I've had 2 DMs recently from young folk considering joining the forces as photographers.

Want to share a little story from when I joined up...

I was going through my photography training at RAF Cosford, we had covered all the basic stuff and were probably towards the end of the training. It was all on film back then and things weren't as quick as digital

We were each given a job/task/training exercise and the idea was to complete it as if it was a real job, to the best of your ability. My job was to photographer a Sqn Ldr who had just won an athletics competition and to do one photo that would go out to the media

I called the Sqn Ldr (when you are in training talking to a Sqn Ldr was like talking to a super senior boss ;-) ) and we agreed a time to meet up to do the photo. It was on the athletics track, I had some ideas and we turned up and talked them through

We agreed we were gonna go for a "coming out of the blocks" sort of shot as he was a sprinter. Using all the things they had taught me we spent 20mins getting some shots, did some portraits as well and he went back to work and I went to the dark room

Processed the film, did a contact sheet, choose my fav pic, printed it, colour corrected it, printed it again. Came out with a 10x8 print that I thought was great! Went and showed my Sgt...

Sgt looked at the photo, and asked me what I could do to make it better, I pointed out a few little things and he said "you're right" and ripped the 10x8 in half in front of me and said "go do it again and make those changes"

I was a bit heart broken to have my great print ripped up in front of me, but I called the Sqn Ldr, arranged to meet again and do the shots again with the minor changes, we did it again, apologising to the Sqn Ldr was a bit awkward but the shots would be better

Did them again, back in the dark room, process... contact sheet... print... pick fav, correct it... print and go show Sgt...

Sgt looked at it and smiled, I smiled! He said "see! That's much better isn't it" I agreed. "What would make it perfect? He asked... i mentioned one or two things and he agreed with me...

"Hello sir, sorry its Mark from the photo section again, sorry but could we do the photos again please..." it wasnt fun making the call again but the Sqn Ldr agreed and we met again... made the changes and back to the dark room, confident the photo would be awesome

Process... contact sheet... pick fav... colour correct... print...Sgt!

Sgt agreed http://with.me  that it was so much better than my original shot and it was, so much better! I was happy he was happy! Way hey!

"Shame his laces are undone" said Sgt...

"Hello sir, its Mark again... sorry but your laces were undone..." back to the track... darkroom... contact sheet... print... Sgt!

Sgt looked at the print and agreed it was a great photo, 100x better than the original shot from that morning. And I was allowed to keep it! Woo hoo!

At the time I didn't know but the Sqn Ldr was deliberately doing something wrong in each shot. The lesson was about me paying attention to the subject, having the confidence to point things out and get it right first time

Between the first and last shot I hadn't had any extra training, I spotted all the things I could do to make it better, I just hadn't spotted them at the time of shooting.

Having printed ripped in half after hard work was a bit heartbreaking but it taught me to get it right first time..it also toughened me up to getting criticism of my photos

Lots of photographers don't take criticism well as it's as if their work is being ripped to bits by someone who doesn't know what they're talking about...

How many photographers does it take to change a lightbulb?

Only one but 200 others will tell them how it should have been done

If you have done your best then ignore the criticism, some muppet will always tell you how they would have done it. These same muppets are usually the ones who dont post any photos ;-)