bkellyusa wrote:
I'm an intermediate photographer and probably not even an advanced one. As it is now I've read tons of books, listened to a thousand hours of instructive videos and bought at least 5 five course on photography. I started as an absolute beginner about 3 years ago. I'm now at a point where I am buying instructional material that spends a lot time going over stuff I already know. What's next? What books or other instructive material would help me get to the next level. I'm already studying books on art but I don't know if I have the best ones for photography. Please advise?
I'm an intermediate photographer and probably not ... (
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Go out and USE your camera!
While photographic education is one early part of the learning process, there are many others. Here is a learning model I use in developing training curricula:
Presentation of a topic — a high-level, "big picture" overview of what is to be learned
Education — the "drawing out of interest in" a subject through presentation of contextual facts and concepts
Instruction — presentation and assimilation of the PROCESSES to be performed, in step-by-step detail
Training — hands-on, repetitive experimentation, using the tools and materials of the trade to perform real processes (The aim of most training is to get people to conform to process requirements. Photography is part artful inspiration, and part technical craft. The technical craft benefits greatly from standardization of process... Expression of artful inspiration can be practiced, but hardly "trained," since it is highly individual.)
Feedback — critical evaluation and review of the training experience, with applied behavior modification
Competency Demonstration — showing what you've learned by doing it with no assistance
Testing and Evaluation — a written review of knowledge, similar to a college examination
You are probably at a point where you have enough knowledge to go out and photograph at will. DO THAT, and you will learn far more than you can glean from books at this point. Loop back through the educational media at some point, starting with your camera manual. It will mean FAR more once you have gained experience.
For a deeper understanding of this, go read Malcolm Gladwell's book,
Outliers. Anyone who wants to get really good at something needs to understand the benefits of practical immersion in it. Malcolm explains that as well as anyone.