 Things I learned about Photography in 2009

[krbrid]

All right...here it is...the list you’ve all been waiting for...
50 things I’ve learned About Photography in 2009

1. Watching someone take an unexpected swim with a $2000 camera in one hand and several thousand dollars of equipment in a bag in the other is not a pleasant experience for either party...just less so for the swimmer.
2. Repair bill for a drenched $2000 camera...$300. Repair bill for a drenched $1000 lens...$200. Aggravation costs waiting for return of equipment...$???...Having insurance on said equipment...Priceless!
3. The piece of mind about having insurance on your camera equipment is of far greater value than the small price of getting it insured.
4. Just like Writers Block...there is such a thing as Photographers Block.
5. The technology just keeps getting better & better.
6. Photographing Dragon flies is very difficult.
7. A good camera backpack is better than a camera bag slung over a shoulder.
8. A good camera backpack is essential for cross country hiking photography trips.
9. What’s left of The Tallgrass Prairie is one of the most diverse eco-systems in the world...and a very challenging area to photograph.
10. Wild Buffalo (American Bison) are indeed wild and unpredictable.
11. Did I mention the having insurance thing yet?
12. Blending two photographs into one composite can often create a more dramatic image than a single image alone.
13. Planning ahead and anticipating where and when a great photo op might occur is more productive than relying on random chance.
14. When photography stops being fun...it’s time for a break.
15. It’s still a lot of fun.
16. A great model(s) can make an average photographer look good.
17. Getting up before daylight to catch that great moment of light is worth the effort.
18. Sleeping in because you are too lazy to get up before daylight to catch that great moment of light is a lot easier to do...just less rewarding.
19. One quality big lens can do it all...or most of it anyway.
20. A photogenic spouse is often your most critical critic.
21. Don’t be so critical of your own work...and even less so of other photographers.
22. Some pro’s can be very helpful...some could care less.
23. Try to get something published...it doesn’t hurt too try...and it just might pay off.
24. Publishers are a finicky bunch of characters.
25. Publishers tend to overlook your best work and concentrate on the lesser submissions because they tend to more closely fit into their scheme of publishing requirements...go figure.
26. An 85 year old parent and DVD technology don’t mix well.
27. Take all criticism of your photographs constructively...most praise with a grain of salt.
28. Photographing coyotes is pert-near impossible.
29. You know when you’ve created something special photographically...it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks.
30. Sandhill Cranes are one goofy looking bird...but they are magnificent birds to photograph.
31. The best time to photograph is now.
32. There is always time to learn something new...just less time to perfect it.
33. Going at it solo offers a lot of flexibility...going at it with others offers great fellowship.
34. Photographing with a purpose in mind is more productive than relying on random chance...it just takes a bit more thought.
35. Check your batteries before you head out.
36. Standing exposed on top of a prairie knoll during the middle of a prairie thunderstorm to photograph the moment is one of the most exhilarating experiences you can have...it’s also a very stupid thing to do.
37. Photographing lightning is much harder than it looks...but an exciting thing to attempt.
38. The weatherman gets it wrong a good deal of the time...so go anyway...the predicted good weather just might turn out bad...which is usually good for photographers.
39. Complaining about the conditions doesn’t change them.
40. There is no such thing as bad conditions for photographers who take the time to look around and seek out the opportunities that are there.
41. Skill is better than luck...Luck is better than nothing...nothing results if you don’t try.
42. You don’t have to travel a long ways to find great places to photograph.
43. When you do travel a long ways to photograph something new...you end up showing the people you meet all the old photographs you took at home.
44. Figuring out how to create effective HDR photographs is like trying to fold a map in the dark...I eventually just wad it into a big mess and shove it into glove box and hope I don’t get lost.
45. Plastic Walmart bags make decent rain covers...just trying to find one when you need it might be a bit on the tricky side.
46. Work the scene...don’t settle on one or two shots.
47. There is a difference between a slide show and a photo presentation.
48. A photo presentation set to great music can make even mediocre photographs look great.
49. There is no such thing as a mediocre photograph if someone likes it...even yourself.
50. And last but not least...the Good Lord created a beautiful world out there...photographing it can help you begin to more deeply appreciate what is there.

51. ...bonus entry...did I mention the Insurance thing?

[rryne]

Thanks Kieth, I really enjoyed this!

[alandreeves]

A clever write-up on an eventful year. Thanks for posting it.

[sheilareeves]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, observations and motivation!
Sheila