The Importance of Deliberate Practice
You’ve all heard the quote that 10,000 hours of practice is what is needed to become good at something. While there is some truth in that, it’s not the whole truth. As Anders Ericsson pointed out, it’s 10,000 hours of quality practice that matters. He emphasized the importance of deliberate practice, which must be useful to you.
There is no substitute for this. Muscle memory is beneficial and will develop over time, but you must actively engage in learning your craft.
I love the idea that we all wake up and are instantly brilliant, but that’s simply not true. You may wake up with talent, and some people have it while others do not. However, talent can be cultivated through practice. With deliberate effort, anyone can improve.
Ultimately, there is no substitute for picking up your camera, finding a subject, and trying to capture it. You will fail, but that’s part of the process. Failing is as important as succeeding because you learn significantly more from your failures than from your successes.
Make it a habit to pick up your camera every day. Take a deliberate photograph that you believe might be great. Some of them won’t be, but some will. I can guarantee that you will improve through this process.
Take your time and practice.