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FOUR COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS BEGINNING

PHOTOGRAPHERS BELIEVE
Quick Guide
Written by David Veldman

FOUR COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS BEGINNING PHOTOGRAPHERS BELIEVE // © PHOTZY.COM 1

 THE BEWILDERING WORLD OF PHOTOGRAPHY

Photography is easily one of the most rewarding Perhaps you have recently caught the ‘bug,’ or
hobbies or occupations that a person can practice. maybe you’ve just purchased your first camera or
It can be visceral and exciting, or calming and have enjoyed taking pictures using a cell phone and
meditative. It encompasses science and art, is wish to dig deeper into the world of photography.
influenced by leaps in modern technology, but is If so, then this tutorial is for you. In this tutorial, I
grounded in the theory of classical composition. wish to address some common misconceptions that
In the digital age, photography has now become many beginning photographers are led to believe.
accessible to all. Cameras have become cheaper, While I would not be so bold as to call these ‘lies,’
smaller, and are now a standard accessory on they are often spread online via camera forums
the ubiquitous cell phone. Billions of images are and even by manufacturers. Many have a grain of
uploaded to the Internet yearly, with social media truth to them, but I will explain why they are, in fact,
driving forward the real-time documentation of our misconceptions.
world.
If you are a beginner, don’t forget to also check out
Despite this, not every person who owns and uses a Photzy’s other tutorials, such as The 7 Fundamental
camera considers themselves a ‘photographer.’ For Skills You Need to Make Your Photos Pop and
most, cameras are merely a way to preserve their Understanding Composition.
memories and share events. For others, like myself,
a camera is a tool that enables us to do much more
than merely document. It allows us to turn our artistic
vision into a visual reality.

FOUR COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS BEGINNING PHOTOGRAPHERS BELIEVE // © PHOTZY.COM 2

 1 YOU NEED THIS TYPE
OF CAMERA

Usually the first step to becoming a

photographer is purchasing a camera. For
beginners, this can be a frustrating process, and
unfortunately, many online citizens and camera
companies do little to clear the waters. I’ll start by
giving you a good guideline for purchasing your
first camera: any camera is capable of producing
quality results in the right hands.

Too many well-intentioned photographers

give heavily biased advice when it comes to
purchasing a type of camera. You will often
hear: ‘You aren’t a proper photographer if you
aren’t using a DSLR.’ Increasingly, you may also
hear the counterclaim: ‘DSLRs are rubbish, and
mirrorless cameras are the future.’
Franck Michel
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When I purchased my first camera, I was
somewhat discouraged by the disparaging
remarks leveled at my choice: a four-year-old
Fuji Bridge camera. I was told that I would not
be pleased by the quality; that the noise was
unacceptable over ISO 400; and that if I was
serious, then I would immediately shell out $500
for an entry-level DSLR from Canon or Nikon.

FOUR COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS BEGINNING PHOTOGRAPHERS BELIEVE // © PHOTZY.COM 3

 While I did not have that camera for
long, it will always have a special place
as the first digital camera I purchased.
More importantly, the naysayers that
berated my frugal purchase were dead
wrong. I learned much from that camera,
and it was the perfect introduction to
composition and post processing. Yes, it
had a tiny sensor, the image quality was
not stellar, and the controls were finicky;
however, it was within budget, and at
the time, was the perfect camera for me.
On the left, you can see one of the first
images that I ever took with that camera.

It’s important to note that, yes, certain

cameras are better suited to certain types
of photography; however, most beginners
have yet to find the niche that they wish
to shoot within. Choose the camera you
want, and don’t allow anyone else to
discourage you. It doesn’t matter if it’s
a compact camera with a tiny sensor,
or even a medium format film camera;
Photo by David Veldman
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the important thing is that it allows you
to realize your vision. Interestingly, this
misconception is related to the next one.

FOUR COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS BEGINNING PHOTOGRAPHERS BELIEVE // © PHOTZY.COM 4

 2 PHOTOGRAPHY IS AN
EXPENSIVE HOBBY

This claim is one that certainly has a

grain of truth to it. If you browse an
online camera store, it’s easy to imagine
spending thousands of dollars on
equipment. Every photographer with a
spouse has received a critical stare when
they announce the purchase of a new lens
or camera body. I know I have!

There is good news, however.

Photography does not have to be
expensive. When I first became
interested in photography, I quickly
realized that I would have to be a
‘budget photographer.’ What’s a budget
photographer? To begin with, a budget
photographer may not be able to buy the
newest or best camera. The good news is
that today, even cameras a few years old
Photo by Lukasz Kowalewski
are still more than capable. Consequently,
https://stocksnap.io/photo/4MT4167LN3 you can save significantly if you buy used
gear. If you choose to buy a mirrorless
camera, then you can even adapt old film
lenses for very low prices.

FOUR COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS BEGINNING PHOTOGRAPHERS BELIEVE // © PHOTZY.COM 5

 I took this shot of a rose using a three-
year-old mirrorless camera and a manual
focus lens that was older than myself.

For the budget photographer,

determination and ingenuity can
overcome any obstacle. Instead of a
wide-angle lens, you can utilize multi-row
panoramas using the software Microsoft
Ice. You can shoot bursts and stack
images instead of pouring money into ND
filters, and you can use a cheap manual
flash instead of an expensive automatic
one. This isn’t to say that we should not
support camera companies, but rather
a reminder that you don’t need to drop
cash on every little challenge you face.

The best part of being a budget

photographer is that it forces you to
adapt and improvise in the face of
obstacles. In the long term, this will
make you a better photographer; it
encourages thinking outside of the box.
If you manage to avoid Gear Acquisition
Syndrome (GAS) and concentrate on
honing your skills, there is no reason for
photography to empty your wallet.

