Of course, my remarks are about folks that are serious amateurs and aspiring or present professionals. We see posts written by many participants on this forum- every day, that drill down deeply into the technicalities and the artistic aspects of photography. Some have a significant basic foundation and some apparently, are "running before the can walk".

As for the "snapshooters", there is absolutely nothing wrong with folks simply enjoying their photography with a far more casual and fun approach. There is a plethora of point-and-shoot, fully automated gear and darn good cellphone cameras to accommodate their requirements. More folks are using photography online, for personal communications, family records of the kids growing up, etc., and that is great! Many snapshooters are discovering their underlying talents and are being encouraged to get more seriously into the craft. Perhaps some super-serious shooters are discovering the fun of more casual photography. Since I purchased my first high-end cell phone, I am having more fun with photography when I am "off duty" and out of the studio.

The situations I am speaking out against are that for serious workers, aspiring, part-time and full-time professionals there is a dearth of formal, practical, nuts and bolts, practical, vocational training. On a forum such as this, there is a "cross-pollination" of all sorts of photographers with a wide range of approaches, goals, and aspirations. So...my message is that if you take your photography seriously and professionally get with the program of you already haven't and learn the basics. I have been involved in professional photography all my working life and I still like to review some of the basics as time goes on and do that as I continue to learn the latest trends and technologies.

The only thing I try to correct or come out against is when folks who actually "don't give a fig" about all the technicalities and artsy stuff and come out against others who are serious workers or folks offering more complex advice. So often you hear kinda "put down the books and pick up the camera and knock yourself out... etc." whereas my advice is to NEVER put down the camera but do hit the books, the online tutorials, take in the classes, go to school if you can and do practice, test and prove your, knowledge and theories and experiment as you learn. You can learn all you need to know from a book, an online course or a classroom. You can't learn logically and efficiently by endlessly shooting without any guidance. You need to balance your theory and practice according to your own requirements, level of knowledge and best learning facilities. Some folks are VISUALS and lean more for what the SEE, some are AUDITORIES and lean more for what they HEAR or READ, and some are KINESTHETICS and absorb more from what the TOUCH and FEEL.

Nowadays, with the pandemic and the need for social distancing and self-quarantining, this is a good opportunity to catch up on our theory and compare notes right here on the forum. This is is a helpful way of avoiding boredom, stress, anxiety and the loneliness of isolation. I hope this form is serving as a little bit of comfort, friendship and hopefulness for some. PLEASE Y'all - stay safe, stay HOME of you can, stay healthy, and continue to communicate.

BROOKS INSTATUTE of PHOTOGRAPHY.
BDE BASIC DAYLIGHT EXPOSURE:

Sunlight BDE BASIC DAYLIGHT EXPOSURE.
Sun (silhouette) 2 stops less than BDE
Sun (Sand, Snow) 1 stop less than BDE
Sun (Backlight subject) 2 stops less than BDE
Sun (Haze) 1 stop more than BDE
Overcast (normal) 2 stops more than BDE
Open Shade* 3 Stops more than BDE
Lighted Signs 5 stops more than BDE
Stage Shows 5-7 stops more than BDE
Floodlight Shows 7 stops more than BDE
Theater Districts 6 stops more than BDE
Night Windows 6 stops more than BDE
Fireworks 6 stops more than BDE
Stadium Sports 6 stops more than BDE
Offices (fluorescents) 6nstops more than BDE
Night Street Scenes 7 stops more than BDE
Amusement arks 8 stops more than BDE
Home Interiors (night) 8 to 9.5 stops more than BDE
School Auditoriums 9 stops more than BDE
Close Ups (candlelight) 11 stops more than BDE
Floodlight Buildings 11 stops more than BDE
City Skylines (Distant) 13 stops more than BDE

BDE is f 16 were shutter speed is 1/ISO

*Important note, OPEN SHADE is a vary old designation from the time before WW II, Open shade is found in large metropolitan areas (cities) with old large tall buildings. Think this way, you are viewing a scene down a wide street or boulevard, in a city with tall whitish buildings, (it was hot in the summer months and there was little to no air conditioning, so building were built to reflect heat away and so the sun light). To your left is were the sun is, BUT the tall building is blocking it from the street. The buildings on your right are reflecting the sun light, and the sun is being reflected down the sides of the buildings to the street where you are standing. That street is illuminated by sunlight that was bounced off the two buildings and their windows and has arrived at the street level. That light is referred to as "OPEN SHADE" and was vary often published as a drawing in the instructions that came with the film. This is THE classic definition of OPEN SHADE. OPEN SHADE is a technical definition of the light found under these conditions.

BROOKS INSTATUTE of PHOTOGRAPHY.
BDE BASIC DAYLIGHT EXPOSURE:

Sunlight BDE BASIC DAYLIGHT EXPOSURE.
Sun (silhouette) 2 stops less than BDE
Sun (Sand, Snow) 1 stop less than BDE
Sun (Backlight subject) 2 stops less than BDE
Sun (Haze) 1 stop more than BDE
Overcast (normal) 2 stops more than BDE
Open Shade* 3 Stops more than BDE
Lighted Signs 5 stops more than BDE
Stage Shows 5-7 stops more than BDE
Floodlight Shows 7 stops more than BDE
Theater Districts 6 stops more than BDE
Night Windows 6 stops more than BDE
Fireworks 6 stops more than BDE
Stadium Sports 6 stops more than BDE
Offices (fluorescents) 6nstops more than BDE
Night Street Scenes 7 stops more than BDE
Amusement arks 8 stops more than BDE
Home Interiors (night) 8 to 9.5 stops more than BDE
School Auditoriums 9 stops more than BDE
Close Ups (candlelight) 11 stops more than BDE
Floodlight Buildings 11 stops more than BDE
City Skylines (Distant) 13 stops more than BDE

BDE is f 16 were shutter speed is 1/ISO

*Important note, OPEN SHADE is a vary old designation from the time before WW II, Open shade is found in large metropolitan areas (cities) with old large tall buildings. Think this way, you are viewing a scene down a wide street or boulevard, in a city with tall whitish buildings, (it was hot in the summer months and there was little to no air conditioning, so building were built to reflect heat away and so the sun light). To your left is were the sun is, BUT the tall building is blocking it from the street. The buildings on your right are reflecting the sun light, and the sun is being reflected down the sides of the buildings to the street where you are standing. That street is illuminated by sunlight that was bounced off the two buildings and their windows and has arrived at the street level. That light is referred to as "OPEN SHADE" and was vary often published as a drawing in the instructions that came with the film. This is THE classic definition of OPEN SHADE. OPEN SHADE is a technical definition of the light found under these conditions.

I hated to see Brooks Institute go under. When I lived in Santa Barbara in the 60"s and 70's I frequently visited their camera store looking for bargains in used equipment. Walking the halls and viewing the student work was inspiring.
You would frequently see 20 or so people standing around with view cameras pointed at a gas station or other business. Their method of HDR was to expose once using sunlight then wait around till the business turned its lights on for the evening and take a second exposure on the same sheet of film.
That school turned out some fine photographers.