The phrase “move up to the next level” has become almost a cliché in photography but it’s still apt, not least because brightness levels are a very important concept in photography and Photoshop, though here we are talking about achievement, self-improvement and the sense of fulfilment you get from making progress.
Whatever level you are at, you want to move up to the next level. For instance, a beginner with no experience would want to move up to the level of post beginner, by starting to make sense of the camera and taking the first steps in learning the basic principles of photography.
A post-beginner, still using a compact camera, may wish to move on up to the next level by purchasing an SLR camera as well as one or two lenses, and starting to make use of the higher quality and flexibility it offers.
A photographer at intermediate level may aspire to having his or her work published, or perhaps to do paid commissions, with a view to becoming semi-professional.
For an accomplished photographer who has had exhibitions in his or her local area the next step up the ladder might be to be featured in an exhibition at a national or even an international level.
Wherever you are on the scale of achievement, whatever level you’ve reached so far, you will want to move up to the next one.
It’s also possible to fall down a level or two, maybe if you stop doing photography for a while or perhaps you might have lost your inspiration somewhere along the line. (I have some advice on that which I will offer in another post.).
But you can also ‘move on up’ to a higher level by achieving something new and exciting in a different area to the one you are accustomed to, one you have not succeeded in before. For instance, I felt a wonderful sense of achievement at taking this stereo 3D photo of my daughter and her friend walking through Birchfields Rd Manchester. It may not be so remarkable to other people, but for me, it caught the moment and it’s quite different from the type of photography I usually do.
At Photography Training Manchester we love music. Karen McBride has achieved great things in music photography, and I have also done quite a bit of music photography, and I have to say, music is a great inspiration in my photography, art and film projects.
One of my favourite songs is the 1971 hit “Move On Up” by Curtis Mayfield. It reminds me very strongly of New York, where in 1981 I took first my first steps in photography. It also conjures up a picture of my mother and me walking along Marple Hall Drive in 1971 to visit my dad at the convalescent home. Luckily he made a good recovery and ever since then, I associate that song with looking to the future, overcoming problems and trying to achieve the best you can.
And so, applying the song to your path of improvement in photography, remember “your dream is the only scheme so keep on pushing!” and even if there are “complications” along the road, you will eventually “pass the test”.
Click on the link to listen to the song and listen carefully to the words. And if you would like to “have your say” add a comment below!
Curtis Mayfield, Move On Up, on YouTube