Photo by David Veldman

https://www.flickr.com/photos/themercurist/15647440593/

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 3 IMAGE QUALITY IS THE MOST
IMPORTANT THING

There are many types of photographers. One of the

most common you will find online is the ‘pixel peeper.’
Closely related to the ‘gear lover,’ the pixel peeper
is obsessed with examining images at outrageous
magnifications. After zooming into an image until they
can count the pixels, they will make loud noises about
chromatic aberration, shadow noise, and moiré. Pixel
peepers are never satisfied with their equipment, even
as camera companies continuously improve image
quality. As such, they spend the vast majority of their
time buying and selling gear, only managing to take
quick snapshots of power lines and close-ups of walls.
This means that they are never satisfied with their
images, which they in turn blame on their equipment.

Don’t be a pixel peeper. Yes, image quality is important,

particularly in certain fields like landscape and real estate
photography. You will never hear me complain about the
magnificent strides that camera companies have made
in boosting resolution and dynamic range; however,
image quality alone will not improve your photographs.
A poorly composed image taken at 42 megapixels will
still fail to capture the imagination of the viewer. Instead
of worrying about softness or shadow noise, concentrate
on improving your lighting. Don’t read reviews of high-
Photo by David Veldman
https://www.flickr.com/photos/themercurist/24939530522/

FOUR COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS BEGINNING PHOTOGRAPHERS BELIEVE // © PHOTZY.COM 7

 resolution sensors; read tutorials that enhance
your knowledge and inspire you.

For the most part, our camera’s abilities exceed

our own, but over time, you may find that
you need to upgrade your equipment. This is
perfectly natural, and always an exciting time.
Yes, you will factor image quality into your
choice, but remember handling, durability, and
features are important too. Most importantly,
your camera needs to be a tool that you enjoy
using, that doesn’t get between you and the
creative process. Focusing only on image
quality will result in uninspired, bland, high-
resolution images, and the world already has
enough of those.

Note:​If you want to learn how to make

your images stand out, take a look at
Mitchell Kanashkevich’s best-selling
guide, Powerful Imagery. This new
guide will give you the exact recipe for
producing powerful photographs with
lasting impact.

Photo by Alexas Fotos

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FOUR COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS BEGINNING PHOTOGRAPHERS BELIEVE // © PHOTZY.COM 8

 4 POST PROCESSING
IS CHEATING

Even if you manage to dodge the pixel

peeper while online, you may soon come
into conflict with the purist. The purist
believes that all images are sacred and
perfect right out of the camera. To them,
any manipulation of a picture is cheating.
In their eyes, either you get it right in-
camera or you don’t get it at all.

To be fair, there are some instances where

you should not manipulate your images,
such as photojournalism. Furthermore,
it never hurts to expose as accurately
as you can. An accurate exposure that
requires less cropping or tweaking will
inevitably be a cleaner image. However,
there are several reasons why you should
Photo by David Veldman ignore this school of thought.
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FOUR COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS BEGINNING PHOTOGRAPHERS BELIEVE // © PHOTZY.COM 9

 One of the biggest ones is that post processing Note:​ If you want to know how to consistently
allows us to eke out the very best quality and detail transform your images into powerful and share-
that we can from our cameras. This is most true worthy works of art with post processing, take
when shooting raw. Raw allows the photographer a look at Mitchell Kanashkevich’s best-selling
to maximize dynamic range, sharpening, and color course, Understanding Post-Processing. The
control. It also eliminates the possibility of a bad course will show the secret Lightroom tricks
white balance. and methods that a multi award-winning
photographer uses, to produce amazing images
Secondly, if you refuse to post process, you are every time. With this course, you’ll be a post-
yielding control of the final result to the camera processing pro in just a few short hours.
processor. Post processing is still being applied by a
predetermined algorithm instead of your own mind. It’s important to note that processing is an entirely
To me, this is unacceptable, as the realization of my personal choice. If you feel more comfortable as
vision extends beyond merely tripping the shutter. a purist, shoot that way. From boosting contrast
to swapping out skies, all of it is acceptable if it’s
Lastly, post processing is an important tool that acceptable to you.
allows the photographer to develop his or her own
flair. Over time, most professional photographers
create a unique, recognizable style of processing.
An excellent example of this is Ansel Adams, the
legendary landscape photographer. Although digital
manipulation did not exist in his time, Adams altered
his images extensively, making heavy use of dodging
and burning to create the gorgeous scenes we admire
today.

FOUR COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS BEGINNING PHOTOGRAPHERS BELIEVE // © PHOTZY.COM 10

 CONCLUSION

These won’t be the only misconceptions

you’ll hear—many others will no doubt
be forced upon you by friends, other
photographers, and online citizens.
Remember to take every piece of advice
with a healthy dose of skepticism. Above
all, photography is a subjective discipline,
so shoot in whatever manner makes you
happy. Be suspicious of anyone claiming
that you must or must not do something.
Over time, as your knowledge grows, you
will develop your own opinions. Share
them to help others, but remember not to
push misconceptions.

Photo by David Veldman

https://www.flickr.com/photos/themercurist/14215664520/

FOUR COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS BEGINNING PHOTOGRAPHERS BELIEVE // © PHOTZY.COM 11

 About the Author

IF YOU’D LIKE TO CONTINUE

LEARNING AND IMPROVING YOUR
PHOTOGRAPHY PLEASE VISIT
PHOTZY.COM

David Veldman wants to be a better photographer, and

he hopes you will join him on the journey of learning. Best
of all, he’s doing it on a budget! When not taking pictures
David and his wife are hiking, snowshoeing, or discovering
new culinary delights.

Blog: http://themercurist.blogspot.ca/.
Website: http://driverv.wix.com/mercurist.
Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/themercurist/

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