At least to me, this does seem like the ultimate gear-oriented exercise that a photographer can do. Force themselves to "see" the world as the one piece of gear that they have decided to use for the exercise. Some might argue that it will be liberating from the multitude of gear that they have accumulated. I've been more organizing gear into "kits" for particular types of photography. Sometimes you see something that you want a photograph of, and you want the best possible choice to capture that image.
I doubt anyone would select an Olympus EP2 with 300/4.5 Nikkor-H for one camera, one lens, one year.
But I could grab it quickly for this shot. Handheld at 1/200th, no time for a tripod.
The "deer Family" made a brief appearance in the backyard when I got home from work. Just enough time to grab the camera, get some shots. The long lens meant they did not get spooked. The shot made with an I-50 is not nearly as imressive. But again- a lot of people to not care for nature shots.
I doubt anyone would select an Olympus EP2 with 300/4.5 Nikkor-H for one camera, one lens, one year.
But I could grab it quickly for this shot. Handheld at 1/200th, no time for a tripod.
The "deer Family" made a brief appearance in the backyard when I got home from work. Just enough time to grab the camera, get some shots. The long lens meant they did not get spooked. The shot made with an I-50 is not nearly as imressive. But again- a lot of people to not care for nature shots.
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shadowfox
Darkroom printing lives
If that's your real question, then maybe you need to ponder this:
What is your goal in doing this? To gain more understanding about your photography (the internet guru sez) or to test your equipment?
*If* your M6 breaks, pick up a $30 Zorki and continue with the project
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Why do they/I do it? For exactly the same reason that others make the effort to 'share' their opinion (why the quotation marks?) that it's a good idea...
It's easy to be carried along on a tide of enthusiasm, even for totally silly ideas: we've all done it, and I wasn't thinking of specifically photographic ideas: a lot of politics relies on people failing to think hard about whether something will be a good idea for them personally, or for society as a whole.
If something suits you, it suits you: great. But if EVERYONE is saying what a wonderful idea it is, you might be swayed into accepting a bad idea too. The herd instinct in humans is surprisngly strong.
Cheers,
R.
bigeye
Well-known
How hot can you get about a training exercise?
This method has been used by artists and craftsmen for eons. Apprentices paint or carve using only a limited set of tools on limited subjects until expert, then they advance to another tool. You might question the duration required to attain competence or the target level of competence, itself, but that depends on the student, etc.
It would be silly to suggest this traditional method to a professional, unless you've fundamentally broken down (e.g. Tiger Woods).
Cheers,
- Charlie
This method has been used by artists and craftsmen for eons. Apprentices paint or carve using only a limited set of tools on limited subjects until expert, then they advance to another tool. You might question the duration required to attain competence or the target level of competence, itself, but that depends on the student, etc.
It would be silly to suggest this traditional method to a professional, unless you've fundamentally broken down (e.g. Tiger Woods).
Cheers,
- Charlie
maggieo
More Deadly
Good point, Charlie- I think that's something that gets lost in all the talk about that article: this is a training exercise for a beginning photographer. It's not a way of life or suitable for people who are being paid to deliver a large number of photographs in a timely manner. It's for someone who is just starting out and wants to get better, faster.
John Lawrence
Well-known
Like sticking to one film until you've absolutely mastered it, or shot 100+ rolls?
John
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emraphoto
Veteran
well as a perpetually 'beginning' photographer i am relishing the thought of it!
emraphoto
Veteran
so far the count is less than 5 on this particular forum. i am unsure the herd part has come to play yet.
back alley
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John Lawrence
Well-known
semilog
curmudgeonly optimist
ampguy
Veteran
maggieo
More Deadly
Beginner's Mind, Buddha Mind.
BUTLER
Nice person.
Some strange providence. The M6 TTL LHSA I got from KEH was indeed a little wonky. Top plate was loose, one visible ding, and the shutter release failed to fire once or twice per roll. The camera either took a fall or was struck by something - apparently once because otherwise it was pristine (looking).
Alas, I returned it. Contemplating a used purchase at a local camera shop when, to my surprise, my M7 returned from its trips to NJ & Solms (it had been out for repair since November '09).
Film counter repaired. New logo-less black paint top cover. MP-style rewind. CLA'd - totally adjusted and lubed and looking sweet and stealth. Just in time for this photo exercise, just as the M6 craps out and goes back to KEH for a refund.
Love the timing.
Alas, I returned it. Contemplating a used purchase at a local camera shop when, to my surprise, my M7 returned from its trips to NJ & Solms (it had been out for repair since November '09).
Film counter repaired. New logo-less black paint top cover. MP-style rewind. CLA'd - totally adjusted and lubed and looking sweet and stealth. Just in time for this photo exercise, just as the M6 craps out and goes back to KEH for a refund.
Love the timing.
back alley
IMAGES
since November '09...
holy bat crap robin!
holy bat crap robin!
BUTLER
Nice person.
You ain't kiddin'! It's been so long that when I saw the slip from UPS on my door, it was the last thing I suspected.
So happy to finally have it back.
Roberto V.
Le surrèalisme, c'est moi
Same here, I usually go out with my Contaflex, with its tiny fixed tessar lens, and I just love the pictures I get from it. The DSLR, the big zoom lenses and the speedlights usually stay at home.
I started photography two years ago with one body and one lens so it's not hard for me to stick to that, but it's good to have other options too.
RichL
Well-known
BUTLER I'm in.
I'm expecting my camera any day now so for the next year it will be an Ikonta 524/16, 75mm f 3.5 lens and Delta 100 film.
I may even go with the PAW (picture a week) idea.
I'm expecting my camera any day now so for the next year it will be an Ikonta 524/16, 75mm f 3.5 lens and Delta 100 film.
I may even go with the PAW (picture a week) idea.
semilog
curmudgeonly optimist
I'm sort-of in, and have been for about 3 months, since I got the 35/2.8 Biogon-C. It's on an M6 0.85 classic.
But I just retrieved my old 85/2 AIS and Nikkormat FT2 from my mom's house. I haven't used that gear for a decade, and it's just going to be impossible to not use that camera and lens some of the time. I expect to use the 35 90% of the time.
I'll stick to 4 films and one developer. ACROS whenever feasible. But I live in Seattle, so it's often too dark for that. Neopan 400 or 2TMY (bulk-loaded) when ACROS is too slow. I have a pile of 2TMY and NP400 in the freezer, so I'll use both. Neopan 1600 for the dark. I'd exclusively shoot ACROS and NP1600, but at $5/roll, NP1600 is just too pricey to use when the speed is not really needed.
XTOL 1:1 for development of the fast films, always, and for the ACROS, usually. Rodinal 1:50 for the ACROS once in awhile, perhaps.
But I just retrieved my old 85/2 AIS and Nikkormat FT2 from my mom's house. I haven't used that gear for a decade, and it's just going to be impossible to not use that camera and lens some of the time. I expect to use the 35 90% of the time.
I'll stick to 4 films and one developer. ACROS whenever feasible. But I live in Seattle, so it's often too dark for that. Neopan 400 or 2TMY (bulk-loaded) when ACROS is too slow. I have a pile of 2TMY and NP400 in the freezer, so I'll use both. Neopan 1600 for the dark. I'd exclusively shoot ACROS and NP1600, but at $5/roll, NP1600 is just too pricey to use when the speed is not really needed.
XTOL 1:1 for development of the fast films, always, and for the ACROS, usually. Rodinal 1:50 for the ACROS once in awhile, perhaps.
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raid
Dad Photographer
Well, then I will try to use my many "knives" to do photography, Roger.