Lightbulb moment!(s)

What have been yours as you progressed with your photography?

I'm a relatively new hobbiest... but after I got my XTi and read Understanding Exposure my first big one was using manual mode, and next shooting RAW so I could tweak a bit when my metering wasn't the exposure I had in mind.

I'm hoping the next will be when I get a better flash. It seems that this is something that progresses in leaps and bounds-what were the moments when you said AH! WOW! and then moved forward in a leap to the next level?

I think we all go through similar progressions really..

I shot from Av mode since the beginning, but when I used Manual with my external flash then I started getting results! If you are using the onboard flash then yes- when you get a external flash is leaps and bounds better than the pop-up!!

I'm hoping my next progression in photography will be getting into more landscape etc when I get a wide angle lens. Those are the shots that impress me more than macro etc. (Of course nothing beats a great portrait shot).

My biggest moment was picking up a cirular polariser. BIG improvement to my car photography. It has really blown me away and kick myself for shooting without one before.

I prefer panos. WA lenses make the far objects look too small.

Which is what makes photography interesting. I almost never use one for cars, & my "AH!" moment was learning about late light.
A few Car Lighting Tips - Updated

And of course, the revelation that some people should have more clothes on!

PhotosGuy wrote in post #6019312
I prefer panos. WA lenses make the far objects look too small. Which is what makes photography interesting. I almost never use one for cars, & my "AH!" moment was learning about late light.
A few Car Lighting Tips - Updated

And of course, the revelation that some people should have more clothes on!

I noticed that you do not use it. I tried but I find I get better use with one on. Does make it tricky at indoor car shows like I just shot. Some reflections are worth having but others are just an eyesore.

Ive not cars for long so im not one to crit. Late light does rule! Think that was one of the first things I picked up even when reading about it before I got into photography.

PhotosGuy wrote in post #6019312
And of course, the revelation that some people should have more clothes on!

Boy, ain't that the truth!

A big lightbult moment happened for me a couple weeks ago when I watched the Strobist DVD set. It's opened up an entire new world for me, it got me really excited about trying different things with off camera lighting.

Now I just have to force myself to make the time to get out and try it all. The DVD's would still be a great buy at double the price.

(Not affiliated with strobist.com in any way other than a new fan of the site. )
Kurt