RTFM

photography
Taking a quality Photograph has become far too easy. Autofocus this, Stabilizing that, USM, ETTL, Lightroom, Photoshop, Aperture (and I don't mean the one in the lens) are just a few of the accouterments of the modern digital photographer.

Of, course, technology is wonderful. Images are more consistently sharper, and accurately exposed than ever before and image manipulation is now within the grasp of anyone with a few hours to spare watching a few online videos from organizations that want to teach us all to be graphic geniuses - while (in some cases, alledgedely) generating multimillion dollar annual incomes, in the process.

But where's the skill element? Who's reading about - let alone using - hyperfocal distance, or the rule of thirds, or depth of field or leading lines - any more? Who needs (or wants) to know what to do if they turn the autofocus thingy button off?

In a recent digital imagery forum I counted 4 posts in 1 month asking, basically, the same question - about how to turn the sharpening off in their cameras. It's a fair question - but it's one that could have been answered by turning to page (whatever) in the beautifully printed manual that came with their very expensive camera.

As cameras become more sophisticated, photographers get lazier. Manual get read less - but more worringly, creativity becomes a thing of the past.

It's time for getting "back to basics". Turn the auto buttons to OFF. RTFM (Read The - bleeping Manual) and get out there and get creative!