Learning Photography: Capturing My Adventures One Shot at a Time
Learning Photography: Capturing My Adventures One Shot at a Time
I’ve wanted to learn photography for a long time. My fascination began in my teens when a friend showed me Ansel Adams’ iconic image of Half Dome with the Moon. I was gobsmacked. My first thoughts were: Is that a real place? Then, who took that picture? The simplicity and purity of the shot pulled me in. It told a story, but the story was wide open for interpretation.
Early Attempts and Lessons Learned
In high school, I took a photography class, thinking it would be as simple as pointing and shooting. I quickly learned otherwise. This was before digital photography, so every shot mattered. I would excitedly develop my film, only to realize most of my pictures were… well, trash. Photography, I discovered, was an art of being present in the moment. But back then, I wasn’t thinking that way—I was a dreamer, imagining I had taken culture-shifting photos, only to find out I had captured nothing special.
I finished the class and moved on. But even though I didn’t feel I had the eye for photography, my fascination with it never faded. I spent hours flipping through photography books and walking through galleries, trying to absorb the stories behind each image. Over time, I realized something fundamental: photography is the only art form that captures an actual moment in time. A painting or drawing represents a moment, but a photograph is the moment—frozen forever, created by capturing the light of that exact instant.
Returning to Photography with a Fresh Perspective
About ten years ago, I bought a Sony NEX-5R—and then promptly let it collect dust. Honestly, I felt silly. There’s a vulnerability in learning something new. You have to be willing to suck at it. At the time, I wasn’t ready. I didn’t respect or understand the process.
Now, I do.
Photography isn’t about snapping one perfect shot—it’s about taking thousands of imperfect ones. You have to be present. You have to press the shutter over and over, learning as you go. And after thousands of attempts, you might get one that truly speaks to you. That’s where I am today.
Why Photography?
As I set out to complete my 50 by 50 goals, learning photography made the list. But I wanted to explore my why.
The answer was simple: I want to capture the moments of my life.
Nothing transports me back to an experience like a photograph. I’m exploring new things, and I want to document those adventures. I also want to understand the art of photography—not just how to take a decent picture, but how to see the world through a photographer’s lens.
The Power of Practice
In Atomic Habits, James Clear shares a fascinating study about a photography class. The professor split the students into two groups:
Quantity Group – They had to take and submit 100 photos for a high grade.
Quality Group – They only needed to submit one perfect photo by the end of the semester.
Who took the best pictures? The quantity group. By taking hundreds of shots, they gained experience, learned from their mistakes, and naturally improved. Meanwhile, the quality group spent more time theorizing than actually shooting.
Armed with this knowledge, I’m embracing the quantity approach. I started studying photography, but I quickly learned that theory means nothing without hands-on experience. The more pictures I take, the more the training starts to make sense.
Choosing My Gear
Once I committed to shooting more, I realized my gear needed an upgrade.
I initially thought I’d use my old Sony NEX-5R, but let’s be real, a 2010 camera wasn’t going to cut it in 2025. Since I had already invested in some Sony lenses, I decided to stick with the brand. It was a tough call because my favorite photographer, Jimmy Chin, shoots with Canon. But after diving into countless YouTube reviews, I kept hearing the same thing:
It’s not about the camera—it’s about the photographer.
That helped me move forward with confidence.
I knew I wanted to shoot street, adventure, wildlife, and landscapes, so I needed something durable that could handle the elements. That’s when I landed on the Sony a6400. It’s not the newest model, but it’s weather-resistant and takes fantastic photos. I even found a great deal on Facebook Marketplace that came with extra lenses.
My Photo Kit
Camera: Sony a6400
Lenses:
Sony Vario-Tessar T\E 16-70mm f/4 ZA OSS – My go-to lens for general photography, offering sharp images with a versatile zoom range.
Sony E 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3 OSS – Ideal for wildlife and telephoto shots, allowing me to capture distant subjects with clarity.
Sony E 35mm f/1.8 OSS – A fast prime lens that excels in low-light situations and portraits with a shallow depth of field.
The Full Process: More Than Just Taking Photos
I now realize that photography is way more time-consuming than I expected. I’m sure I’ll get faster with experience, but for now, my process looks like this:
Shoot in RAW—I used to shoot in both RAW and JPG, but I realized it was a waste of space since I edited everything.
Import into Lightroom – This is where the real work begins.
Flag and Rate – I go through my shots and label them:
1 Star: Background material.
2–3 Stars: Decent shots that need work.
4 Stars: Solid shots with potential.
5 Stars: The rare “wow” moment.
Edit the Best Shots – I refine my 3s and 4s in Lightroom.
Export to JPG – Once edited, I convert my best shots for social media.
Backup Everything – I store all photos (RAW + edited JPGs) on an external hard drive.
Study My Metadata – I analyze the f-stop, shutter speed, and ISO of my top shots to understand what worked and what didn’t.
This whole process takes time, but I enjoy it. The more I shoot, edit, and analyze, the more I improve.
Final Thoughts: The Journey Ahead
Photography is teaching me patience, consistency, and the value of embracing the learning process. I know most of my pictures won’t be great—but that’s okay. Every click of the shutter is a step forward.
I can’t wait to see where this journey takes me.
What’s Next?
If you’re learning photography, too, what has helped you improve the most?
What’s your favorite way to capture memories—photos, videos, journaling, or something else?
Drop a comment—I’d love to hear from you!
