From snapshots taker to contest award winner

 “When we share, we open doors to a new beginning.” - Paul Bradley Smith 

Hello everyone!

Friends call me Ron. I'm a full time Manager at a multinational company & Photographer (?) - at least this is what I like to think about myself - for the rest of the time (maybe you'll decide if I'm right or wrong).  So, I guess that my hobbies would be trading, selling, managing things, hiring/firing people, but NO, actually my main passion is Photography!

By courtesy of my good friend Dan (actually you can check his profile here: @thednp), I found out about this community and I decided to sign up right away. We know each other for almost 2 decades now and he thinks that my knowledge in the field would be valuable and much appreciated in this site. We'll see! So, I am here to share with you from what I've learned about Photography and to find new things from you.


The story...

Disclaimer: The thoughts and opinions expressed are solely my own and do not necessarily relate to all photographers.  Any resemblance to reality and to other photographers' experiences is purely accidental.

Now, what about the title?

So, I bought my first camera back in 2007. And, like Baruch’s Observation regarding one of Murphy's law:

"If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail."

I started to shoot! What is so hard? Press that button, sucker! And shoot! Shoot again! And again... No matter what the results were, my main goal was to shoot.

Sounds familiar? We all gone through this phase in the beginning. And I ended up taking pictures like this one (actually this is my 13th image ever taken; to be bad luck? at least I'm not superstitious!):

 

For a while it did not bother me... But, I was looking at other's pictures and I saw a huge difference! And I asked myself: is it me or is it the camera? It couldn't be me (I'm too good, right?), so must be the camera, for sure! So I bought a new lens (not a very expensive one, because my budget was low), but my results didn't improve considerably. After couple of years, I traded my old kit and I got a brand new camera thinking that it would take pictures by itself and will do the job for me. Unfortunately, nor did that happen!

After investing money on new gear, I found (on hard way) that it wasn't the camera, it was ME. Me not knowing what to "ask" from camera. So, it was time for investments (again?), but this one was about taking time to understand and learn, starting from User's manual of my camera to basic settings (ISO-shutter-aperture triangle), composition, design, color, editing...

Actually, the learning curve has 2 components:

  1. Theoretical - when you study, ask, find out what you should do
  2. Practical - where you put into practice what you've learned

AND, very important: LEARNING CURVE NEVER STOPS!

So, after years from my first camera, I understood that only hard work and practice could offer me the results that I was aiming for. And what better reward of your time and money investment than winning a national contest and for your picture to appear on a calendar would be?

Conclusion

I would dare to give some recommendations for those who want to start Photography, they are at the beginning or they are not satisfied with their results:

WORK HARD
  • Trust yourself
  • Be patient
  • Don't give up
  • Learn from your mistakes
  • WORD HARDER
  • Start with basics
  • Know your gear
  • Learn theoretical stuff
  • Put into practice what you've learned
  • WORK EVEN HARDER

    PRACTICE! PRACTICE! PRACTICE!

    I wasn't entered into details, settings, equipment and other stuff right now, will keep this for future posts.

    If you liked my story or have any questions please Upvote, Follow and Comment below!

    Thank you!

    See you soon!

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    Welcome to Steem @ridendo.adagio I have upvoted and sent you a tip

    Thank you @bottymcbotface! I will keep that in mind! ;)

    I give you my most grateful welcome here and will do many positive things for you and your family, so bring them also and make this a great community a big hug and I follow you, follow me @andrestales.

    Thanks and I followed you @andrestales.

    I've read and liked every bit of it. Interestingly enough I didn't know about these little details myself!

    Welcome to the party @ridendo.adagio, enjoy your stay!

    Also looking forward for your future works ;)

    I'm glad you liked it @thednp! I think we all have a story to tell. Thank you for the invitation on steemit.com and stay tuned for more!

    © copyright - all rights reserved by @tinashe

     Welcome to this incredible platform, hope everything will work out for you. Being here it’s not easy but not difficult neither only an extra effort will go a long way, engagement is the key good luck I’m @tinashe Start by Following ,Upvoting &Resteeming people and they will do the same. 

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    hello~ ridendo.adagio, Follow & Upvote is a You and I great strength~, @leesujae17

    Hi, there! May the force be with us! :D

    Welcome and Thank You for being with us!! Following your Blog now

    Thanks, I followed you as well.

    bene. spero di vederti postare spesso

    This post gets a 0.10 % upvote thanks to @thednp - Hail Eris !

    Welcome! Followed. Follow me back 😘

    Thanks, for sure!

    Welcome to steem @ridendo.adagio, you'll like it on here! Look at minnowsupport for helpful recommendations for newbie members. Follow me if you want free banners to help grow your following.

    You will like it posting in this platform; here a sample of one of mine from the past. I am new as you …found it is a lot of fun if you like doing it ..

    https://steemit.com/life/@indepthstory/slowly-but-surely-human-beings-are-finding-answers-referencing-sickness-and-maladies-and-they-are-good-answers-so-lets-cheer-up

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    UpvoteWelcome @ridendo.adagio to Steemit. Have great days in steemit. Please follow me @hongphuong


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