Have you ever noticed that as you learn more about the world of photography, you tend to realize just how little you actually know? This phenomenon is what`s referred to as the Dunning-Kruger effect.
London-based photographer Jamie Windsor recently took to his YouTube channel to explain what it is, how it affects you and your work and even shares five things you can do to overcome thinking you know more than you actually do.
A chart from the video showing how perceived ability compares with actual ability according to the Dunning-Kruger Effect.
As explained in the video, the name of the phenomenon came from two social psychologists David Dunning and Justin Kruger. During a study, the two recognized that the less competent someone was at a given task, the better they thought they were. Put more simply, if you think you`re a great photographer, there`s a good chance you`re not nearly as amazing as you think you are.
Almost everyone falls victim to the Dunning Kruger effect at some point in their career. But the more self-aware you can become, the less likely you are to fall into the trap of being a bad photographer who thinks they`re good. To help combat this downward spiral, Windsor shares a few tips, which we`ve paraphrased and elaborated on below:
Beware of feeling comfortable - If you start feeling comfortable in your abilities, try something new and expand your horizons. Don`t get complacent.
Learn to let go of old work - Always try to one-up yourself and make your next shot your best shot. If you still think that shot from four years ago is your best, you probably haven`t improved much.
Ask for feedback and constructive critique - It`s not always easy to hear, but an outside perspective can help you get a broader and more realistic view of your skills and ability.
Always keep learning - `You have never learnt everything.` Never think you`ve finished learning something-everything is a rabbit hole of knowledge.
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