Best photography advice you've ever been given?

[Tenzin'sMom]

I'm new to DPS and a new DSLR user. Wow, there's so much to learn!

I'm still going with the advice my Dad gave me along with my first little plastic Brownie camera when I was 9 -- "The way to take a good picture is to take lots of pictures."

I'm wondering you more experienced and skillful folks would consider the best photography advice you've ever been given.

Thanks!

[zona5101]

"Take up golf"

[kencaleno]

Advice from photography lecturer at university induction class :

" If you want to learn photography,you have come to the right place; but if you want to become a photographer, go now to the burser's office and ask for your fees back. Use the money to buy film.When you have used and processed all that film,you will either be a photographer, or you won't be." ( circa 1962) Ken

[candidrachel]

Its not the camera that takes great pictures but the person using the camera!

[peeperita]

when i first came to dps, i had a question about blown out areas in my background......although, i had asked how to fix them in post, wulf said the best thing to do is to compose my shots by looking at the whole scene and not just the subject....

peeper

[candidrachel]

Other bits of best advice are:

1) Always fill the frame. Folks holiday snaps of a tiny person standing before a national landmark and you have to get a magnifying glass out to see any important details!

2) Always check whats going on in the background like you don't want trees growing out of someone's head.

[jeff.amadon]

"f/8 and be there" said Allen Hopkins.

As for personal advice given to me, it was "look at other art: paintings, drawings, sculpture. Understand how and why it affects you, then try to do that with your camera."

[chrisc]

My uncle told me the best advice he could give was enjoy what your doing. You will know if it's a good photo or not. And if your not getting paid for it as long as you like it thats the main thing.
Practice makes perfect they say and with digital you can just keep taking them.
Chrisc

[Tenzin'sMom]

Thanks to all of you -- your comments helped stimulate my thinking and my creativity!

[kirbinster]

You can't take a picture without a camera -- always carry your camera with you as you never know when the perfect subject will briefly present itself!