The Darkside of Light

It's coming up to the weekend and I know shooters everywhere who are hot on the heels of it, to get out and create some keepers. I know I have to find some time to get out and practice shooting Panoramas with the Nodal Ninja setup that I have been lent before my upcoming trip to Norway and Iceland in about 2.5 weeks! Practice practice!

After all the coffee is consumed, the distances traveled and the shots taken, what do you do with your shots?

If you're like me, you share them, on your website, 500px, Flickr, Facebook or other image sharing sites.

There's one rule I've kept to ever since I started, one rule that has both fed my interests and others as well, something I'd like to see more photographers doing...

Pick. A. Shot

Your ONE SINGLE shot from your shoot on the weekend, and post it. (awesome if you already do this)

A single exposure.

I know how hard it can be to differentiate between the many shots taken at the same location, whether you stayed still or moved around, the changes between first light to dawn can be incredible and no doubt you'll take heaps of awesome shots.  But I only ever want to see ONE, your BEST one.

What does this one image that you have shared, tell me about your shoot?

It tells me that you, the photographer, the creator, has considered the following in regards to picking your shot:

1. That this is the image that has the best light of all the ones you took
2. That you have considered the composition, contrast, clarity, saturation, lightness and darkness and determined this to be the best-
3. That you have been through a process of culling, discarding the imperfections and saved only the best to show us.
4. It tells me that you are justified in your knowledge of your practice and by showing a single image, you show confidence

Thus, in turn, we (being the larger community of photographers) respect who you are, what you're doing with your practice and where you're heading.

Even if you do not consider yourself a professional, your peers, friends, family and acquaintances probably do.

If you cannot decide between two images, post one now, and the other a few days later. Your critical analysis of what you do, how you do it and why you're doing it makes all the difference.

Nothing is without risk, learn to judge the ones you want to take, but don't avoid taking them because you're worried about how people will accept what you do. It'll make you a better photographer.