Camera Settings Aren't State Secrets: Why Photography Gatekeeping Needs to Stop 📸
Because apparently asking about sync speed is the photography equivalent of asking for nuclear launch codes
You're at Comic-Con San Diego, surrounded by incredible cosplayers and fellow photographers capturing the magic. The energy is electric, creativity is flowing, and then... you make the cardinal sin of asking someone about their camera settings. Suddenly, you're treated like you just asked for their social security number and mother's maiden name. 🙄
Welcome to the bizarre world of photography gatekeeping in 2025, where sharing an f-stop apparently requires a security clearance.
Spoiler alert: It’s probably f/2.8 ahah
The Comic-Con Incident That Started It All
A fellow photographer recently shared their experience at Comic-Con, where they innocently asked two photographers about their flash sync speeds. The response? Pure rudeness. These weren't exactly trade secrets we're talking about here... we're literally discussing numbers that appear on a camera screen, not the formula for Coca-Cola!
After 10 years of photography (even if inconsistently), this person still felt shut down for wanting to learn. And honestly? That's just ridiculous.
The only person who was actually helpful was an older gentleman dressed as Carl from "Up." Now there's someone who understood that knowledge shared is knowledge multiplied! 🎈
Why Settings Gatekeeping Makes Zero Sense
Here's the thing about camera settings: they're about as personal and transferable as shoe sizes. Just because someone wears a size 10 and looks great in their sneakers doesn't mean those exact shoes will fit you perfectly, right?
Camera settings work the same way:
They're dependent on your specific camera body
They change based on your exact location and lighting conditions
They reflect the photographer's personal style and vision
They're heavily influenced by the specific moment and subject
So when someone asks about your settings and you act like they're trying to steal your life's work... you're essentially gatekeeping information that might not even work for them anyway! 🤷♂️
The Teaching Perspective: Why I Share Everything
As someone who teaches photography classes, I've learned that hoarding settings is not just unhelpful... it's counterproductive. I share my settings freely because here's what I've discovered: when students know the technical basics, they can focus on the creative stuff that actually matters.
I once had to redo an entire class because I forgot to mention my settings. Among dozens of positive comments, one person rightfully pointed out this omission. And you know what? They were absolutely right. The technical foundation helps people understand the why behind the how.
But here's the kicker: even when I share my exact settings, students still need to adapt them to their own situations. It's not like I'm handing them a magic formula that instantly makes them amazing photographers!
The Real Secret: It's Not About the Settings
Want to know what actually makes a great photograph? It's not the perfect f/2.8 or that ideal 1/200th sync speed. It's:
Understanding light and how it behaves
Developing your eye for composition
Learning to connect with your subjects
Practicing until camera operation becomes second nature
Being in the right place at the right moment
Settings are just tools. And tools should be shared, discussed, and demystified... not hoarded like precious gems! 💎
Breaking Down the Walls
Photography is supposed to be about capturing moments, telling stories, and sharing beauty with the world. When we create artificial barriers around basic technical knowledge, we're doing the exact opposite of what our medium represents.
The photography community should be lifting each other up, not creating weird hierarchies based on who's willing to share an ISO setting. We're not protecting state secrets here... we're talking about numbers on a camera!
Plus, let's be real: in 2025, most of this information is freely available online anyway. YouTube tutorials, photography forums, and educational content have made these "secrets" about as secret as your grandmother's cookie recipe that she posts on Facebook. 🍪
The Bottom Line
To the photographers who get weird about sharing settings: you're not protecting anything valuable. You're just being gatekeepers for information that's already out there, and honestly? It makes you look insecure about your own skills.
To the photographers asking questions: keep asking! The worst someone can say is no, and the best case scenario is you learn something new and maybe make a photography friend.
And to everyone in between: let's make photography communities more welcoming, more educational, and way less concerned with protecting information that should be shared freely.
Ready to Learn More?
If you enjoyed this take on photography culture and want more insights, tips, and honest conversations about the craft, subscribe to this Substack! Let's build a community where questions are welcomed and knowledge flows freely. 📧
Want to see more of my work and maybe even join one of those photography classes where I actually share my settings? Check out my website at
Because sharing knowledge isn't just good karma... it's good photography! ✨