My photography journey...so far (Blog #53)

Cast your mind back almost 5 years to when the COVID pandemic hit the world, to when your movements were restricted and dictated by those in high office, and you were perhaps seeking new ways to pass your time, became a priority. I know how I felt during early 2020 and, yes, finding something to do to pass the time and also to take my mind off what was happening around me, were things I seriously considered. 

I upgraded my Amazon music subscription to Unlimited and invested in better quality headphones and earbuds. This move was partly driven by my love of music, but also because I really didn't know if and when I would ever be able to live a normal life again. I wasn't going out and I wasn't spending money. The basic Amazon Music package had been ok, but at £79pa for access to 100 million songs, most in surround sound, I didn't take much persuasion to upgrade. After a short time I went the whole hog and invested in not one, but two Echo Studios, which I connected together and which now give the best music-listening experience imaginable. 

Then I decided I needed a new hobby, something I had never previously done, something totally new, something that would fill those vacant days. Where to begin?

My Facebook feed was full of adverts (as everyone's is!) and one caught my eye; it was for an online course provider called Centre of Excellence (CoE). So I visited their website and trawled through their courses. I came across one for mobile phone photography. Ah! Maybe I should get into photography, something I had never previously done? Yes, I had owned a couple of cameras over the years, but hadn't taken any interest in the mechanics or science behind taking a photograph. Now was the time to start.

I signed up and so my journey as a smartphone photographer (this is what I call myself when talking to other photographers) began. The course was a gentle introduction to photograph and to how to take decent photos using your smartphone. My smartphone at that time was a Huawei. Beginning any new subject is like learning a new language, each one having its own terminology, its own lexicon that has to absorbed and understood. 

This course really was the beginning of my journey. I searched around for other courses from other providers, which I how I discovered Udemy. In the last 3-years I have dipped in and out of their photography videos, most notably the ones by Video School. However, there's one video course in particular, which isn't a Video School production, that stands out as being extremely informative, and that was 'Introductory Photography' by Chris Bray. In this I learnt everything there was to learn about photography, but the biggest thing was uncovering the secrets behind aperture, f-stops, and depth of field, which were completely baffling until Chris explained then in such a straightforward way. 

By this point I was hooked on photography. I enrolled for more CoE courses, which included digital photography, advanced digital photography, and travel photography. This last one I did in the hope that one day I would be able to travel again!

I signed up for tons of Udemy courses, including ones covering smartphone photography, DSLR photography, travel photography, street photography, and editing using Lightroom mobile. Some courses were more useful than others, but I always took new skills away from every one of them. 

During this time I was taking photographs every day, even if they were just of my garden or of the food I was eating. I started looking at accessories I could buy for my smartphone.

I bought a tripod, well actually several tripods, a kit of lens, to which I later added more, a gimbal because I was dabbling in video production, in fact any little accessory that I could buy. I explored editing, and although I had a monthly subscription to Lightroom mobile, I settled on Snapseed, which is now my default editing app.

My Huawei phone had served me well, but it was time to take a serious look at getting a smartphone with a better camera. I finally settled on the Google Pixel 7. I was very happy with its camera and the photos I was taking in terms of colour reproduction. During the summer I upgraded again to the Google Pixel 8 Pro, which has a great camera.

I now take photographs whenever I can, shooting in RAW and JPEG, terms which 4-years ago I would not have had a clue about. I have over 20,000 images, all stored safely on a cloud somewhere and on an external hard drive.

I thoroughly enjoy my photography, but there's one part I definitely enjoy the most, and that's editing. I am always careful whenever I take any photo, checking the composition, is the scene level, is the lighting good enough, but sometimes these things don't come out exactly right so a little bit of post editing is necessary. It's amazing what you can do nowadays to improve a very ordinary snapshot and turn it into an acceptable image that you're happy to show to others.

I am critical of my own work, but nevertheless am happy sharing some of it on Instagram, Facebook (I have my own local photography group) and Threads.

The scope of the photography-related material I digest has grown enormously. I have a small library of books about important photographers and their work, and about the various genres that exist. I thought I might 'specialise' in street photography, but am uncomfortable about including recognisable faces in my photographs, although it's unavoidable sometimes, and Google photos can always remove people if I want it to. I take lots of photos whenever I travel, but would never class myself as a travel photographer.

Two books that I bought early on were about smartphone photography and editing using Snapseed. They are by Jo Bradford and both are well written, full of information and techniques which helped me improve my photography and editing. 

https://amzn.eu/d/fo1TlRc

https://amzn.eu/d/9sEuJ1p

I did join a local camera club last year but became very disillusioned with the whole set up. I created my Facebook group because I wanted to be part of a community of people who do photography for a hobby,  and not to be judged (members can ask for advice or help if they want).

I have a very full life, for which I am very grateful, but if one positive came out of my whole COVID experience it was the discovery of photography. I could if I wanted indulge myself by acquiring a top of the range 'proper' camera, with every whistle and bell there is, but then I would feel I had to use it 24/7 365-days a year to justify the enormous outlay. I have seen the cost of a photography addiction. No, for now, I will be sticking to my trusty smartphone. As someone once said. 'The best camera is the one you have with you'. As we all know, everyone these days always has their phone with them. Besides, all the fancy pants gear in the world won't make you the world's greatest photographer; it's all about creativity and being able to stir emotions and tell a story.

I hope you've enjoyed reading this more personal blog of mine, in which I have tried to take you on my journey from absolute beginner to a fairly competent hobbyist photographer. Without the need to having to find something to fill my time in 2020, I may never have got into photography, but would have carried on taking rubbish photos on a not very good phone and not knowing how to correct lopsided horizons. Who knows?

I need to try to get out more to take more photographs, but 2024 hasn't been a particularly good year. Maybe that should be my New Year's resolution for 2025, to take more photographs.

This is my last blog of 2024, so I would like to wish you a very happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

Please don't forget to visit my social media channels, leave a comment, and get your friends to follow me. 

© Mike Young 2024.