If you’re chasing subjects and not light, you’re probably still a beginner photographer

Travel photographer, Sony Ambassador, and YouTuber, Pat Kay, has released a very interesting video called “5 Signs You're No Longer A Beginner Photographer”.

It’s a really interesting watch, so I’m not going to spoil it by going through everything in detail – you’ll have to sit through the full video (below) for that – but I do want to touch upon his first criterion: “Light is the most important thing in photography.”

5 Signs You're No Longer A Beginner Photographer - YouTube

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What I like about this point is that, while it shouldn’t surprise anybody, I think it’s often missed. We all know that light is technically a photography fundamental – there are no photographs without it – but it’s also a fundamental part of the aesthetic of photography.

Pat mentions that beginner photographers tend to focus on technical settings and gear acquisition, while the intermediate photographer is “noticing light.”

I completely agree, but I’d also add the hunt for a ‘suitable’ subject as a major distraction for beginners. You might think that’s a strange statement considering that the subject is a fundamental pillar of any photograph, but not at the expense of light.

A common pitfall that beginners make is to focus all their efforts on finding and capturing an inherently interesting subject, without considering the lighting and / or composition.

You see, an interesting subject is only an interesting subject for photography when it aligns with the right composition and lighting. The beauty of this is that an inherently boring subject can suddenly become a great photographic subject if the conditions are right. I’ll take a beautifully framed block of flats in soft golden light over a boring composition or the Eiffel Tower, any day of the week.

This links back with Pat’s point: “Light is the most important thing in photography.” Don’t follow the subject, follow the light and it’ll lead you to the subject.

So, if you’re a beginner photographer looking to improve or a seasoned photographer who wants to make sure they’re a solid intermediate, make sure you watch Pat Kay’s excellent video.

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Want some more tips to help you get well on your way to becoming an intermediate photographer? Check out my landscape photography tips. If you're looking for your first camera, here's the best camera for beginners. And if you're still getting confused by the photography fundamentals, check out my guide to the exposure triangle.