The first lesson I teach
my students is simple,
yet powerful: "Chase
the light." Photography
is all about light. As
photographers, we learn
to see light, understand
its qualities, and use it
to create the images we
envision. This idea was
famously emphasized
by the legendary photographer Ansel Adams, who said, "You
don't take a photograph, you make it." The light we find—or
the light we seek—shapes every image. If we can control the
light, we can control the mood, the tone, and the message of
our photograph. It's not about just pointing and shooting; it's
about crafting something that speaks to the soul.
Sometimes, however, the most memorable photographs
don't come from perfect planning. As photographers, we
often find ourselves making "wonderful mistakes" or
capturing fleeting moments that we never anticipated.
This concept is something I always remind my students:
BY A N T HON Y MC FA R L A NE , MIDDL E S C HO OL P HO T O GR A P H Y T E A C HER
BEHIND THE LENS
AS A MIDDLE SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPHY
TEACHER, I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF
GUIDING YOUNG MINDS THROUGH THE
WORLD OF PHOTOGRAPHY. MY STUDENTS
BEGIN EACH SEMESTER AS BEGINNERS,
UNSURE OF HOW TO CONTROL THEIR
CAMERAS OR CAPTURE THE BEAUTY
THEY SEE AROUND THEM. BY THE END
OF THE COURSE, THEY'VE TRANSFORMED
INTO BUDDING ARTISTS, LEARNING NOT
ONLY TO USE THEIR CAMERAS BUT ALSO
TO EXPRESS THEIR UNIQUE PERSPECTIVES
THROUGH THE LENS. IT'S AN INCREDIBLY
REWARDING JOURNEY—ONE I AM LUCKY
TO WITNESS EVERY DAY.
The
Artist
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PALMERTRINITY.ORG
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