The Old Ruminator
Well-known member
Courses are interesting. Do they narrow your perspective ( pun ) and teach you specific ways of doing things so making a subject more formulaic ? I guess that I have always done things my own way . The most important thing to learn about photography is composition. Sometimes though that leads you into the trap of doing something the same old way as everyone else. Just look at certain subjects on Google Image. The " technically best " images all look the same. Finding a completey new angle is a far better way to arrive at a unique image. As a photo historian I can tell a local postcard photographer just by the image alone. They have their own style. Everything today seems to be leading towards " sameness ". The classic caving photo is the same old reverse back lit shot. I did loads of diving courses arriving at Advanced Trimix Level. I never dived on Trimix as I used Heliair. That was for technical reasons and due to the fact that it suited me. I had a fairly high narcotic tolerance. I did not need O2 cleaned kit and I could top up Heliair off a part used stronger mix. I only knew one other diver who did that as everyone followed the dictate of the courses. Individuality seems to get pared away in the modern world. You do need basic knowledge to follow any subject but you need at some point to make your own way. Certain areas in photography are innate. Compostion and lighting can be taught but ultimately it relies on how you see the world as an individual. Present it your way not as a clone of somebody else. Anymore emotive subjects I can kick off here ---- ?
