I was visiting YouTube the other night to browse some videos on landscape photography- like I frequently do when I am looking for some motivation or inspiration- and I can across this guy and this particularly encouraging video.

Pat said, basically, “I’m a systems guy and I’ll give you 4 suggestions to help you with your photography. You won’t see instant returns, but give it time, and they will help you.”

Three of his tips were less specific, but poignant.
– Break down different photography skills weekly, working on them every day.
– Create, appraise, and accommodate your findings about your session after each shoot.
– Expose yourself to the excellence of others every day. Look at art daily.

All important, and familiar suggestions to an extent.

But Tip One grabbed my attention.

Malcolm Gladwell popularized a theory that to achieve expertise- aye, excellence- in any trade or craft requires 10,000 hours of practice. Pat generalized this concept, recognizing that improvement is a product of practice. “What is you took 10,000 photos a year. Would you improve as a photographer?”

To do this, he suggested you make it a daily practice to take 27 images. In a year, if you follow this formula, you will have taken 10,000 photos.

I like it, and am gonna see if I can create this habit.