Steve Simon - The Passionate Photographer: Ten Steps Towards Becoming Great

THE PASSIONATE PHOTOGRAPHER: DREAM IT, BE IT

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www.octopusbooks.co.uk

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First published in Great Britain in 2012 by New Riders This edition published in 2019 by Ilex Press, an imprint of Octopus Publishing Group Ltd. Carmelite House

50 Victoria Embankment London EC4Y 0DZ www.octopusbooks.co.uk

Design and Layout Copyright Octopus Publishing Group 2019 Text and Illustrations Copyright Steve Simon 2019

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Publisher, Photo: Adam Juniper Commissioner: Frank Gallaugher Managing Editor: Rachel Silverlight Assistant Editor: Stephanie Hetherington Art Director: Ben Gardiner

Design: Two Associates

Senior Production Manager: Peter Hunt

All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Steve Simon asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

eISBN: 978-1-78157-659-5

THE PASSIONATE PHOTOGRAPHER: DREAM IT, BE IT

A Proven Ten-Step Plan For Success revised & remastered

STEVE SIMON

STEP 1: PASSION
AN INCH WIDE, A MILE DEEP

Lessons Learned:
The Power of Photography

STEP 2: VOLUME, VOLUME, VOLUME
10,000 HRS: PRACTICE & PERSISTENCE

The Argument for JPEG |
The Argument for Raw

Caution: Beware When Locking
Focus & Recomposing

STEP 3: WORK IT
DONT GIVE UP ON THE MAGIC

Micro Composition:
Everything Counts

Out-of-Focus Foreground
or Background

Lessons Learned:
Dont Give Up on the Magic

STEP 4: THE LONELY ADVENTURER
CONCENTRATION, PATIENCE, & NEVER
LINGERING IN YOUR COMFORT ZONE

Lessons Learned:
Instinct, Intuition, & Concentration

Step 4 Action: Being Choosy | Let the
Picture Come to You

STEP 5: THE EVOCATIVE PORTRAIT
PHOTOGRAPHING PEOPLE GETS EASIER

CONTENTS

Introduction

STEP 3: WORK IT

DONT GIVE UP ON THE MAGIC

Some Basic Guidelines 72

STEP 1: PASSION

AN INCH WIDE, A MILE DEEP

Passion & the Personal Project 12 My Inspiration 13

The Moment

Work the Scene

Changing Your Vantage Point 76 The Problem with Zooms 78

Realizations

Your Inspiration

Choices & Limitations 80

The Sum

More Deconstruction

81 Design & Tradition in Composition 83 Guide of Thirds | Horizon 84

The Good Book

19 Howard Chapnick on the Photo Essay 21 Shoot What You Know 22

Micro Composition: Everything Counts 86

Lessons Learned:

The Power of Photography 24 Personal 25

Patience in Composition & Life 87 Out-of-Focus Foreground or Background 89

The Idea is Everything 26

The Cause

Personal Challenges 28

Lessons Learned:

Dont Give Up on the Magic 90 See the Magic Coming 91

Meetings

Your Story

Step 3 Action: Work It 92

Two Piles | The Written Component 32 A Framework

STEP 4: THE LONELY ADVENTURER CONCENTRATION, PATIENCE, & NEVER LINGERING IN YOUR COMFORT ZONE

Learning to Concentrate 96

Step 1 Action: Passion 35

STEP 2: VOLUME, VOLUME, VOLUME 10,000 HRS: PRACTICE & PERSISTENCE

Hurry Up & Wait 41

Instinct & Intuition 100

In the Moment | Intuition 102

Lessons Learned:

Instinct, Intuition, & Concentration 104 Fighting Photographers Block 106 Finding Direction 107

Close the Gap

Just Shoot It

Style & Technique

44 Master Your Gear & Creativity Soars 47 Simplify | The Winter Olympics 49 How I Work: Aperture Priority 52 Why I Choose Aperture Priority 54 ISO & Auto ISO

55 Shutter Speed: The Dealbreaker 56 The Argument for JPEG |

The Argument for Raw 59

Image Review

110 The Fixer | Paying for Pictures 112 The Warm-up 114

Step 4 Action: Being Choosy | Let the

Picture Come to You 116

Your Best Friend: The Histogram 60 Eye on the Prize 63

STEP 5: THE EVOCATIVE PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHING PEOPLE GETS EASIER

Beyond the Surface 120

The Enemy

Candid Portraiture

Autofocus Tip

Access is Everything 122

Caution: Beware When Locking Focus & Recomposing 68

Talk to Strangers

No Cheese Please

Step 2 Action: Just Shoot It 69

The Self-Conscious Smirk 127

Formality | Eye Contact or Not 130

|

The Passionate Photographer

Work with Me Baby |
Lessons Learned: The Chief

The Light | Bigger Source,
Softer Light

STEP 6: FOLLOW THE LIGHT...
LEARN TO MASTER IT

Lessons Learned: Find the Light
& Stick With It

STEP 7: THE ART OF THE EDIT
CHOOSE WELL & BE THE BEST
YOU CAN BE

Speed Edit for Deadlines
& Workshops

Lessons Learned: To Delete or
Not to Delete

Put This Book Down & Immediately
Back Up Your Archive | The Road

Lessons Learned: Back Up Your Data
& Have a Good Breakfast

STEP 8: ASSESSING STRENGTHS
& WEAKNESSES
NEVER STOP LEARNING & GROWING

Lucky Accidents
& Learning from Mistakes

STEP 9: ACTION PLAN
SETTING GOALS & CREATING STRATEGIES

Lessons Learned:
To Know it Well, Teach It

STEP 10: FOLLOW THROUGH
SHARE YOUR VISION WITH THE WORLD

Instagram: Zero to 1000 Followers
in 90 Days

Step 10 Action: Review &
Follow Through

Be Ready for Spontaneity 132

Work with Me Baby |

Lessons Learned: The Chief 134 The Portrait Assignment 136

The Light | Bigger Source,

Softer Light

Keeping it Simple

Shoot Different

Step 5 Action: Dreams & Fears 143

STEP 6: FOLLOW THE LIGHT... LEARN TO MASTER IT

Scout the Light 149

Critical Thinking

Critique

Lessons Learned: Find the Light & Stick With It 150

Lessons Learned: Getting Naked 206 Read This if You're Over 35 208 Step 8 Action: Just Shoot It 209

STEP 9: ACTION PLAN

SETTING GOALS & CREATING STRATEGIES

Goal Number One 212

Color

152 A Note about Post-Production 153 Color Temperature & Light Balance 154 Black & White 158

Mark Them Down

The One Thing

214 Project Goals | Artistic Goals 216 Lessons Learned:

To Know it Well, Teach It 218 Technical Goals & Shooting More 219 Business Goals 220

Step 6 Action: Follow the Light 160

STEP 7: THE ART OF THE EDIT CHOOSE WELL & BE THE BEST YOU CAN BE

You Are Your Own Best/Worst Editor 164 First Impressions 169

Equipment Goals

Step 9 Action: Goals & Strategies 222

STEP 10: FOLLOW THROUGH SHARE YOUR VISION WITH THE WORLD