The Discipline of Photography

Every photographer's growth takes many different paths. Through photos from one work shoot, the author simply shares his discipline along the photographic path.

By Daran Wu

Photography Discipline | A couple in a dark suit and a white bridal gown standing before a curved white concrete wall, with a row of yellow bollards below

In one phase of my photography learning, composing always felt clumsy — there was no one to ask, and I didn't know where to start. Looking at the creative ideas of the masters online, I felt a deep sense of loss.

So I started trying to photograph simple things: faced with only a white wall, how would I begin? If there's nothing at all, how do I converse with people? It was an interesting discipline — through constant practice, now when I see a white wall I feel an inexplicable fondness, and a stream of ideas flows from my heart.

Photography Discipline | Beneath a vast plain white wall, a couple in a dark suit and a white bridal gown stand facing each other, tiny within the frame

The hardest part, I believe, is building a personal definition of what looks good — so that whatever subject you meet, you can measure it against your own sense of beauty and create with the principles of photographic composition. It's not really that hard a thing, but it took me a long time to truly understand it.

Photography Discipline | A bride in a white gown holding a bouquet of white and pink roses, smiling with a groom in a checked suit and bow tie before a curved white wall

Too many factors shape a photographer, but passion is certainly one of the most important — for creation, for gear, for the process itself. Passion is the drive and energy that keeps photography going; money and fame are byproducts of passion.

I love using cameras I love — that's one of my sources of passion. And what I love even more is, on top of that, capturing photos with a camera I love that make even myself happy to look at. That's the simplest joy of being a photographer!

Photography Discipline | A bride in a white gown and a groom holding a bouquet gesture toward each other across a gap in front of a white corrugated wall, shot on Leica SL2s + SL 50mm F2 APO at Taichung Central Park

Leica SL2s + SL 50mm F2 APO / Taichung Central Park

Further reading:
Leica SL2 + APO SL 50mm F2: First Impressions

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