The Importance of Consistent Practice in Photography

The impact of consistent practice on your photography skills can't be overstated. Returning to a familiar event or place after years away can reveal surprising changes in your approach and results, highlighting the importance of regular shooting to maintain and improve your craft.

Coming to you from Steve O'Nions, this insightful video explores his return to a local steam fair after a six-year hiatus. O'Nions compares his recent shots with those taken in previous years, revealing a stark contrast in quality and creativity. He candidly shares his struggles to find inspiration and capture compelling images, despite being surrounded by visually interesting subjects. The comparison between his current work and past photographs demonstrates how lack of practice can impact even experienced photographers.

O'Nions' journey through the fair showcases various challenges you might face when returning to a familiar shooting environment. He grapples with composition issues, struggles to capture the essence of the event, and finds himself taking more clichéd shots than in previous years. His honesty about feeling self-conscious when photographing people and his difficulty in finding the right angles serves as a valuable lesson in the importance of regular practice. The video also touches on the benefits of using different equipment, as O'Nions switches to an infrared camera partway through the day, offering a fresh perspective on familiar scenes.

This experience raises important questions about the nature of photographic skill and creativity. Can technical proficiency compensate for a loss of "vision" or intuition developed through consistent practice? O'Nions' reflections suggest that while modern digital technology offers many advantages, it can't replace the keen eye and instincts developed through regular shooting. His earlier film photographs, taken with simpler equipment, often prove superior to his recent digital shots, emphasizing the importance of vision over technology. Check out the video above for the full rundown from O'Nions.