LOL. Old dogs never learn new tricks. Why pay $$$$ for a digital wonder of the modern world and then use it as it was meant to be used? So many think 'success' is to shoot one frame standing straight up, at eye-level, usually slightly out of focus, just like every other person who ever shot from that spot before. Their images look exactly like everyone else's. Success ....

That sarcasm aside, I still fear the old dogs don't want to learn. Varying the aperture, varying the zoom length, varying the AF point location involves learning how to use your camera. Getting down on a knee, getting down on the ground, even moving 5 steps to the left or right, or better yet: 10 steps closer. Some of these tricks might even involve cracking the manual to learn where those controls reside. Spending 5 minutes instead of 30 seconds, when most of us really have all day free; I don't see it happening. I preach these ideas whenever I can find a soapbox.

A newer 'theme' I've seen is "I don't want to waste time on a computer." Well, too bad, all I hear is "I don't want to succeed. I have an attachment problem and can't delete failed image files." They think a real photographer like Ansel Adams hiked all the way into those mountains, took one perfect shot, and hiked home to glory.

Myself, most times I find that I arrive at just the right time when a thousand images will surely capture something. This strategy is more likely to yield success than just one slightly out of focus frame, shot at eye-level, standing straight up, and moving on. Myself, if I stop to shoot at all, I take as many versions as to justify (find) why I stopped there and raised the camera to begin with.

Thanks tennis! Actually, with a few meet-ups under my belt, I've learned it really is the hands-on face-to-face discussions that really help to drive home 'new' ideas with people. Some people can read / watch videos and get the gumption to finally try something new, something different. I'm slow on the uptake of 'new' or 'different' myself. But, when you're with someone who is practicing or demonstrating the idea, and they can pause and give you the muscle memory / experience of the same, along with answering their clarifying questions, that's when the lightbulbs really seem to go off. So, I encourage people to try to find someone new to shoot with, if that possibility exists.

I definitely agree that actually going out and shooting with other photographers can be valuable. I often go shoot alone, most often I’m out with either hiking friends or kayaking friends, (groups with a huge overlap), so I can’t really take the time I’d like. Last year in Scotland one we were hiking the coast of Loch Leven and I easily could have spent a few hours in one location. I got a few nice shots, (most with my iPhone), but would have loved to explore the possibilities. One of my Florida trips last year a photography club buddy flew down and joined me for the last few days and having another photographer with me was great. We both understood that we needed time and there was no pressure to keep up.

These are all iPhone shots from Scotland. The first three I wouldn’t have gotten without moving around and looking at different viewpoints. The last two were just being observant.