What have I learned so far?

About photography, I mean.

Honestly, it has been a very rewarding experience so far. Despite the fact that I have been spending more time in the studio more than anywhere else these couple of days, I have enjoyed a single minute of it. Well, almost.

So, what have I learned?

To me, photography is about the angles, “moments”, ambient and colour.

Angles give meaning to your photo and tells a lot about the subject of your photo. And this is the part I struggle a lot with. And I find that the best ways to learn this is to think outside the box and look at lots and lots of magazines to get ideas and inspirations. I normally flip through magazines and when I see a particular shot that I like, I imagine how was it taken and all those things. And then try it at the next photoshoot.

Emotions keep photographs alive. They make you cringe, they make you go soft and teary-eyed, they make you smile and they make you go, “aww”. Capturing the “moments” is when you hide at one corner, and take pictures of people who laugh like there’s no one watching, and 23, 456 flies can fit into their mouth at one go. And all their teeth shows! Or when the bride and groom, or their parents, wipe their tears.

Ambient and colour is more about white balance. I don’t like plain colours indoors like during dinner or at home. And I don’t like yellowish/brownish/bluish colours outdoors. I don’t really know how to put it in words, but sometimes the colour makes your pictures either look cold or warm. It’s like, the “moments” give life to your picture and the colour keeps them alive, if that makes sense.

On a more general note, I’ve also learned to think outside the box and dare to experiment. Alvin told me one thing, which I try to apply in things I do as well as photography, “Create history, and make people follow you” or something along those lines.

There are so many things I want to write but I don’t know how to put them in words. And these are just very few things I have learned so far, and everyday is still a learning. I’d say, look at more photographs, study those that you love, and you’ll find inspirations in them.

Oh, speaking of emotions, your emotions also show in your pictures. In my opinion, the best thing to do is to keep yourself happy on the day of the shoot by talking to the bride and groom, or their parents, or if it’s a model shoot, talk to the models.

I guess that’s what I am willing to share. :P For the rest, I’d rather keep them to myself and maybe if you ask, I’ll share. :P Call me stingy! LOL!

p.s.: Picture used with permission from Alvin Leong.

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