You Don’t Need to Understand a Combustion Engine Before You Can Drive a Car
People learn in different ways. I am best if you show me what to do and then let me do it. If I want more details about the why’s and the finer issues, I know I can quickly find that detail with Google. I provide the basics first, some details later, and then a path to great detail.
EXAMPLE: You want to shoot birds in flight. What do you need to know? The first thing needed is the optimal camera settings. You don’t need several pages of instructions with all the why each one is important and the effect they have. Instead, I simply tell you to start off with a shutter speed of at least 1/1600 and an f-stop of f/7.1 using an ISO of 100 to 200. Then increase the shutter speed to the available light which means raise the shutter speed until you have the correct exposure. (And what to adjust when you don’t have enough light to use the optimal settings). Grab your camera and go. The basic information is followed by sufficient detail on adjustments you may need to make and in what order.
In most cases, that is the type of information you will find here. Some techniques may require more information. In all cases, we start with the very basic information that you need so you can quickly find that without digging through a long article of technical background. I do believe that details will help you later in your progression as a Nature Photographer but I do not believe it necessary as your first step. I did not need to learn about the combustion engine before I could drive a car.
Michael Mathews
Learning Nature Photography should not be hard. You certainly should not have to dig through thousands of words of instruction. You can start with the very basics and learn while taking photos with a little guidance along the way. BUT GET THE BASIC INFORMATION FIRST SO YOU CAN START TAKING PICTURES. Then you can continue your education.
