There’s a moment that happens in almost every workshop.
You can see it in someone’s eyes.
They’re trying.
They want to get it.
They almost have it…
…but something just isn’t sticking.
This past weekend, it showed up in a simple but surprisingly common place: f-stop.
The Moment It Didn’t Click
We were working through aperture—how it controls both light and depth of field.
My student had some prior experience. They knew the numbers. They had heard the explanations before. But when it came time to recall it…
Which f-stop lets in more light?
Which one gives that beautiful blurry background?
It just wouldn’t settle in.
I shared the ways I remember it.
Nothing.
We tried another angle.
Still nothing.
And that’s when I said something I’ve learned to trust over the years:
“Okay… let me think about this. Let’s commit to finding what works for you before the end of the workshop.”
Because here’s the truth:
If it’s not sticking, it’s not because you can’t learn it.
It’s because we haven’t found your way yet.
The Breakthrough: “Four is More”
Later in the day, it came.
Simple. Almost too simple.
I walked back over and said:
“What about this…
Four is more.
More light. More blur.”
Their lowest aperture on her lens was around f/4.
And just like that… something shifted.
A smile.
A nod.
A quiet “Okay… yeah, that might work.”
Was it revolutionary? No.
Was it hers? Yes.
And that made all the difference.
Why Memory Isn’t One-Size-Fits-All
That moment is bigger than f-stop.
It’s about how we learn.
Because memory isn’t just about information—it’s about connection.
And we all connect differently.
Here are a few ways people make things stick:
1. Rhymes & Simple Phrases
Like “Four is more.”
It sounds almost childlike… and that’s the point.
Simple sticks.
2. Visual Anchors
Some people remember better when they see it:
- Wide open lens → blurry background
- Small opening → everything sharp
Turn it into a mental picture.
3. Physical Experience
Others need to feel it:
- Turn the dial
- Watch the image change
- See the background blur or sharpen in real time
Your hands remember what your mind forgets.
4. Contrast & Extremes
Go to the edges:
- f/4 → bright, blurry
- f/16 → darker, sharp
The bigger the difference, the easier it is to recall.
5. Personal Language
Sometimes it’s just about saying it your way.
Not the textbook way.
Not the instructor’s way.
Your way.
The Bigger Lesson
That moment reminded me of something I’ve seen again and again:
What works beautifully for one person can completely miss another.
And that’s not a flaw in the student.
It’s a call for a different approach.
Learning isn’t about delivering information.
It’s about discovering connection.
Why This Matters (and Why We Teach the Way We Do)
This is exactly why we do things differently at Learn Photography Canada.
We don’t stand at the front of a room and deliver a polished, one-size-fits-all presentation.
We stand right beside you.
Watching.
Listening.
Adjusting.
Looking for that moment when something clicks—and if it doesn’t, we keep going until it does.
Because:
- You’re not just another seat in a class
- You’re not expected to “keep up”
- You’re not left behind if it doesn’t land the first time
You have a coach… right there… committed to finding your way.
Bringing It Home
That student left the workshop with something simple:
“Four is more.”
Will she remember it forever? Maybe. Maybe not.
But what she really left with was more important:
The confidence that she can learn this.
She just needs it to land in a way that makes sense to her.
And when that happens…
Everything opens up.
If you’ve ever felt like photography just isn’t “sticking,” maybe it’s not you.
Maybe you just haven’t had someone stand beside you long enough to find your way.
And when we do…
That’s when the magic happens.
