Comments on: Photography: The ‘How’ or the ‘Why’?

By: debeesantosh

debeesantosh — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 13:18:53 +0000

Both are equally required First why and then how.
I can see the discussion threda, but where is the link to document/article that will cater Why and how?
The author need to provide a link on top of the thread so that we can access Why and How articles.

Thanks
Debee

By: Flacker

Flacker — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 19:10:11 +0000

I think I agree with Frances. I want to know “why” first so that the follow-up “how” makes sense.

One of my favorite tasks in a recent photo class was when the professor showed the class a set of flawed photos (too dark, blurry, weak composition, etc.). The students then had to explain why the error happened and how to correct it. It was a great learning exercise.

By: Frances

Frances — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 18:24:02 +0000

I like both — a quick “how”, and a more detailed “why”.

By: Russ Campbell

Russ Campbell — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 17:31:39 +0000

I need to know both the how and the why. Theory puts knowledge and intelligence behind my actions. I like your web site, BTW.

By: Philip Procter

Philip Procter — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 16:39:20 +0000

Even if someone were to tell my how, the first thing I’d want to know is ‘why’. Typically, if I see a picture with an idea or style that catches my eye, I may never be able to duplicate the picture but I want to know how to recreate whatever special thing it was that caught my eye.

By: tmt

tmt — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 12:09:09 +0000

Nice Pentax on the picture, btw

By: tmt

tmt — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 12:07:43 +0000

I think the “why” is more important because the how cannot be applied to every gear. So if I took a pic in a theatre with an f/2.8 tele and with iso 800+, then the how is pretty clear, you can’t stop the lens down to, like f/16, because you won’t catch a single photon But if you know the “why”, you will (nearly) automatically get the “how”, or you can come up with some new ideas to play with.

By: Walt

Walt — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 00:41:22 +0000

I have always favored the why. How tends to be limited to a specific, say a camera model where why can be transfered from camera to camera. It does not matter if its digital, film (yes, there are still some of us out there that use film) or medium format film.

One piece of advice I give new photographers or even advanced hobbiest, shoot in manual model with manual focus. You will really understand how a picture is done without resorting to presets for landscapes, portraits, earthquakes and what ever else is now being pack into a camera. After all, it all comes down to light, how to use it and how to manipulate it, composition, where the focus of the eye goes and how it gets there, and patience, take the time to get the couple of real good shots instead of filling a card up with shots of the sunset to get the “one you wanted”.

Once you know the basics, getting effects, the how, is easier to understand and be able to adapt to other situations – fireworks reflected in water, a flower blossom under water, mist on a landscape, etc.

End of soapbox

By: Metatron

Metatron — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 23:16:15 +0000

Clearly it’s the How. Photography is just my hobby, but I`m taking it pretty seriously and I don’t want to get upset, because I got that nice shot and it would need that effect, but I just wouldn’t know, how to get it right. That’s why it’s important to me to learn all the techniques I can, even the ones, that seem to be useful only for teen girls

By: Jason

Jason — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 20:35:59 +0000

Hey, great post here! Asking both the “how” and the “why” are good exercises!