Homebody: Photo Tip: "It Worked For Me:" Get a Shooting Buddy

          In the last post I recommended getting a guru, or a coach or mentor, to help you over the rough spots in learning digital photography.  To take your photography up a notch get a shooting buddy.  Having a shooting buddy provides several benefits.

            First and foremost is sharing good times with a like-minded person and having fun.  If your shooting buddy is also your guru then that’s a home run.  However, even if your skill levels are the same there are many benefits.  Chances are, each of you will know a little more in some areas than the other.  The sharing of information and techniques can lead to rapid growth in your skill level.

          A shooting buddy will motivate you to get out and actually shoot.  He or she can spur you on to become better.  A little healthy competition can be very valuable.

          But remember:  Keep it healthy.  Your main competitor should be yourself.  Are you better than you were six months ago; a year ago; two years ago?  Be true to yourself and don’t try to imitate your buddy’s style.  But don’t be afraid to pick each other’s brains to learn ideas and techniques to apply to your own work.

          I was fortunate to have a great shooting buddy.  Jim Hammagren was a great guy, a loving husband to his wife Debbie, and a great friend to many, many people.  He was passionate about photography, carpentry, computers, travel, talking to people, and life itself.  Unfortunately, cancer took him away at a too early age.

          I would say that our skill levels were roughly equal, however, he was truly gifted at getting the best composition at a given scene.  I taught him a few things, and he taught me a few things.  But I could never learn to nail the composition like he did! 

          Mainly, we talked about life and laughed a lot.  And made some images like the one that accompanies this article.  It was his idea to shoot butterflies.  I probably never would have made an image like this on my own.  It's now one of my favorites.  It was a privilege to be his shooting buddy and friend.  Thanks Jim.

          Thanks for reading and, as always, if you have suggestions for topics please put them in the comments.