Skill only comes from repetition. Four separate 1-hour sessions across a week teach more than one 4-hour session, since your brain consolidates learning between sessions.
Use constraints deliberately: one lens for an outing, one subject type for a week, or a 30-day one-photo-a-day project — limitation often produces more growth than unlimited freedom.
Review with distance, not immediately — looking back a week or two later lets you judge honestly rather than remembering how the moment felt. Ask specifically what your strongest and weakest frames were, and why.
Seek specific feedback, not general praise — "the exposure's good but the horizon's tilted" teaches more than "nice photo."