I didn’t expect half of the trimester to go by as quickly as it did. It feels like the first week of MMS 173 was just yesterday. I remember feeling a bit anxious at the start of the term. I was worried about whether I could perform decently, if not well. While I was already familiar with some fundamental concepts in photography—like the elements and principles of design, composition, and lighting—what concerned me was applying that knowledge in practice.
I’m not really a photography person. I like living in the moment, and I’ve always felt that stopping to take photos pulls me out of the experience. Maybe that feeling comes from my lack of experience. Because of that, I’m often not fast or alert enough to whip out my phone and capture interesting subjects or moments when they happen.
But some of that anxiety eased during our first Zoom session. Listening to the discussions and joining the activities, I found myself following along easily. I felt more confident in what I knew in theory, and I thought that as long as I trust in what I know, maybe applying it in practice won’t feel so intimidating. Since then, I’ve been making an effort to stay on track. I’ve read Unit I of the course manual and revisited the elements and principles of design, composition, and the importance of storytelling in photography. I also caught up with Unit II, where I relearned lighting, the exposure triangle, and some helpful tips for basic post-processing. I took some time as well to browse the discussion forums, especially the critique corner. It was interesting to see where my coursemates were at in their learning journeys. Some I saw clearly had some experience, while others are just figuring things out like me. It was reassuring to see that I wasn’t alone.
Other than engaging with the content from the course site, I’ve also been planning some independent learning. I decided to go on walks on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for practice sessions. At first, I thought I’d just take photos of whatever caught my eye, but I quickly realized that having a bit of structure would help me focus and be more intentional with my shots.
So, I came up with a set of photography exercises to guide my practice. The goal was to challenge myself to apply what I’ve been learning, while also training my eye to notice interesting subjects and compositions. Here are the exercises I thought of:
Take 5 photos of different subjects using the rule of thirds.
Take 5 photos of the same subject from 5 different angles (e.g., low angle, high angle, side view, etc.).
Take 5 photos where lines (roads, fences, hallways) lead the viewer's eye toward the subject.
Take 5 photos where the subject is framed by something else.
Take 5 photos that highlight symmetry (reflections, architecture) or repeating patterns (tiles, fences, etc.).
Take 5 close-up photos that focus on different textures (wood, fabric, leaves, skin, etc.).
Take 5 photos that emphasize contrast between light and shadow.
Take 5 photos where at least 70% of the frame is empty space, focusing on a single small subject.
Choose 1 color and take 5 photos where that color is dominant in the composition.
The idea is that each time I go out, I’ll randomly choose two or three exercises to focus on. That way, every session feels a little different, but I still have a clear sense of direction. Plus, I would have a measurable way of tracking my progress. However, I haven’t had an opportunity to practice with these exercises yet.
The situation is like this: in terms of theory, I’m pretty caught up in the course. Although, I can’t say the same when it comes to practice.
I’ve faced quite a few challenges these past weeks. Mostly, I’ve been dealing with chronic health issues that often leave me bedridden for days at a time. On the days I do feel better, I usually have other commitments that I can’t put off, leaving me with little time or energy for practice sessions. There just always seems to be a barrier to entry—it’s hard enough to carve out time, and even harder to muster the energy to go out and take photos, even if it’s just for a short while.
It’s been frustrating because I really want to improve my practical skills, but life keeps getting in the way. I’m still figuring out how to work around these challenges so I can have more consistent practice. For now, I’m holding on to the small wins—staying on track with the coursework and planning for practice sessions when I’m able.