When did you feel like you actually "got it"?

[naeno]

I've been pursuing photography as a hobby for about a year now. I'm by no means the best in the world, but I don't think I'm the world's worst either. There's still a part of me that's surprised when I turn out a REALLY good photo. Did there actually come a time when you felt like you "got it" and when was it for you?

[Nicole]

There are a lot of times where I feel like I've "lost it" Because while I'm not super surprised when a shot turns out how I want, I'm still disappointed when it seems like nothing is turning out how I want, made worse by the fact that I know I can do it.

I think that I felt that I "got it" once I started experimenting with things and had them turn out. For example, when I could actually take decent smoke shots. That became an "I got it" time for that sort of technique. But yeah, for me, the feeling of "I got it" tends to build more when I accomplish some sort of goal that I set myself. Not necessarily a percentage of shots that turn out right, but knowing that I can do X, Y, or Z.

[SusanH1970]

I felt like "I got it" when I started being really, really happy with the way portraits of my own kids and my friends' kids were coming out...to the point I was confident enough to start taking on clients.

[douglas]

"I got it "does not happen often, and when it does it's often a surprise. I take a bunch of pictures trying for some definite result, and only when I download them...one jumps out, I got it. The trouble is I often don't know HOW I did it!!!!!

[alex3410]

if you mean " i got it" as in the photography bug then yep i got it :P, i got it after seeing how well photos can look with some skill and luck lol

if you mean it as in when you have full confidence in what you are doing i am not even close yet lol

[Saralonde]

I think doing my first threesixtyfive where I took a self-portrait everyday. There wasn't one moment where I thought, "I think I've got it!", just a general impression that I had improved.

But I do agree with Nicole that there are many times when I think I've lost it!

[Jim Bryant]

you only feel like you got it when you capture a truly great photo. Which for me is often, while it might be no so often for others

[OsmosisStudios]

There are certain shots of mine that make me shake my head thinking "wow, I did that", but then there are days that I spend all day out shooting and come back with nothing of use.

[Taallyn]

Sometimes I feel like I "got it" and sometimes I fill like I "don't got it". It is part and parcel of learning something like photography. I find it amazing how different people might like a shot that I think stinks, while I like really like something that others don't.

The first time that I got "the shot" was the second time that I took my D80 out for a spin. That brief evening walk really captured my interest and convinced me that digital photograph was the creative outlet that I had been looking for for so long.

[WooD]

I think "I get it," but I never feel like "I got it."

To me that would mean I've reached a point where I cant learn anymore.

I've had multitudes of pictures published, and have sold enough to probably pay for the gear I've accumulated, but I know I still have a lot to learn.