Photography is the art of painting with light. It is the method of using your visual, emotional, and intellectual processes to create images from the world before your camera. The camera becomes a visual extension of consciousness which can ascend to progressively higher levels as your awareness as an explorer increases. As awareness expands, the depth of our seeing does also.

Since the camera is an extension of our awareness, then the more we expand our awareness (through various practices such as yoga and intellectual pursuit), the more our photographic sense and technique grow. The leads to greater control over the results and greater ability to express our view through the camera.

Learning to See

The primary focus in developing the art of photography is learning how to see. This involves learning to look at the essence of things. It is a spiritual process which in its highest state involves the merging of the artist with his/her subject matter. It is process of seeing not just with the eyes, but with the entire soul. Just as in the Eastern mind/body arts (Yoga, Tai Chi/Chi Gung, etc.) the highest state of awareness involves the merging of the independant soul with the universal soul. For the photographer artist this means beoming one with the subject matter you are photographing.

Developing the Craft

The operation of the camera, the techniques of lighting, and the use of accssory equipment all constitute the craft of photography. This is a vital field of pursuit which works in complement with the development of the art of seeing. The skills and theory which are developed as part of the craft are used to translate the image that the photographer sees into the tangible image which is captured by the camera.

Equipment

Camera - the best way to learn the art of photography is by starting with a fully manual camera. This forces you to learn the basic techniques (ex. aperature, shutter speed, etc.) which eventually lead to better creative control over the process. Another benefit of using a manual camera is that you don't have to worry about batteries running out (except for the light meter battery - which only needs to be replaced approximately once per year). A manual camera is also inexpensive to buy and repair (as well as less likely to need repair because of its simple design).

Editing Software - One of the most valuable gifts of the digital revolution has been the creation of digital imaging software. Programs such as Adobe Photoshop enable the photographer to perform most of the traditional darkroom techniques plus a range of more complex one at the touch of a button. By scanning photo prints or negatives (for higher resolution) the image is digitized and can be imported into the software interface. These programs eliminate the need for many of the traditional pieces of photography equipment. This is great especially for the travleing photographer who needs to conserve space and costs. Installing this software on a laptop computer allows complete mobility without sacrifice of creative power. When using photography in web design it is possible to edit photos on a laptop and then update the web site via online file management provided by some web servers (see web design). This allows the photographer/web designer to perform all functions on the go.

Various Print Media

Once the image has been captured in the camera, an important decision that needs to be made is how the image will be printed. With the introduction of the computer, there are now many different ways in which to distribute your photographs. Web distribution, slideshows, traditional paper print, CD Rom, etc. are a few possibilities.