photograph

5 inconvenient truths

about photography

By André Araújo Lima 19/08/2024

There is a growing interest in photography, it is a growing hobby practiced by a large number of people around the world. With the prevalence of high-quality images from our phones and dedicated cameras widely available, it's no wonder art is so popular. But not everything is rosy, and there are some uncomfortable things that are best understood from the beginning. Here are five truths about photography:

1. More equipment won't make you a better photographer

New bodies, lenses, and accessories are fun and exciting, but they won't make you better at photography. To be a better photographer you need to learn how to find images. Equipment can help you capture them, but the finding part is up to you.

Whenever I think about purchasing new gear, I ask myself, "Does my current gear advance my entire base as a photographer?" Sometimes the answer is yes. It could be that the lens I've been using for night photography is too slow to get the detail I need, or the limitations of my current body are preventing me from expanding the final photo to the size and detail required by a client. In these cases, I almost always have a specific image I want to make but can't because of my equipment.

More often than not, though, the answer to whether my gear is holding me back is no. The real reason I want a new piece of equipment is that it is more advanced and sophisticated. I may covet new camera stuff, but if that gear doesn't improve my photography in a very tangible way, I won't buy it.

Some images require certain equipment. Without a wide angle, this night photo of the city of Santiago would have been impossible.

Remember that a good photograph comes from your technique and your mind, not your wallet.

2. There is no "way"

Some people photograph quickly, others slower, but everyone has to learn. Photography is an art, not a gift.

I've sometimes heard from people looking at one of my images: "You have such a gift." I know they're being kind, they're paying me a compliment, but I can't help but feel insulted. What I mean to say: "It's not a gift! I worked hard to make this image! The result of years of effort, of late nights and hours of travel, of study and practice, tens of thousands of failed and missed shots and thousands of dollars worth of equipment. Nothing about this image it was given to me, I deserve it."

Of course, I don't say that. Instead, I smile like they just said the nicest thing and say thank you.

Photography can be learned. With practice, you can see the way lines and light interact to create a pleasing image. Or how these elements can get confused, resulting in a photo that just doesn't work. With time and effort, you get better at recognizing the difference. It's a process I work on every day.

So, no, photography is not a way, it is work.

3. You have to be patient

I spent a few minutes holding a large lens to capture this image, while waiting for the actress to expose her arm on the chair under the stage lights.

Yes, lots and lots of patience.

Often, we have to wait, and wait... and wait.

The magazine pages are filled with spectacular images, timed to perfection. The images were taken because the photographer knew how to be patient. The best images take time and effort.

This is a hard reality for many of my clients (students) to swallow. They just want the picture to be there, even though it rarely is. To be honest, I’m not very good at patience. I like to move around and explore, but it’s the times when I force myself to wait and sit in silence that I often come away with something good.

4. There is nothing wrong with being an amateur

Being an amateur doesn't mean you're any less talented than a professional photographer. In fact, in many cases, I would say it is quite the opposite. You see, professionals spend a lot (the majority) of their time doing the dirty work: billing, marketing, slapping the computer and much less time actually making and working with images. The images we professionals shoot are often those made for clients, not those we make for ourselves. Inherently, photos made for others are not as good as the ones we are passionate about. Amateurs can photograph whatever they want, and that means they are taking photos that matter to them.

Artistic skill and sensitivity are not the only territory of professionals. Some of the best photographers I know don't make a living from this.

5. Post-processing is a tool, not a crutch

I'm not the first to say it, but I'll repeat it. If your image is bad when it goes into Photoshop or Lightroom, it's going to be bad when it comes out, no matter how much you crop it, add contrast, or saturate it.

Essa imagem deu muito trabalho no pós-processamento,

mas era uma imagem sólida. Nada no Lightroom

transformará uma imagem ruim em boa. Não processe

demais suas imagens. O que importa em uma imagem

 é a maneira como ela fala com o espectador, que a foto

 significa alguma coisa. Torne sua imagem significativa

e você nunca maisprecisará confiar no

pós-processamento para obter sucesso.

Conclusion

In the end, what really matters in photography is not the final image, but the process of making it. So forget the new equipment, practice the art, be patient, don't get hung up on labels and make your best image on camera. Everything else is details. Do you have anything else you would add to this list? Share in the comments below.

Recent articles