Photography is Not a Spectator Sport!

The only way to make decent photos is to get out there and make them. They don’t happen by themselves.

— Ken Rockwell

My goodness! Something from Ken Rockwell that I actually agree with … for the most part.

I do, however, take exception at his assertion that Ansel Adams “didn’t waste his time reading about lenses…” Ansel Adams was every bit as much a “photo-scientist” as he was photographer. He studied and wrote about photography, and the physics involved. Another example of Adams’ science of photography is his development and refinement of the Zone System. And, before any of the rest of us even dreamt of digital photography, Ansel was there.

Adams’ study of the technical aspect of photography led to his publishing of no fewer than 10 “textbooks” on the subject, the best known of which are probably The Camera, The Negative and The Print. There were several more detailing the Zone System of exposure determination.

But, in his general thesis, Ken is quite right. All of the technical knowledge in the world won’t make a truly wonderful photograph. You’ve got to be able to see, and make the effort.