After 100 Hours of Deliberate Practice in Photography
Initial enthusiasm in November has meant that I’ve put in 100 hours of deliberate practice and am now 1% of the way through my 10,000 hour project to become an expert photographer.
To see what I’ve done in detail, please look at my Journal.
I think I’ve taken some good shots, and made some nice images.
I’ve learnt a little about colour theory, composition and have discovered some inspirational photographers and artists.
Overview of Photographic Activity
In the first 25 days of the month of November 2017, I managed an average of 4 hours per day of deliberate practice or “qualifying activity,” including shooting in the following 15 locations:
- London South Bank
- London Street Photography
- Burnham Beeches
- The Big Field Stoke Poges
- Black Park
- Black Park – Parkrun 441
- Denham Country Park
- Gray’s Field
- The Memorial Gardens – Stoke Poges
- Cliveden
- Langley Park
- Stoke Park
- Hastings Meadow
- My own back garden
- Stoke Common
Noteworthy Images
See the Gallery
Events Attended
Several meeting of the Stoke Poges Photographic Club.
Thames Valley, Royal Photographic Society, Digital Imaging Group‘s one day workshop by Paul Mitchell on “Woodland Photography.” Paul shoots mainly in locations I frequent regularly: Burnham Beeches and Stoke Common. His images though have a little more magic about them which is what one would expect from a man who is both an FRPS and a member of the RPS distinctions panel.
Ronnie Wood exhibition at the Castle Gallery, Harrogate.
Andre Kohn exhibition at the Westminster Gallery, Harrogate.
Dali/ Duchamp Exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts.
Tate Modern – general exhibition.
Books Read
“What is Art?” by John Canaday.
Chapters:
- What is a painting?
- Sculpture
- Architecture
- Realism
- Expressionism
- Abstraction
New Influences
Photography:
- Paul Mitchell FRPS – local hero.
- Lizzy Shepherd – North Yorkshire based Landscape and Travel Photographer
- Eliot Porter – early US- based Landscape and Nature photographer
- Michael Orton an Abstract Landscape photographer
Post-processing guru’s and Adobe Evangelists:
Artists:
- Marcel Duchamp
- Andre Kohn
Techniques Changed
Changes in Lightroom Workflow.
Have been using a tripod every morning, general good practice and as a way of deliberately slowing myself down.
Thoughts on Art
Canaday defines a picture as communicating on visual, emotional and intellectual levels. This effectively adds “intellectual” as an additional dimension beyond my definition of art.
Progress on Target Styles
Genres of interest (decreasing priority):
- Landscape Photography – nearly all time spent here.
- Travel Photography – none
- Portrait Photography – none
- Abstract Photography – none
- Still Life Photography – none
- Black and White Photography – none
- Street Photography – two short sessions
- Experimental Photography – none
- HDR Photography – none
Key Posts
Posts:
- Competition Strategy
- Returning from Holiday – Merge Lightroom Catelogs
- What is Art? “Emotional Communication” my Flawed Definition
- Shooting Fireworks an Alternative Approach
- Photography for Parkrun: Black Park
- Post-Processing Workflow
- Colour Theory – First Learnings
Related Posts:
- At Zero Hours
- After 250 Hours
- After 500 Hours
- After 1,000 Hours
- After 2,000 Hours
- After 3,000 Hours
- After 4,000 Hours
- Half Way – After 5,000 Hours
- After 6,000 Hours
- After 7,000 Hours
- After 8,000 Hours
- After 9,000 Hours
- Goal Achieved – Final Review
Social Media Rankings:
- Facebook: 1 like (Thank you Gary)
- Instagram: No followers
- Twitter: No followers
- 1 Comment on the Parkrun page.
Absolutely no promotion during this period.