There are numerous ‘formal’ ways of learning photography skills. They include university and college courses, online tutorials from seasoned professionals such as Mark Denney, podcasts, workshops and book-based programmes. But what about the power of subconscious learning?
We are all subjected to hundreds of images on a daily basis. The best plant themselves quietly in the mind. We may not consciously learn from them. Nevertheless, the likelihood is that key information on subject, composition, colour and lighting is retained somewhere in the mind. Once there, it may well be unwittingly used to frame the photographs later created by us.
The rules of composition, colour theory and lighting etc. can all be learned intentionally. It seems to me, however, that those with a genuine interest in photography may well acquire a fair amount of knowledge from remembering in ‘background mode’ the content of the many pictures we come across by default.
Complement that by actively seeking out photographic content in exhibitions, online and by ‘following’ favourite image makers and the learning resource is virtually limitless.