2. Experiment with Natural Light
This is one of our favorites because we have a lot to gain from mastering light, which can be so tricky. If you want to be an excellent photographer, you will need to master various light forms, and this is a good exercise for that.
You must commit to photographing multiple times a day, but it’s worth investing time. This is excellent practice for any photographer and should be done often.
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Pick a scene to photograph in at least four types of light. We suggest:
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Bright midday light
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Golden Hours (just after sunrise and just before sunset)
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Shade
This can prove challenging, and you might be unhappy with the results. Don’t give up. The idea is that you will get better as you experiment with different natural light.
Eventually, you can expand this exercise to include artificial light.
3. Shoot Something You Don’t Normally Shoot
Expand your horizons by getting out of your comfort level! We’re inclined to shoot what we like, know, or are comfortable with. That doesn’t make us better photographers. There’s little room for challenge or growth in doing the same thing over and over. Getting out of our comfort zone teaches us to be more adaptable and grow as photographers.
Exercises to try:
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Pick a subject you usually would not shoot, and get out there and shoot it.
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Avoid any subject or scene you would typically feel comfortable shooting.
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Are you usually a portrait photographer? Try photographing landscapes or architecture instead.
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If you’re typically a landscape photographer, try sports photography instead. It’s pretty much the opposite because you’ll be shooting fast action instead.
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Do this regularly for maximum benefits. Getting out and shooting something out of your usual wheelhouse once or twice isn’t enough. Do this regularly.
