Comments on: Masters Don’t Tweak

By: Gale Rainwater

Gale Rainwater — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:31:49 +0000

Guy very well put. You also have a talent for writing.

By: Barbara Lee

Barbara Lee — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 02:22:51 +0000

Guy, have you read the book Mastery: The Keys to Success and Long-Term Fulfillment by George Leonard? It is a quick read filled with gems of wisdom about becoming a master at anything. Too often, folks dabble and then move on, or think that they can just dabble their way into becoming really good photographers. Leonard talks about PRACTICE, finding a good TEACHER, and STICKING WITH IT. It is all about perserverence. It is about taking two steps forward and one back, about reaching plateaus and staying there sometimes for a long time. As you said “the occasional relevation that takes one to the next level”. I recommend this great book to all artists and anyone else, for that matter, who wants to become a master at the thing they are passionate about.

By: Photography Links – October 30, 2009 « Beautiful Flower Pictures Blog: Floral Photography by Patty Hankins

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:08:22 +0000

[...] Guy Tal has Masters Don’t Tweak [...]

By: Bob Cornelis

Bob Cornelis — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:30:11 +0000

Well said!

All visual art forms seem prone these days to the promise of quick success via “tips and tricks”. Even in painting magazines you’ll find articles like “10 Tips to Make Your Work Look Like a Rembrandt”.

Photography is probably more susceptible to this hollow promise because of all of the buttons, dials, adjustments, automated features of both cameras and post-processing programs. It is easy to be seduced by the promise of these options, even though they are just tools and do not impart any creative, artistic spark on their own.

By: Guy Tal

Guy Tal — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:04:08 +0000

Thanks Roberta! That’s a great endorsement from a fellow artist.

By: Roberta

Roberta — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 18:38:15 +0000

They work themselves ragged, driven by passion that consumes their souls and silences the pain and drudgery necessary to accomplish anything resembling greatness.

I know everyone is saying what they feel is the best bit that you wrote, but the sentence above (to me) shows a true understanding of the psyche of an artist.

By: Drew Fulton

Drew Fulton — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 23:14:21 +0000

Well said Guy. Nothing will make you a better photographer than getting out and experiencing nature.

Drew

By: Jason Collin Photography

Jason Collin Photography — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 19:45:42 +0000

No doubt there is a direct correlation between one’s appreciation for nature and the quality of nature/landscape shot one can produce.

By: Michael E. Gordon

Michael E. Gordon — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 15:08:31 +0000

Piling on, Guy. That last paragraph is a gem.

By: Scott Bacon

Scott Bacon — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 13:43:06 +0000

That last paragraph is the best nature photography tip I’ve ever heard.