Light as the language of photography.
When a person starts practicing photography, it's not uncommon to make the same mistakes I did: Taking a picture when you're the only one who knows what the subject is ( and maybe you're not sure either, when you look at the picture later ). Making critical mistakes with focus and exposure-not as much of an issue with new cameras, but still important. Sloppy composition. Composition is as much an art as science, although there are some handy rules. Check out a book on painting, one of the best ways to learn how to frame your shots. Failing to realize that light is the single most important element in your photograph. I made all these mistakes over and over before my "success" rate started to improve. But the most valuable skill I've learned is recognizing the way light changes your perception of a scene. How do you learn about light? One way I've learned that really drove the concept home was taking a shot of one subject as the day progresses. It doe...