Chasing The Light

You’ve probably heard some variation of this before: No matter how much you know, there’s always more to learn. It’s one of my favorite things about photography. Every new discovery gives way to a new thought or idea, and the cycle continues.

My first DSLR was a used Canon 60D I purchased on eBay. It came with an 18-55mm kit lens. I had no idea how to use it. I didn’t know what aperture, ISO, or shutter speed were, or how they work together to create a certain result. I didn’t know what white balance was. It was very much a matter of trial and error for a long time.

After gaining an understanding of the basic functions of my camera, I started thinking about what new pieces of gear I would acquire. Keep the journey going, right? Reflecting back on what I bought and the order in which I bought it, it’s clear that those choices shaped my learning experience entirely. I started with a telephoto lens so that I could take photos of my cousins water skiing behind their boat. After that, it was a tripod and a fast, wide-angle lens for landscapes and long exposures.

Speed lights, specialty lenses (100mm macro, anyone?), and other gadgets followed, but at a certain point, you start to realize that it really is all about the light. And that realization opens up a whole universe of possibilities when you really start thinking about all the ways you can manipulate shooting conditions.

And I guess you could say that’s my latest endeavor. Available light photography has been my bread and butter for a long time, and it’s still one of my favorite ways to shoot, but the experimentation I’ve been able to do in a controlled, studio setting is currently what has the gears in my head spinning.

And where to next? No idea, but I’m excited!