Outliers - Your First 10,000 Photographs Are Your Worst

While browsing the Web for some inspiration, I came across this quote:

“Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson

Who is Henri-Cartier-Bresson? According to Wikipedia, he was a French photographer considered to be the father of modern photojournalism. He was also an early adopter of the 35mm format, and master of candid photography. He also helped develop the street photography (life reportage) style that was coined "The Decisive Moment" that has influenced generations of photographers.

Okay, he is the father of modern photojournalism. Credibility-wise, he knows what he's talking about.

Modern photojournalism, I am your father.
Image from http://photo.herrimanarts.com/henri-cartier-bresson-4884/

Now, come to think of it, this quote is similar to what Malcolm Gladwell suggested in his book, Outliers. According to Gladwell, it takes at least 10,000 hours of practice to master any field, citing the Beatles and Bill Gates as examples of people with extraordinary achievements in their field.

In today's digital age, it's easy to meet the first ten thousand shots. We don't have to trouble ourselves with the complexity of developing films; we can see the result of our composition as soon as we release the shutter. Entry-level DSLRs are priced attractively and even smartphones are equipped with a camera. Certainly, taking pictures nowadays is a breeze, almost no-brainer. One click and the moment is immortalized digitally.

Even though taking pictures is easier compared to pre-digital era, taking good pictures will still take a bit of a practice. Without knowing the basics of proper composition, you'll hardly find some improvement in your photographs. Knowing the basics of composition will make your photographs a lot better, whether you're using cameraphone or a DSLR.

So, it isn't just about practicing, but analyzing and continually improving your composition. It's less about natural talent and more about how much time you devote into developing the talent. Without knowing how to improve, it won't matter how many shots you take. You'll still end up with a less desirable photograph.

Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst, but with constant practice and conscious desire to improve, the next 10,000 photographs you will take is going to be better.