nonuniform
Established
Every year I get to the last day before Burning Man, thinking about what camera to bring. I've brought 4x5's, various medium format cameras, and always my Nikon DSLR. I carry my Nikon in my camelbak at all times, mainly because I want to meet people, and be part of the event and somehow, carrying that big black lump around seems to give me a different experience. So, I never use it.
I will say that I don't worry about dust. These are tools, and when I'm done, I clean them. The 4x5 press cameras, however, seem to hold up best.
This year I thought carefully about why I bring the Nikon every year, and it always comes down to the fact that it is the most capable camera I own. It can pretty much capture anything. Yet, I never actually use it. Seems so counter-intuitive, and the reason is that while it's a very good image capture device, it's just not a very good camera for me at that event.
When I shoot with the Nikon I am disconnected, strictly observing. The sheer size and weight of the body and lens present a barrier. A barrier between myself and the world, and it works in both directions. I get more interaction when I use my 4x5 press camera, in fact, if I just want to make friends with people I wander around with the Graflex. People stop, chat, and I take some relaxed photos.
The Leica is like a sketchpad. A very fast pencil and paper. Unobtrusive, available, and intuitive. So this year, it will just be the Leica M4 and M6, one with the 35/2 and the other the 50/2. I'm going to shoot Portra 400 film, in one camera I'll have exposure set to 400 ISO, and in the other, I'm going to expose for 3200ISO. It could be good, it could be bad. Either way, I'm far more likely to use a small camera that can fit on my belt than a big clunky DSLR that has to live in my backpack most of the time.
If you're curious, I get a media pass every year, even though really, I'm just covering my own experiences at the event. I don't find the Burning Man photo usage policies particularly onerous as an artist.
I will say that I don't worry about dust. These are tools, and when I'm done, I clean them. The 4x5 press cameras, however, seem to hold up best.
This year I thought carefully about why I bring the Nikon every year, and it always comes down to the fact that it is the most capable camera I own. It can pretty much capture anything. Yet, I never actually use it. Seems so counter-intuitive, and the reason is that while it's a very good image capture device, it's just not a very good camera for me at that event.
When I shoot with the Nikon I am disconnected, strictly observing. The sheer size and weight of the body and lens present a barrier. A barrier between myself and the world, and it works in both directions. I get more interaction when I use my 4x5 press camera, in fact, if I just want to make friends with people I wander around with the Graflex. People stop, chat, and I take some relaxed photos.
The Leica is like a sketchpad. A very fast pencil and paper. Unobtrusive, available, and intuitive. So this year, it will just be the Leica M4 and M6, one with the 35/2 and the other the 50/2. I'm going to shoot Portra 400 film, in one camera I'll have exposure set to 400 ISO, and in the other, I'm going to expose for 3200ISO. It could be good, it could be bad. Either way, I'm far more likely to use a small camera that can fit on my belt than a big clunky DSLR that has to live in my backpack most of the time.
If you're curious, I get a media pass every year, even though really, I'm just covering my own experiences at the event. I don't find the Burning Man photo usage policies particularly onerous as an artist.
