How to Get Better

Some day, I want to have lunch with Scott Bourne … just to find out how he finds the time in his day to think and write.

He’s updated an older post on 15 Ways to Improve Your Photography Without Buying Gear over at PhotoFocus, and I want you to pay special attention to number six:

Work hard. And then work harder. I have a favorite saying I heard back when I was in high school. “Everybody wants to be a rock star without having to learn the chords.” There’s no getting around the fact that getting good at photography involves dedication and hard work. Buying the best camera in the world won’t do a thing for you if you don’t get off the couch and go shooting.

That, alone, is by far the most important thing in the list. I’ll pair it with a quote from Atlanta-based shooter Zack Arias: “You can buy a camera, but you can’t buy vision. You can’t buy the ability to see.”

If any of the incoming intro students are reading this, here’s the way to succeed this spring: Shoot. Every. Single. Day. Commit to that and you’ll do alright in the class.