To learn, read. To know, write. To master, teach.

Part One: Read

Winter Storm Clouds and Half Dome, Yosemite Valley,
Yosemite National Park, California 2008

1/100 sec at f/16, focal length: 200mm, ISO 100, Aperture Priority
- November 2, 2008 4:25am PST. Photographed with Canon EOS 20D, EF 70-200mm f/4L, Tripod Mounted


Read something completely un-related to technique, gear or software. Learn from expanding your visual literacy. Study the works of those that you admire. Draw inspiration from fellow photographers, painters, writers, street performers, etc. Read about art, read about math, read about spatial relationships, read about quantum physics, read about mayanism, read something that will shake you out of routine and cause your mind to think in a new way.

When studying photographs that make the muscle in your chest go thump thump, try and pay attention to why it's thumping. Where is the light coming from? What is the quality of that light? What is the color palette? What makes the composition interesting? How are the lines and shapes arranged to strike balance? What is the photographer trying to say or convey? Mentally be an active participant in what you're reading and you'll learn so much more.

I'm always in the market for learning so please share what you're reading in the comments below. Doesn't have to be about photography, just something that we can learn from, which is any thing really!