The Photography Virgin (and the sunny side of being a newbie)

When it comes to the wonderful world of photography, I’m still a virgin. And just like a teenager on his sexual discovery trip, I’m on my own photography journey of discovery, feeling the same excitement, enthusiasm and willingness to experiment.

It all started less than a year ago, when I bought my first DSLR camera (Nikon D3300). So, with limited experience and only basic equipment, I got the right to call myself an absolute photography newbie. But just like the teenager, my discovery trip is progressing fast, revealing new pleasures on an almost daily base. Maybe the time has come to lose my photography virginity? Or should I continue to hide in the safe newbie harbor?

Fact is, I love to be a newbie. To a beginning photographer there are no rules, only opportunities and excitement. Every day you can try something new, and learn. And when things go wrong (and they do), more experienced photographers are standing in a row to give you some good advice.

This is a – maybe somewhat comical – overview of my photography journey till today.

Of course, it all started with buying a camera. And just like a teenager not knowing what to wear during his first date, I had no idea of which camera to buy. Even after visiting lots of internet sites, I still couldn’t tell the difference between Nikon and Canon. So, taking price into account, I bought whichever had more megapixels, and started shooting with the kit lens.

Like teenagers holding hands

I walked around the neighborhood, taking pictures of mailboxes, street lamps, older building, convincing myself this kind of subjects were very ‘arty’ to shoot. During those first weeks, shots were made from eyes level whilst standing up and I framed everything dead center in the viewfinder. Of course, I was shooting on the ‘Full Auto’ mode, not understanding why my flash kept popping up all time, why my images where overexposed (didn’t I buy a ‘smart camera’?) and why the hell the camera was autofocusing on the background instead of the main subject.

My first kiss

Things definitely should be taken to the next level. So, I decided to take a basic course digital photography. After being 10 minutes in the class room, the auto-mode went off and I discovered about shutter speed, aperture settings, ISO and a host of other settings. Slowly I learned to understand how my camera works. I was taught about composition techniques as the rule of thirds, perspective and symmetry... I started to understand basic aspects as white balance and what it does to images, depth of field and the difference between spot and matrix metering. There were some many other aspects on taking pictures than only pushing that button. I was ready for my first kiss.

This must be one of my first non-traditional portraits, playing with colors, depth of field and composition.

Watching pornography and learn

Knowing at least the theory of technical photography aspects, encouraged me to practice, practice and practice. And to find inspiration for this, I started to visit photography portfolios and read a lot of internet articles. I discovered the magnificent black and white photography of Adam Ansel, the landscape photography of Trey Ratcliff and Max Rive and the portraits created by artists as David Hamilton and Andreas Bitesnich.

I visited workshops on black and white photography, landscape and nature photography and learned step by step. I still was a newbie, so everyone should forgive me the mistakes I made, like starting to shoot landscapes with my aperture set to f/1.8, using a tripod but still shooting wonky horizons, and shooting every panorama in landscape orientation. The typical trial and error way.

I discovered street photography, shooting as much as possible in Black & White, just because that’s the way Adam Ansel or Henri Cartier-Bresson would do...

A misty morning early December at the coast, trying to create some Black & White contrast.

Playing with light in Black & White, somewhere in Brussels.

Naked the first time

I was ready to declare myself a photographer. Of course, a portfolio website, Facebook page and Twitter account were absolutely needed to support this declaration. I learned some basic aspects of post-processing: cropping, masking adding vignettes...

And then the hour was arrived for the next milestone in my career. For the first time I would enter a real studio and shoot a professional Italian model. Just like the teenager who goes naked with his girlfriend for the very first time, I didn’t know how to talk to her, how to guide her, how to calm my own excitement. Of course I shot her with her back arched against the wall. Why? Because everyone told me it should be this way...

My first studio shoot with the amazing Italian model Chiara Bianchino.

I still think these pictures are pretty good for a newbie experimenting with portraiture and studio shooting the first time. But to be honest, most of the credits need to go to the model.

And what about my virginity?

Today I’m still a photography newbie, and I’m proud of it. No need to urge anymore. I want to roam the streets and walk to woods with excitement, every day. I’m not ready yet to define my own style. I want to stay the virgin for a long time. Top priority is discovering new exciting things, unlocking new opportunities and keeping the willingness to experiment.

When I look back at my early images, it’s interesting to review the stages I went through. I feel no longer the need to compare myself with other photographers. The only photographer I should compare myself to is the one I used to be.

Cheers,

Ben