If you wanted to learn to play a musical instrument would go you into a shop full of musical instruments, come home with one and expect to play it like a virtuoso?
I know I wouldn't. I'd be making a blooming awful racket.
So why do we often think that we can do just that with our cameras? Why do we (sometimes) think that if we go and buy X camera with more ability to do Y, it will instsntly make us a better photographer.
I'll let you into a secret, very often it doesn't. Unless Y is proving to be a barrier then it actually won't make a blind bit of difference and while you try to get your head round your new bit of kit, the result are often worse.
Nope, the block to getting better is knowledge.
Sometimes you can get knowledge from reading, either here (heck, I've learned loads) or dedicated training sites (there are a few out there)
The very best training I've had has been from people though. People who have been in the industry for years, know their stuff and are good communicators.
You can't beat listening/showing/doing as a learning method. Listen to the theory, watch it done and do it for yourself. Now you know how to do it.
So, while kit is nice and lord knows I can't point even my little finger when it comes to being a toy fiend, if you want to invest in your photography, invest in a little training,
I'm currently saving my pennies to go to Italy for a week of intensive training next year and while that will be my single biggest investment to date I've learned loads of key skills by going on training days in the last three years.
Heck, one of these days I might even manage to get a tune out of mine without hitting some bum notes. I still make a dreadful racket
Have a good day everyone.
I know I wouldn't. I'd be making a blooming awful racket.
So why do we often think that we can do just that with our cameras? Why do we (sometimes) think that if we go and buy X camera with more ability to do Y, it will instsntly make us a better photographer.
I'll let you into a secret, very often it doesn't. Unless Y is proving to be a barrier then it actually won't make a blind bit of difference and while you try to get your head round your new bit of kit, the result are often worse.
Nope, the block to getting better is knowledge.
Sometimes you can get knowledge from reading, either here (heck, I've learned loads) or dedicated training sites (there are a few out there)
The very best training I've had has been from people though. People who have been in the industry for years, know their stuff and are good communicators.
You can't beat listening/showing/doing as a learning method. Listen to the theory, watch it done and do it for yourself. Now you know how to do it.
So, while kit is nice and lord knows I can't point even my little finger when it comes to being a toy fiend, if you want to invest in your photography, invest in a little training,
I'm currently saving my pennies to go to Italy for a week of intensive training next year and while that will be my single biggest investment to date I've learned loads of key skills by going on training days in the last three years.
Heck, one of these days I might even manage to get a tune out of mine without hitting some bum notes. I still make a dreadful racket

Have a good day everyone.