There is always a great deal of discussion that focuses on equipment (what to buy, how much to pay, what lens to use, and so on) on this forum, but not so much discussion on the art of photography. I do believe that better equipment can help us to achieve better results, but it does take a lot more than that.

It takes practice, study, experimentation, and a real desire to do better and more with our images to become a knowledgeable and experienced photographer. I see images from many photographers who have been taking photographs for years, but have obviously simply been doing what they learned the first year for the next 20 or so with no growth; I also see many photographs from photographers who simply point and shoot without too much thought; and, I do sometimes see some very nice, well-composed, exposed and processed images. If the photographer is happy with his or her work and likes what he or she has created then that is fine, no matter which category they may fall into.

But what about that photographer who really wants to learn the craft of photography and wants to grow in their work continually over time, how does this person get to be a better photographer?

If I were in a discussion with a photographer who did want to grow and learn and had a passion to create work that people responded to in a positive way and I could only tell them three things, I would tell them this:

1.) Learn to use all aspects of your equipment so that you command the equipment, read the manual.
2.) Know all about the elements of composition, know everything about it, so that when you shoot it becomes natural to read the scene instantly.
3.) Know what the software you use can and cannot do and use that knowledge when you compose.

Of course, I’d like to tell them more…what about you, what advice would you give them, limited to only three things?