Innate technique and how to reach it

[wbp]

I was watching a presentation by a professional and he was stressing the importance of innate technique for event photography. So my questions for you would be:

How do you know when you have achieved it? Please be as specific as you can.

and especially:

How is it reached and what can be done to speed up the process? I was wondering if there was any advice more specific than the obvious "take lots of pictures" .

[JFSanders]

It comes down to your lowest level of competence. When under stress everyone defaults to their lowest level of competence. In other words you go with what you know works. The conscious part of your mind shuts off and motor memory takes over. Just like in baseball or golf or tennis you just swing and the swing is controlled by your innate or instinctive muscle memory. So yes it all comes down to practice, practice, practice. That being said, practice just for the sake of practice does one no good. You must think about the process and what changes effect what parts of the final product. Bad practice technique results in bad motor memory. Take notes and when you are processing your photographs, overlay the notes on the photograph. This allows you to make positive changes in technique. Sure the going will be slow in the beginning because you are learning how to learn. Gets faster as you gain experience and knowledge in how to see what you did technique wise in a photograph.

Think of it like this. What is worse, practice or living with the knowledge that your pictures suck.

Jim

[Nicole]

Originally Posted by wbp

How is it reached and what can be done to speed up the process? I was wondering if there was any advice more specific than the obvious "take lots of pictures" .

Sure, also give it time.

When you can figure out what you need to do and how you need to do it automatically, you're there. But it's a matter of time and practice, just like just about everything.

[wbp]

Originally Posted by JFSanders

It comes down to your lowest level of competence. When under stress everyone defaults to their lowest level of competence. In other words you go with what you know works. The conscious part of your mind shuts off and motor memory takes over. Just like in baseball or golf or tennis you just swing and the swing is controlled by your innate or instinctive muscle memory. So yes it all comes down to practice, practice, practice. That being said, practice just for the sake of practice does one no good. You must think about the process and what changes effect what parts of the final product. Bad practice technique results in bad motor memory. Take notes and when you are processing your photographs, overlay the notes on the photograph. This allows you to make positive changes in technique. Sure the going will be slow in the beginning because you are learning how to learn. Gets faster as you gain experience and knowledge in how to see what you did technique wise in a photograph.

Think of it like this. What is worse, practice or living with the knowledge that your pictures suck.

Jim

Performing under stress! That is an interesting point.

Sure I am not afraid of the practice, I was going to do it anyway. Thank you for the tips!

By the way I've resolved to practice more often.

[wbp]

Originally Posted by Nicole

Sure, also give it time.

When you can figure out what you need to do and how you need to do it automatically, you're there. But it's a matter of time and practice, just like just about everything.

Oh yes. I just want to get there faster XD.

At risk of sounding like I am nitpicking, by "automatically" is it meant that you are not thinking along the lines of "ok ISO 600, I want a small f and I'll pick a shutter speed that will underexpose the image"? Or something else?