PixelatedImage Blog

Chapter One of McNally’s The Moment It Clicks is called “Shoot What You Love.” Much wisdom in those few words, there is.

If there’s an imbalance in the learning of the photographic art these days it’s in the great deal of attention we give to the technical minutiae of the craft to the neglect of vision and passion. It results, to put it crassly, in the photographic equivalent of playing with yourself. It might be helpful for discovery, but as a means of expression it’s rather useless. There are some who will be content to do this all their lives, but at some point most of us want more.

The eye is not the only organ involved in photography, the heart is vitally important. The better your “eye”, the better your craft. But it’s equally true that your craft will be wasted if you do not shoot from the heart.

Abandoning my other metaphor, let me try this one; if you’re happy with photography that is the literary equivalent of technical writing, then knock yourself out. But it’s the passionate stuff – the sonnets, the dramas, the tragedies, the poetry, that long echo in the human heart and captures our imagination. Shoot a poem, not an instruction manual. People will gladly die for truth and beauty, rarely has anyone done the same for mere accuracy or precision.

By all means memorize tables of hyperfocal distances if you must, but do it so you can better shoot your passion. On the other hand let’s not become so polar in our return to the emotional side of the art that we make the error of abandoning technique; one serves the other and it’s a disservice to your passion to neglect your craft.

In short, check your geek:artist ratio. Make adjustments as needed.