PhotograpHI 2008

The Spirit of Photography is an article by Nelson Tan. It discusses the most basic commonsense knowledge of photography, to refresh our perspectives on photography. There is nothing radical nor fresh about the points, but they remind us that good photography ultimately rest in our own hands.

Below is a summarized version of the article. To read the full article, please click here.

1. Photography is the fusion of art and science
- To see, observe and comprehend is art;
- Reading, thinking, learning and practicing techniques is science.

Photography is unique in the sense that it depends very much on technology to carry it off, and its limits depend on both technological advances and your artistic creativity. Thus, to master photography, you have to be competent both in your artistic sense and your grasp of technology.

To train your artistic aspect, you could observe the works of others, and look at the way the others opt to express their feelings. You could also look around you for inspirations and take in the world around you. Observe and learn.

The science part is slightly more straightforward. Knowing the techniques and technicality of photography allows you an array of methods to display your creativity. You could read books, observe or ask others for help on technical issues, and then practice to master the techniques. Only then will your creativity have a vehicle from your inner mind onto an actual image.

2. Equipment are the tools to realizing your vision, not the stumbling blocks

Many of us focus too much on what our equipment cannot do, rather than what they can do. We use the lack of capability of our equipment to explain away why we cannot do certain shots, rather seeing the equipment as the tools to achieving our goals. Your attitude determines how far you equipment can bring you.

3. Spend more money on buying books, films and printing

4. Your best picture is the one you've yet to take

The moment you feel that your works cannot be improved anymore is the moment that your standards start sliding backwards. Never ever think that you have been shooting the best pictures of your life, or that your pictures are good enough. Because there is always something new to learn, something to improve. Always try to outdo your own standards with your next picture, and to raise your expectations after you meet them successfully. However, be realistic and don't be overambitious, or you just might end up trying to reach for the moon and feel demoralized after that.

5. Shooting on film is like painting on a blank canvas
- You can either create a good picture or a bad one, on the same piece of film.

An unexposed film is like a blank canvas - you can either create a good picture or bad picture, on the same piece of film. When it is unexposed, it has the potential to develop into a great image or a bad one. The deciding factor is you. Your competence will decide the final results of the piece of film. By putting yourself into the equation, you will adopt a frame of mind to be more careful whenever you shoot anything. You will become more critical of what you want to shoot, and how you want to shoot it. Because you know that your decisions will determine whether the final results are qualified to be hung on a wall, or destined for the wastepaper basket.

6. Think before you shoot

Thinking involves making conscious choices at many stages, from the choice of film and lens, to the exposure and composition. Like said before, thinking will increase the probability of making a better image on the same piece of film. Since your aim in photography (I assume) is to take better images, why not exercise some thinking before you shoot, to turn a average picture into a great one? For example, thinking about what you want to emphasize in the picture will result in you searching for a better viewpoint. Takes only a second for so, but it makes a big difference. It gets easier everytime you think, and may even become second-nature.

7. There is no picture until you go out and take one
- Don't sit in your armchair imagining pictures you could take; go out and take it!

We think that by having certain gears, we are capable of producing great pictures. The problem is - it remains a capability and possibility, until we go out and do it. It is a simple fact which everyone knows - there will not be an image until you bring your equipment out there and shoot something!

We judge ourselves by what we feel we are capable of doing;
Others judge us by what we have done.
So don't just sit down there and imagine what you can do; Just do it!

8. Hindsight is always easier than foresight
- It is always easy to criticize or see how a picture worked; it is substantially more difficult to create a picture that worked at the moment of exposure.

We often look at a good picture and then analyse why it worked. Maybe it's the lighting, maybe it's the expression, or is it the composition? On the other hand, we criticise a poor picture on why it didn't work. Perhaps the snow misled the meter into underexposing? Perhaps the focus was out? Perhaps the photographer should have chosen a less distracting background?

There is nothing wrong with criticising or analysing a photo for what worked and what did not. It is a good exercise to train your visual mind to spot the mistakes and know what makes a good photo. But can you apply that knowledge to the moment prior to exposure? Are you able to use foresight to spot the potential obstacle to a great image, before pressing the shutter. It is easy to criticise a poor picture, but much harder to create a great one. Use your critic powers as you survey the scene before you, and before you press the shutter.

9. Photography is the painting and manipulation of light

Photography is derived from a Greek word, meaning "painting with light". That is to say, without light there is no picture. Quite obvious you might say.

To me, the quality of the light is the most important aspect of the process of image creation. As Jim Zuckerman wrote in his book, there is no bad subject; you just need to see them at the correct time of the day. What he meant was that - with the appropriate type of light, anything can look good. Thus, the quality of light is above all other aspects in the picture making process, though that is not to say that other aspects are not important. Do take note that there is no good or bad light, just different types of light.

Knowing the importance of light in photography, the next logical thing is how to look for and create the light that you need. Understanding light is one thing, manipulating light is another. Fortunately, there are many books on light in photography which covers the different types of light and how to make the best use of them.

10. Be harsh with yourself, go easy on others

If you want to keep on improving your skills and keep your friends, be harsh with yourself and go easy on others. This is not telling you to be hypocritical and tell them how you adore their works when deep down you think it sucks. You should be most critical of yourself and not rest on complacency, while being open-minded to others' works and being diplomatic about your comments. Harsh criticisms of other's works may not be appreciated by them, and may destroy their self-confidence. On the other hand, you should not be satisfied with your own works, and strive to emulate the better photographers around you.

11. Vision and technique go hand in hand
- Vision without technique can never be realized;
- Technique without vision leads to properly exposed rubbish.

No matter how good your concept is, there is no way for people to appreciate it if you don't have the necessary techniques to express yourself. If you have a vision but not the necessary techniques, it will never be realised. If you have the techniques but do not have a vision, your images will turn out mediocre and lack impact because there is no message in it.

12. Distinguish the difference between having read about the technique and knowing a technique
- Anyone could read about techniques; it is doing that separates the preachers and the photographers.

There is nothing wrong with being well-versed in technicalities. But putting it into practice is another story. Many people know how to do certain stuff in theory, but have never done it practically. By putting into practice your theory and analysing the results, you can see for yourself what you have done right/wrong. After all, if you call yourself a photographer, the final photograph is the thing counts isn't it? Would you rather have a head full of photography trivial knowledge, or a portfolio full of images to illustrate your photographic capability?

13. The shortest piece of advice anyone can offer you is: "Understand Light"

As mentioned just now, light forms a critical component of the image. Mastery of the knowledge for light will enable you to portray your subject in the most flattering manner possible.

Light is a complex subject matter. It can be natural or man-made. It could be harsh or soft. It could be direct or manipulated. Different subjects react differently to different types of light. It is such a complex subject that it would take a substantial book to explain every single concept. However, you can make your job much easier by observing your everyday surroundings, watching the effects of light on different textures, and how light is modified when it passes through certain materials etc. The possibilities are only limited by your own imagination.

14. Think not what you can do with the equipment you do not have; rather, think what you can do with the equipment you have

"If I had a 400 mm f/2.8 lens, I would have been able to shoot the tiger as it pounced on the helpless antelope" or "If I had a fisheye lens, I could make distorted images of the world"

Rather than dreaming about imaginary pictures which you can take with fantasy pictures, why not start off with the equipment that you have and think of the possibilities you have with them?