Hidden Gems
Experience is the teacher of all things. (Julius Caesar)
There is a saying related to computer programming: if you look at the code you did 6 months ago and you do not want to change anything, it means you have not learnt anything in those 6 months.
I believe the same principle can be applied to taking pictures. There should always be an itch to tweak an old photo, just ever so slightly, to improve it. For this reason alone I think it is important to go back to pictures taken in the past and go through them.
It serves two purposes. First, you can see how your style evolved. To be honest, I am ashamed of some of my really old creations, especially when it comes to composition, but it is also heart-warming that I am capable of learning how to structure a photo "properly". As time goes by you naturally develop an ability to figure out why a certain photo "clicks". You may not be able to pin that thought at first and instead just have a general idea, but as time goes by that idea turns into a more precise and articulated thought. Once that happens, you tend to apply it in similar pictures. Congratulations, you have improved as a picture taker!
Second, maybe even more important, you may find a frame that was not deemed good enough then, but is now. This typically does not happen often - if a picture was crap before you gained experience, it will most likely be even more crap now. But when it happens, it gives a great feeling: by accident you created a good photo without even knowing it. Here is where the experience comes into play, as you can now hopefully figure out what makes the photo stand out.
Naturally, looking at past achievements means nothing in itself. No amount of past work, no matter how great, should stop you from achieving even greater things. But hopefully the experience you get in the past allows you to be better prepared for the future.
[[Category::In English]] [[Category::Photography]]
