Slow is smooth. Smooth is fast.

Here’s another driving aphorism with application to photography. “Slow is smooth. Smooth is fast.” The first part is about learning and the second is about results. When you’re learning a physical skill, slowing down gives you time to see errors, anticipate what comes next, and make deliberate rather than reactive corrections. Repetition gradually moves those operations out of conscious attention. Eventually, you can execute them quickly without sacrificing precision. In that sense, slow is a route to smooth. Smoothness isn’t simply the absence of rapid movements. It’s the absence of unnecessary movements, especially corrective movements caused by earlier errors. A practiced photographer doesn’t necessarily operate the camera slowly. The camera comes to the eye, the framing settles, focus is acquired, and the shutter is released with very little wasted motion. The process may be quick, but it shouldn’t be hurried. Watch how Pete Souza photographs; there are videos around. I spent some…

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