The more you look through a view finder, the better you get. There's is no denying experience, but there are tendencies photographers adopt with passing years. It's not a product of laziness, it's a shortcut to being efficient. I've gotten skeptical of weak assignments, ask fewer questions, and edit less photos. The bad comes with the good. Now, I walk in a room and spot a ray of good light, can decipher scanner speak, and always keep a hardhat in the car. But when I was starting out, I was bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. The passion was filled with naive optimism and determination. Every breath was a desperate gasp to succeed. I once shot a truck stop four times to get perfect light. It's time to return to the basics. Reapply fundamentals, and experiment with stuff I know nothing about. I've got to walk away from the main scene to find a secluded moment, take chances on hunches, and aim at the unfamiliar. News Record Photo/Daniel Brenner Back To Basics_02 Back To Basics_03 Back To Basics_04 Back To Basics_06 1-2 I90 Rollover_01 Senior Center Billiards