Photography 101: Giving Back to Inspiration

By Kevin Chung

My world changed after picking up my first camera (a Nikon F70 film SLR) a few years ago – both figuratively and literally. While initially I was mostly interested in capturing interesting or pretty scenes, the way I viewed the world soon changed. As I ventured from being a simple hobbyist into the broad realm of professional photography, I discovered different things about myself through each subject I shot. Along the way, I aimed to learn something from each challenge, to discover new nuances of the art that became a part of my repertoire over time.

As I wrote in my first ever mission statement (which I still use on this same website, years later), photography is the art of appreciation. Much like life’s lessons, if you remain diligent and observant with photography, you will never stop learning. And as you learn to appreciate the art of photography, you will never stop wanting to learn about the world around you. Is that not inspiration at its finest?

It isn’t about fancy equipment or pressing buttons a certain way to make magical photos – the 2 megapixel camera in your cell phone is plenty to capture the right moment if you know where & when to look, so you don’t need to devote all of your income or time to photography to enjoy photography, even if practice & equipment are important. In short, if you’re fortunate enough to be passionate about photography (as I am) – cherish it, no matter what comes from it. If you enjoy taking photos, you owe it to yourself to learn about something that will likely stay with you long after your arthritic joints & busy schedules keep you away from other things you may be passionate about today.

I love being a (hopefully good?) photographer, so while I’ve in no way reached my potential at this point, I decided to create a new section on my website devoted to helping aspiring pros & enthusiasts learn about the art of photography – just as I continue to do, each and every day.

Key Photography Terms (Glossary)

Key terms every photographer needs to know by heart to build his/her foundation on photography technique. If some of my FAQ answers & Digital Photography Resources don’t make complete sense to you, this is for you. More experienced digital shooters can skip this section. (read more)

Digital Photography FAQs

A collection of answers to worthwhile Frequently Asked Questions I’ve received in the past specifically pertaining to my experience with Digital Photography. (read more)

Canon DSLR Overview

An informal overview of Canon DSLR camera bodies based on firsthand experiences, written with performance, reliability & value in mind. (read more)

Lens Reviews (for Canon DSLRs)

Informal reviews based on firsthand experiences of Canon/Sigma prime & zoom lenses for Canon DSLR mounts, written with performance, reliability & value in mind. (read more)