Don't Look Back in Anger : Lessons From Experience

Photography is a creative process that requires a lot of experiment and a fair dose of trial and error. It's said that it takes roughly 10,000 hours of practice to master something. Well, we're cutting it short for you by offering these tips about photography. Hopefully your learning curve gets shorter by avoiding these mistakes.


What piece of advice can you give for anyone who's into photography, especially for those starting out?

Ali Viaje : "Huwag mahiyang magtanong sa mas may alam. Remember that asking questions is a part of learning."

Marlo Bien : "Invest more time on yourself and less money on your gear. Have a good sleep. Be healthy. Remember that you can't take a good photograph if you aren't feeling well because you are stressed."

Jay Salvador : "Mas okay nang ma-criticize kesa makabasa ka ng sugar-coated na comment. Masakit ma-criticize pero doon ka matututo."

Kenneth Calzo : "Shoot anything under the sun, let your eyes explore. Light is your best friend, use it well according to your satisfaction."

Crisel Centeno : "Use manual mode, don't let automatic settings dictate your photos. Try and try lang sa pag-adjust sa aperture, shutter speed at ISO hanggang sa makuha ang tamang timpla!"

Rochelle Acosta : "When you have the passion for photography, nurture it and never stop shooting. It is a continuous learning process. Capturing amazing photos does not always rely on the gear. Photography is an art of expression and reveals the artistic side of us. Shoot not to impress but to express."

Jer Sandel : "No matter how many books you read, tutorial videos you watch, workshops you attend, or photos you view for inspiration... if you don't shoot and put what you learn to practice, then you actually learn nothing. Shooting is the validation of your learning."

Sherwin San Diego : "To improve, magtanong sa marunong na, hangga't maaari sa mahusay na photographer. Huwag matakot subukan i-explore ang camera n'yo. Different venues, different lighting situations. Mag-research, sa dami ng magaling ng photographers, marami nang available na magandang photos na makikita sa internet, hindi masama mag-imitate ng style. Try to imitate their styles and later develop your own. 'Wag matakot na mag-shoot nang mag-shoot."

Russ Pueyo : "Read. Madaming magazine and books na available for free about photography, syempre 'di mawawala diyan si Google, na napakadaming information na maibibigay."

Allan Cruz : "Learn the basics and learn your gear."

Joel Domingo : "Your camera should become an extension of your eye. Gamayin mo nang husto ang gear mo."

If you knew then what you know now, what beginner's mistake would you avoid?

Ali Viaje : "Avoid over-processing your shot. Minsan kasi maganda na 'yung shot, pumapanget pa 'pag masyadong in-edit."

Mhoie Mendoza : "Battery grip. Akala ko noong una porke mukhang pro 'yung camera eh pro na."

Jay Salvador : "Sana 'di ako pumatol sa poverty porn. Tsaka dalhin lang ang kailangang dalhin, dahil baka wala ka pa sa location eh pagod ka na."

Khim Lumarlan : "ISO...akala ko 'pag madilim kayang sagipin palagi ng ISO. Kaya pala naimbento ang flash para 'yun ang gamitin minsan."

Jer Sandel : "I'd invest in a dependable external hard drive to back up my photos when I'm on travel. Sooner rather than later. In my more than 6 years of shooting, the experience I regret most is back in 2009 when I lost my Grand Canyon photos on my way back to California. I copied my camera files to my 3-year-old laptop, the drive crashed, a data specialist couldn't retrieve the files, and that was it. I'll always remember my photography trip to Arizona but I don't have the photos to show for it. I still haven't gotten over that loss. Learned my lesson. Hopefully it doesn't happen to you."

Kenneth Calzo : "Sabi nga ng motto ko, "dont mind the actuations, mind the moments you did not capture". Madalas tinitipid natin 'yung shutter count kapag may shoot tayo dahil iniisip natin na baka maubos agad. Ang mga DSLR ay ginawa para gamitin sa pagkuha ng litrato. Mawawalan siya ng purpose kung hindi n'yo sya masyadong gagamitin dahil nagtitipid kayo ng actuations. Sabi nga nila, "nasa huli ang pagsisisi" lalo na at di mo nakuhanan yung gusto mong kuhanan."

Red Bautista : "Don't just buy DSLR because you're so eager to have one. Consider reading or watching reviews about it, if possible, buy the best unit the first time. If you can't afford it, save for it, because if you buy an entry-level camera then you will upgrade eventually, ibebenta mo 'yung pinaglumaan mo. Of course it will be sold for almost half the price. Lugi ka."

We all gain experience, but we only learn from experience if we reflect on them. Wise people don't make the same mistakes. The wisest people are those who learn from others' mistakes. There's no reason to look back in anger if we mean to improve or guide others. Just like the tips we just shared to you.

Till the next Insight post! We'll go right into the basics of shooting, the Holy Trinity of Photography : aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.