"I'm always mentally photographing everything as practice." - 365 Project, Day 248

There are essentially two parts to photography.  One is the technical part: the knowledge of what shutter speed, aperture, ISO to use to get the right exposure; the knowledge of what focal length to use in what situation and how to use a flash to get the shot you want, and the like.  It's very mathematical and can actually be calculated with formulae.

The second is the creative part: the way to compose a shot to get a particular emotion; the way to pick a subject that is both aesthetically pleasing and carries a message.  Both parts together engage the viewer together.

Now, here's my thought for today.  If you were to go back to a younger time - say go back to when you were 20, or 15, or even 11, or whenever you started your photography career, would you take with you al the technical knowledge you've accumulated, or the sum of the creative experience you've picked up through your life?  Photography classes help you with the technical aspect, about how to get the right exposure and how aperture and focal length affect depth of field and the like.  The creative aspect is learned through experience and being exposed to other artists' work and being intrigued by them.  Both parts of this are important, but which can do you consider more important to your photographic upbringing?

Here's our contribution to the creative endeavour that is photography.

Frank

His note: Looks like stained glass but isn't.

Shannon

Her note: Today's sunrise.

My photo

Two very boring things together.  This doesn't make the photography very interesting, it just makes the photograph show two boring things together.

For those who are wondering, I had a massive headache one day, and I was away from home the next day, and I worked all day today, so this is why three posts end up on my blog on the same day.