Back in college, while studying for my graphic design degree, I was required to take several film photography classes. It was during these classes that I discovered my passion for photography!

It was the first day of my very first class and I was a bit nervous. You see, we were to bring our cameras with us to get the professor’s approval. So I grabbed the only manual film camera I had available to me… my Dad’s 1970 Fujica (pictured below). It was the camera that captured so many childhood memories for my brother, sister, and me. First steps, Christmas mornings, school programs and graduations. It was a fixture in our family, but I was concerned it might be a little too ancient (sorry, Dad) for a college class!

I looked around at what the other students brought with them. Theirs had bells and whistles. Heck, mine didn’t even need a battery! It literally only has three functions… Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO. If it were any more manual, I’d be drawing the pictures myself!

As my turn to get approval fast approached, I hung my head a bit, knowing I’d have to come up with some way of getting a sufficient camera for this class (remember… broke college student here). The professor had something to say about each student’s camera… “This will work great!” “Just remember, don’t rely on that menu when completing assignments!”

Then it was my turn. I hardened myself for the news. He picked up my camera. Looked it over thoroughly. And to my surprise, he LOVED it! Wait. What?! This old thing? “They don’t make them like this anymore,” he said. “You’d better keep an eye on it, or I might just take it home with me!”

Needless to say I made it through the class and learned a ton about photography that semester. But you want to know what the single most important thing I learned that entire semester was? Something that was taught to me that very first day of class…

Flashy gear and expensive lenses aren’t required to create great photographs!

All that’s needed are three basic ingredients… Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO.

So often I see photographers who are just starting out get swept up in the need for fancy lenses and the latest gear. If this sounds like you, just push the PAUSE button and block out all that noise. Concentrate on mastering Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO, and how they work together to create exposure. Don’t worry about the rest right now. It will come with time. But if you give yourself this foundation in the beginning, all the rest will come so much more easily.

What are your thoughts? Agree? Disagree? What advice would you give someone just starting out? Tell us in the comments below…