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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Moab Man" data-source="post: 238664" data-attributes="member: 11881">Let me say, this thread will be an absolute must read for anyone starting out or wanting to improve their skill set. And I hope that those that didn't complete theirs entirely, but did do it, will share their thoughts as well. For myself...Stage 1: I started out with great enthusiasm and there was something to shoot everywhere around me. Thirty days in was where I found stagnation. The easy stuff to shoot that lays all around  you has been used up. Stage 2: I started looking at other peoples work differently, for inspiration or ideas. Not to copy their work, but to try similar things and figure it out. Stage 3: Reading, reading, reading! I needed to understand what made one photo so much better than another photo - composition, lighting, etc. It also included a thorough  understanding of aperture, shutter speed, and ISO - not just book smart but real world application. Stage 4: Planning my shots. Of course I couldn't always plan my shots because life gets in the way and a Project 365 waits for no one, but when time was available there was thought and preparation that went into making a photograph and it showed. Stage 5: Improving and understanding my post production skills. It takes more than just a cursory knowledge.I also asked people how they did a shot. One person imparticular that I owe a lot of thanks to is Dave_W. I was in awe at his Milky Way shots. Of course none of us can give  a recipe of how to shoot a spectacular Milky Way, or anything else. However, I approached Dave_W the right way - knowing I knew nothing at the time - and asked Dave_W, "I know you can't tell me how to hit a home run Milky Way photo, but  can you tell me how to get in the ballpark?" Like many of the great photographers on here; they are willing to share if when asking a question you are actually listening - remember, you asked them, they will share but don't want to debat, YOU ASKED THEM. I am thrilled with how my Milky Way photos look, and artistically they are different from Dave_W's, but he kindly shared with me how to get in the ballpark and I have grown my own style. Finally, at some point things just really came together. No longer was I going through a clunky mental checklist of do this do that. It became fluid. The fluidity came from everyday reinforcing what I had been learning along the way and having to apply it day-to-day.In the end, thanks to the Project 365, my skills have grown leaps and bounds over where I expected to be at this point. And like a maturing wine, I am now maturing my skills and can see how much more there is to learn and have the tools to do it.</blockquote>

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