Look. We need to talk.
Geez, just writing that makes me nervous!! Ok, let’s just jump right in. On all of our articles there is a Comments section at the end where you can leave your thoughts. You’ve probably already seen it, assuming you read articles to the end. :) It’s not just for show. The comment section is there because we really want to hear from you! For a lot of reasons, actually.
First up, it’s going to help you learn better. If you can start verbalizing what you learned from the article in a comment, you’re instantly getting more out of the time you spent reading it. So even just the simple act of saying “Cool article, I really liked the part about [insert something you learned here]” will help you remember the content. You’ve taken ownership over the knowledge. You’ve rephrased it into your own words. Seriously, it makes a big difference.
Second, it’s a chance for you to get some clarification if there were parts you didn’t understand, or found yourself with new questions. We try really hard to answer all questions that are asked in the discussion section. For that reason the discussions are well worth a read through—maybe someone else had the same question as you. And if not, just ask!
It’s really really really important that you know that there are no such things as dumb questions. Not here. We’re all at different levels, and that’s great! If you’re just starting out, you’re going to have a TON of stuff to learn. So please ask. Don’t feel silly or embarassed. Every photographer starts at zero, and works their way up! Chances are there are at least a dozen other people wondering the exact same thing.
So if you have a question about an article, ask it in the Discussion section. We’ll do our very best to help! And what’s super cool is that other readers can help too!! Which leads me to the next reason we want a discussion going.
We don’t know anything.
Well, in a sense. I mean, we try really really hard to do our research and give you the best content we can possibly create on the site. But when you think “big huge picture”, yeah, we don’t know anything. Socrates has a very nice way of putting it:
The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing. – Socrates
We really believe that. We try to remind ourselves constantly that we only have our own experience, and have completed only a sliver of our career. Not only do we have a LOT left to learn, but each and every one of us is going to have a different experience as well. We can’t ever really know what works for everyone.
And so a discussion is seriously important. We’re just two photographers out of millions. What we say isn’t *truth* in any sense. It’s just one perspective. And the more perspectives we can consider, the more diverse and full our understanding of this art form will become.
So your thoughts on our articles will help make you, us, and everyone who reads them a more rounded photographer. Your thoughts are important.
Consider this a standing invitation to participate in the discussion section. Get engaged with the content, and share your reactions. There’s no judgement—just a place where people care what you think. Remember, there’s no right and wrong here. Just a lot of diverse perspectives.
Since it would be silly to not at least try to get a discussion going on this post, I’ll get it started with a question.
What did you learn about photography this summer?
I’ll go first. We shot a LOT this summer, and learned a lot. One of the big ones for me is the importance of photographing our own life. We shoot for other people so much, and we’ve neglected our own friends and family. We’ve started to try to correct that, and the experiences have been so incredibly rewarding. We’ll be sharing more about all that in an article soon!
So now tell me what *you* learned!
And, after you’ve done that, you can check out a few posts where there is some good discussion going! Different perspectives, good tips, and lots of great energy!
Check Out These Articles With Great Discussions
- Sony NEX Field Test – Lots of great tips on using the NEX in the discussion, great accessories to check out, manual focus lenses, and more!
- Why You Should Always Attend The Wedding Rehearsal – Some different perspectives, and a client weighs in!
- The Dangerous Myths of Talent + Gear – Love getting into deep thoughts in the discussion!
- Have You Asked Yourself *Why* Today – Amazing sharing of *why* photographers shoot
- How To Create A Simple Photo Booth – Lots of great sharing on photo booth setups and gear!
