Horse Sense / 21 Tips for Photographers

"Horse sense is the thing a horse has which keeps it from betting on people." - W.C. Fields

There I was, standing near the edge of a lovely misty pond, taking pictures of a lone goose that was making quite a clamor in the morning air. The reflections were really something. What a blip this would make!

Suddenly I heard a low whinny. I turned and looked up to my left to see a horse standing there, sticking its tongue out at me! I admit I laughed out loud!

And so this is how the "lone goose on a reflective autumn pond" shot that I was cultivating for my 300th blip went by the way side. I have never blipped a horse before, let alone a horse sticking out its tongue.

That's the fun thing about barnyard animals: they have no sense of propriety, and they will let you know straight off what they think about your attempts at "art."

On this, my 300th blip-day, I want to take a minute to thank all of you who have inspired me with your beautiful photos, who have encouraged me with your comments, who have given me a new community of people to talk about photography with.

It is something that means a lot to me, and nowhere else have I found others with a passion for photography like I have found in this place. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

This picture also started me thinking about "horse sense," which an online dictionary I consulted defines simply as "common sense." From there, that led to thoughts about my own personal tips for and philosophy of photography.

If I were offering tips to a young photographer, what would I say? Where would I begin?

And so for the past day, I've been scribbling my thoughts down on little scraps of paper. I'm not really sure whether they are tips or rules.

But here is a consolidated list of them, in pretty much no particular order, except for the very first one, which is the most important of all, and bears repeating. The first items on the list are more mechanical in nature, while the latter points wax a bit more philosophical.

Oh, and if you have tips that you'd like to share in addition to those I've included here, please leave them in the comments!

1. Always take the camera. And don't tuck it away in some obscure location in a bag or suitcase. Have it close by, where you can grab it in an instant.

2. Have a spare battery and extra memory cards on hand. You may take more pictures than you think; be prepared.

3. Wear sensible shoes. You never know what you may need to traverse, or step in, to get a decent shot.

4. When the weather looks bad out, it's probably not quite as bad as it seems. Go anyway. Protect your camera. Keep it tucked under your jacket or umbrella if you must. But take it along anyway.

5. Pay attention to the details. They will make a difference in each and every photo. Every picture tells a story. The story depends on which details you leave in and which you leave out.

6. If you have a favorite person, place, or subject, photograph it often, on different days, from different angles, in different light. You will never grow tired of it. Neither will we. And someday you may be surprised to find out that it's not there anymore. You will be glad you have the pictures.

7. Stop and take that picture, even if it requires some scheming to figure out where to safely park the car, or if it means crawling out the sunroof to get the shot. Who cares if others driving by look at you funny? You're a photographer; you're SUPPOSED to be eccentric. (Note: Disregard this tip if you live along a dangerous highway; we don't want any photographers to be harmed.)

8. Schedule at least ten to twenty minutes each day, tucked in between all the other things you MUST do, to photograph something beautiful. If you look for beauty, you will find it. I promise. And those ten or twenty minutes? They will feed your soul and cultivate a grateful spirit.

9. When photographing live creatures, first get the shot. THEN step closer to get a second shot. Sometimes, one shot is all you get. Make it count.

10. When you think it's time to leave, tarry for just one moment longer and take a good last look around. Something beautiful may happen just as you're getting ready to leave; don't miss it!

11. Be safe. Be careful. Back up your photos often, and in multiple locations. Your favorites? The ones your heart would break if you lost? Back them up in even MORE locations.

12. Examine your photos carefully after you've taken them. Sometimes you will find something delightful in a shot that you didn't notice when you were too busy taking it.

13. First get the shot. Once you have it, you can crop it and frame it perfectly later.

14. You learn about beauty by looking at beauty. Find pictures you admire, by talented photographers you admire. Look and learn. Often.

15. Do what you love best every day, every chance you get. Don't apologize for your passion. And there's no such thing as "too many pictures."

16. Is the purpose of photography to reflect the truth or to make art? The answer is yes. Claim your art. Do what you feel. They're your pictures. Make them however you want. You don't owe anybody an explanation about why or how. Just make something beautiful.

17. Let your heart and your hand follow the good light, especially during those blessed moments when the light is gentle and golden. A moment of good light wasted is a moment you will never get back.

18. Get up early. Magic lives at the edges of things. That little spot between darkness and first light is a great place to stand to watch the magic unfold.

19. If you get the chance to use your pictures to do some good in the world, seize the opportunity.

20. A great passion. Curiosity. A sense of wonder. A love of beauty. A sense of humor. A good eye. Discipline. A steady hand. Cultivate these things and you will learn to make MAGIC with your pictures.

21. Have fun! If you're not having fun, you're doing it wrong!

Oh yeah, and keep on blipping! :-)