A Mix of Learning Methods For a Serious Hobbyist Photographer

When I started out with photography, I was actually intimated by formal classes or workshops.  Someone actually suggested this to me, when she learned that I was interested in photography.  But I like learning on my own and it's not new to me to learn things myself.  After all, there's a whole lot of information out there on the internet these days.  I also didn't feel the need to spent money for classes as this is just a hobby.

I never realized how those first workshops and classes actually boosted my learning.  Here are some reasons where I believe taking formal workshop and classes would be beneficial:

Well Directed Outline

• Despite the internet having so many information, the information may not be organized and conducive for learning.  It is often hard to know where to begin, which topics to choose or which to prioritize.  Everybody's interpretation of "beginner" is different.  And you end up with a spaghetti-like program.  On the other hand, the formal workshops and classes compiles the topics that I needed to start off as an amateur photographer and presents it in a sequence where I can follow through to advance my skill level.

Learn, Apply, Feedback

• Formal classes and workshops also allow me to quickly apply concepts to real life applications. I got to try the concepts out there and then and most importantly, I got feedback immediately and I learned on the spot.  I believe feedback is crucial.  Photography can't be learned through one-way information loading.  It is very difficult to get quality feedback from the internet, if at all any, and some could actually direct you off course.

Commitment/Focus

• Formal classes also forces me to focus on it either for a day or for a consecutive few days depending on which program I take.  I dedicate time for it from my day to day activities.  If I learn on my own, the tendency is to do short sessions whenever I'm free.  Thus, continuity is not achieved and this hinders learning efficiently.

So when I said it boosted my learning, it surely gave it a big push.  Then after doing these, I can always supplement with continuous self-learning.  For example, these days, I find those how-to articles in DPS quite helpful.  They are usually specific topics or answers to very detailed questions.  I subscribe to Facebook and I browse through them in my newsfeed.  I save the ones I'm interested in and go through them.  Sometimes, I also choose refreshers and some are actually questions that I would ask myself.

Then comes practice.  I rarely shoot other than when I'm travelling so that's also a challenge. I travel a couple of times a year, so it's still quite good.  But sometimes, time passes and it takes some warming up before I could shoot well again.  I've joined special interest photography trips as well over the last few years and that greatly helped not just to practice but also to get feedback from pros and improve.  It's like taking formal classes or workshops, but the focus is on shooting, critique and applying solutions/improvements, and not on concept learning.  I've even informally piggybacked on my niece's prenup shoot just to observe pros in action.

I think this particular combination of learning methods works well for me as a serious hobbyist photographer who do not necessarily shoot regularly but still wants to advance my skills.  And I go through the same cycle every year or so as I advance my skills in photography.

When I look back at my photos a few years back, I find myself critiquing my own photos and identifying areas where I could have done better.  And this is a good sign that I've at least achieve some positive progress and it feels good :-)

Story Behind the Shot: Burano Island

Minimal Post Processing
Burano Island, Venitian Lagoon, Italy, December 2010
Nikon D60, ISO 100, F4, 1/640 sec

This shot was taken 4 years ago and is still my favorite shot.  I was just starting out then with my DSLR which ironically was bought 2 years earlier by that time.  I shot with Manual Mode but I was new at it.  I still shot with JPG only and I didn't even know post processing.

We were on a family trip.  In fact, two of the individuals in this shot are my brothers also exploring the island with their own cameras.  We had some free time and instead of going to see how lace was made in Burano, we went to photograph the colorful houses.  It was nice walking around and seeing the locals going on with their day to day activities, ignoring tourists like us.  I guess they are so used to it.

I loved the reflection and the stillness of the water which makes the reflection really clear.  At that time, I loved the shot, cause the conditions were perfect.  I composed my shot.  I made sure I had some people for perspective.  I had my reflection. I had my leading line.  I had the vibrant colors.  All I had to do was click the shutter button and made sure I had my camera still to get a sharp photo.  This was the original shot I got, no post processing, right out of the camera.

No Post Processing, Right Out of Camera, Normal Picture Control
Burano Island, Venitian Lagoon, Italy, December 2010
Nikon D60, ISO 100, F4, 1/640 sec

Awards/Recognition
I submitted this shot to CNN iReport on May of 2012 and they featured my shot under their website Travel Photo of the Day.  See my blog and screenshot of May 9, 2012's Travel Photo of the Day.  I was ecstatic!  My first published shot online!  Well, technical published, but not paid work, LOL. Good enough for an amateur eh?

