1. Some of the Rules…

2. Stuff: The brand doesn’t matter…much. Buy as large a piece of Silicon as you can afford. [Silicon = sensor] Get as few pixels as you can stand. [It doesn’t mean what you 1 st assume…] Use large apertures…that f/3.5-f/5.6 “kit” lens won’t cut it. Lenses w/ vibration correction don’t help w/ moving subjects. [all subjects move] “Use a UV filter as lens protection” is an oxymoron. Putting a $75 protective filter on a $125 lens is dumb! Use as expensive a filter as you can afford. [you get what you pay for] There are only 2 types of filters you should use: Polarizing and Neutral Density. Use a filter only when you absolutely have to. Use a lens hood 24/7 as protection. [get a bigger camera bag!] Don’t bother w/ front lens covers. [put them in a drawer at home] Use rear lens covers when lens is not mounted. Don’t clean lenses…very often. [a little dust doesn’t affect anything] Don’t blow or breathe on lenses w/ your mouth. Don’t rub w/ T-shirt. Duh! Use pure Ethanol on special paper to clean lenses. Don’t crumple paper; fold it. Get a genuine Rocket Blower…learn where/how to use it. The strap on a camera is a shoulder strap. Get a hand strap and use it instead. Weight is good; it keeps the camera steady and the photographer fit. 2

3. Process: Half-press…Frame…Press. [don’t zoom after half-press] Save RAW images! [you can also save JPEGs] Take lots of pictures; select a few good ones. Edit every picture you show to people. Don’t be afraid of automation, but learn how to use it properly. A human should be in the picture: “…it’s about the people”! [reflections work] Be confident. Be nice. Be in charge. Get up close…crop closer. Focus on the near eye. Trust your instinct about when to press the shutter. Get the flash off the camera. Lifestyle: Frequent art museums…what did the artist want to say…did s/he do it? Buy “The Photographer’s Eye” by Michael Freeman. Read it. Read it again each year. When Amon Carter Museum shows “In the American West” the next time, go see it! Carry a camera with pride as you go through life. 3