GWY stands for a Guy with a camera. A GWY is somebody who has an decent camera and thinks they’re a pro but in fact they cannot shoot good photos.

Do I fit the definition? Maybe. But I know this: I love photography. I’m not an expert and I don’t know all the photography tips and tricks and photoshop effects the experts recommend. Nor I have the newest camera and a set of top-quality lenses. However I know I have a mindset and the will to learn everything necessary if I wanted to and if I wanted to spend the time. I also know I could get all the equipment I’d need.

two volcanoes and the boat

I’m actually learning those tricks slowly as I need them time to time and I’m also improving my equipment. I’m priviledged to be influenced by some great photographers I had a chance to meet recently and I’m also grateful to Jeff from 360cities that showed me some nice tricks and also introduced me to the world of HDR.

That said, I usually apply the Pareto principle to my pictures. I don’t spend too much time on them. When I first started using this approach I had a hard time with it. I wanted everything to be perfect, no matter the time spent. That’s a highway to hell, well, at least a highway to not doing other things I want to do. So nowdays I only spend time with really important pictures. 

red and lights on water

This approach brings me a mixture of great elements of life. Fun with much more experimenting than I could do if I was a perfectionist, more lessons to be learned and a warm fuzzy feeling of self-achievement because “I know I can but I don’t”.