So didn't I already tell you I love this shot?  So come 2014.  I resurrected my photo.  I was trying out some of my photos in free photo contest sites like Pixoto and Viewbug.  I wanted to see if any of my older photos could win me some awards or recognition at least.  Of course, my first choice was still my favorite photo.

Lessons Learned and What I Can do to Improve

I reviewed it and felt it required a bit of basic post processing, just to enhance what's already captured.

• I love my photos vibrant and this shot definitely shouts vibrant because of its bright colors.  I didn't know about the Vibrant Picture Control setting when I first shot this so even my out of camera shot was a bit dull, but probably saved by the originally bright colors anyway.  Now the color of the sky looks like what it was in reality.  It was a very nice day that day and really, the scene was exactly like out of a postcard.  But I didn't realize the photo I shot was a bit duller than reality.  I'm sure CNN also did a bit of auto-correction before they post it in their website.
• I brightened the shadows a bit to show more detail on the darker areas and balance the entire photo
• I put a bit of contrast and clarity as well to make the picture crisper
• And lastly, I did a bit of sharpening on the edges by using mask

If I would shoot this again today, I would be shooting it in RAW+JPG.  And I would shoot it with a slower shutter speed.

I was happy with the result of the enhancement and I entered it in Pixoto under Buildings and Structure Category.  It was #1 for Day 1 and Top 5% for Week 1.  Let's see how it goes for the rest of the weeks, and hopefully stay on top for the Best of the Year awards.  I entered it in a few of the Pixoto Challenges as well, so we'll see how it fares over there in a few weeks when the contests end.

Here are some other shots I took that day:

Same thing here, I prefer this with more vibrancy

Thought this was artistic framing, but turned out to be dull,
maybe can still salvage this with some enhancements in post processing

Wish I hadn't cut off the left edge of the 1st door :-(

Story Behind the Shot: Theodor-Heuss River

Long exposure shot with the makeshift tripod, exposure 13 sec
Theodor-Heuss Bridge, Rhine River, Mainz, Germany, December 2014
Panasonic GF5, ISO 160, F10, 13 sec, Cropped for Panoramic, Makeshift Tripod

It was a cold night, and we just returned back from dinner.  Instead of going back into the warm fireplace in the lobby of the hotel, we headed to the back lot to search for the famed musical steps, a set of 9 brass metal plates on the ground when you step on each, will create a tone.  Dark as it was, we walked around the back lot and finally heard the voice of some teens and the tones that sounded like the musical steps.  It was in the farthest corner of the lot alongside the river, without any lights or landmarks to attract attention, and we wouldn't have found it without hearing someone else playing it.

As the other group left, we went and tried it ourselves, but we were no musicians, and all we could come up with was just a random mix of tones.

Feeling the cold air was nice, but it was also getting windier, being beside the river.  But the night view was spectacular.  Who would have thought that a back lot would have such a good view.  This place definitely deserves a few benches for people to enjoy it.

My photographer in me could not resist getting a shot.  Imagine a bridge, night lights, traffic, water.  This is a great opportunity to attempt a long exposure shot.  I didn't have my usual DSLR, but had a micro-four thirds that I use, just not as often.  So my familiarity to do long exposure with this camera was quite weak.  Also attempting this without my trusty tripod requires me to crank up my ISO, which would give me a good shot, but not really a great shot.  I wanted to test out my long exposure skills here and try to capture light trails, starburst lights, reflections and silky water.  So I walked around a bit and found a metal pole at the adjacent parking lot.  To my disappointment, it was a hollow pole and my camera was too small to even sit on its rim.  Tried a shot anyway, but was not really happy.  It was getting even colder and windier, but the urge to take another shot was just so strong.  So despite the cold, I walked down a bit further, and luckily found a pole that was filled with cement.  Not entirely flat but I think will work.  So I attempted my long exposure shot here.  Wasn't happy as it was still wobbly and windy.  But persistence pays, as I tried a couple more shots and found one useful one out of the 15 shots I took!  Not bad for an amateur, I guess ;-)

Another long exposure shot with the makeshift tripod, exposure 40 sec
Theodor-Heuss Bridge, Rhine River, Mainz, Germany, December 2014
Panasonic GF5, ISO 160, F18, 40 sec, Makeshift Tripod

1st clear shot taken handheld, exposure 2 sec

Theodor-Heuss Bridge, Rhine River, Mainz, Germany, December 2014

Panasonic GF5, ISO 160, F3.5, 2 sec