Elaborating on an earlier set of tweets...
Earlier this week I was reviewing my selections for the blog this September, and suddenly I was able to perceive common themes, preferences in shape, color and composition, and so on.
Of late I have been finding myself seeing photographs before I even lift the camera to my eye; I will be walking along, and suddenly a picture will jump out at me.
Between these two experiences, what I've come to realize is the way that my brain seems to oscillate between stages of deliberate knowing, and unconscious understanding. I will study a technique, or a rule of composition, and be very intentional in employing it in my work. Eventually I stop doing so deliberately, and shortly after that point, when I review my photographs, it is clear that the lesson has been absorbed into the new work.
At other times, I will become aware of things I've been doing subconsciously, and use that information to turn that insight into conscious lessons.
It is interesting to me that these two modes - deliberate awareness and unconscious insight - work together to improve my work and my understanding of my work.
I begin to see why they claim it takes 10,000 hours of practice to gain mastery of something - this oscillating progression requires the time to produce tangible results.
Oscillating towards Mastery
Elaborating on an earlier set of tweets...
Earlier this week I was reviewing my selections for the blog this September, and suddenly I was able to perceive common themes, preferences in shape, color and composition, and so on.
Of late I have been finding myself seeing photographs before I even lift the camera to my eye; I will be walking along, and suddenly a picture will jump out at me.
Between these two experiences, what I've come to realize is the way that my brain seems to oscillate between stages of deliberate knowing, and unconscious understanding. I will study a technique, or a rule of composition, and be very intentional in employing it in my work. Eventually I stop doing so deliberately, and shortly after that point, when I review my photographs, it is clear that the lesson has been absorbed into the new work.
At other times, I will become aware of things I've been doing subconsciously, and use that information to turn that insight into conscious lessons.
It is interesting to me that these two modes - deliberate awareness and unconscious insight - work together to improve my work and my understanding of my work.
I begin to see why they claim it takes 10,000 hours of practice to gain mastery of something - this oscillating progression requires the time to produce tangible results.
Posted on 20 September 2009 at 04:01 PM in Notes and Comments | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
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