Pablito
coco frío
Is your stuff like your junk? And yes, it is Sontag.
Unleashing my Potential as a Photo / Artist
- Thread starter daveleo
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Richard G
Veteran
With an M10 and an iPhone 5 my unrealized potential will double.
Jamie123
Veteran
That's all very nice if your creative vision entails doing the kind of work he did. But, as an example, Stephen Shore's 'Uncommon Places' wouldn't look very good on 35mm Tri-X.
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Exactly. Chris Nisperos (with whom I wrote "Hollywood Portraits") tried for years to shoot Hollywood-style portraits on 4x5 with coated lenses, and was much miffed when he saw how much easier it was with an 8x10 inch camera and a 21 inch uncoated lens.
In other words, you need the right gear for specialized applications -- as others have pointed out, macro with an RF is a bit like hard work -- but I would be astonished if anything at photokina would make a major difference for any of the sort of pictures I want to take. Or that anyone else wants to take, either.
Cheers,
R.
Sparrow
Veteran
mugent
Well-known
My gear isn't holding me back, but it sometimes frustrated me to the point of giving up, I.e. trying to focus manual fast glass on a modern slr with a 3rd party split screen, I just couldn't get it shimmed properly, and eventually got a NEX 7 to solve this problem. The nex7 isn't perfect, but it's more capable than I will ever be.
Some crappy equipment can hold you back, but I'd say any modern digital large sensor camera is good enough for 99% of us.
Wanting is a different matter though, I'd love a new rolleiflex, or a dp2m, but neither would make me a better photographer, in fact, with the distraction of a pretty new camera, I'd get worse.
Some crappy equipment can hold you back, but I'd say any modern digital large sensor camera is good enough for 99% of us.
Wanting is a different matter though, I'd love a new rolleiflex, or a dp2m, but neither would make me a better photographer, in fact, with the distraction of a pretty new camera, I'd get worse.
Paul T.
Veteran
There is a problem with the digital upgrade cycle, as pointed out. It's very different from 10 years ago, when you could manage with, say, an OM-1 and Leica CL - they achieved a certain quality and used the same sensor. ANd of course it was easy to change film if a new formulation comes along.
now, of course, you have to throw everything else out if you simply want to use a better sensor. And it's only at $2,000 or so that you get something that gives the same look as film.
I always try and limit myself to a two year upgrade cycle - which is far more quickly than I would have upgraded my film gear. I think a lot of that was because my old G9, and GF1, simply weren't anywhere near as good as my old film cameras.
But I think when we get to affordable full-frame - which has taken 10 years - then the cycle of built-in obsolescence will slow down.
now, of course, you have to throw everything else out if you simply want to use a better sensor. And it's only at $2,000 or so that you get something that gives the same look as film.
I always try and limit myself to a two year upgrade cycle - which is far more quickly than I would have upgraded my film gear. I think a lot of that was because my old G9, and GF1, simply weren't anywhere near as good as my old film cameras.
But I think when we get to affordable full-frame - which has taken 10 years - then the cycle of built-in obsolescence will slow down.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
Sometimes getting a new camera doesn't need to be about opening up previously missed opportunities or improving your versatility.
It's OK to buy something because you just plain want it ... with no other agenda! I've had plenty of moments of retail therapy ... sometimes they work out and sometimes they don't. It's no big deal!
It's OK to buy something because you just plain want it ... with no other agenda! I've had plenty of moments of retail therapy ... sometimes they work out and sometimes they don't. It's no big deal!
Chris101
summicronia
Yes!
My "stuff" - the collective of the camera equipment over almost the last half-century of photographic work - is indeed holding me back. I have included an almost equal-but-separate number of years as a painter in the mix.
I remain unable to express as images, either 'on-screen'', or printed images that equal my imagined pictures. I get close, but I can't make exactly what I see in my mind's eye into a physical picture.
Perhaps, some day.
My "stuff" - the collective of the camera equipment over almost the last half-century of photographic work - is indeed holding me back. I have included an almost equal-but-separate number of years as a painter in the mix.
I remain unable to express as images, either 'on-screen'', or printed images that equal my imagined pictures. I get close, but I can't make exactly what I see in my mind's eye into a physical picture.
Perhaps, some day.
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Dear Keith,
But the magic word, as you point out, is 'sometimes'. There is a big difference between the occasional 'treat' and mindless, uncritical consumerism.
Cheers,
R.
thegman
Veteran
I see what you mean, but I am going to disagree. This is simply because it is in every camera manufacturer's interest to keep the cycle going. Once megapixels got to the point where no more is required, and high ISO got there, and then sensor size got there, then they'll have to start on dynamic range, or some other statistic that can be used to sell cameras. I guess they'll also use size/styling.
Let's be honest, the OM-D only sells over the far cheaper Panasonic G3 because it looks so nice.
Then of course the firmware updates will stop for the slightly older cameras, and everyone will use that as a reason to find it obsolete. I think it's a co-dependent relationship, we all want shiny new toys, and manufacturers want to sell them to us.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
Hi Roger,
The way I see it is the people who constantly cycle through gear really aren't harming anyone and if it wasn't photographic equipment it would be cars, motorcycles, ski equipment ... whatever!
They are not serious photographers and they know it ... they get their rush from consumerism. I'm OK with that ... it's their thing!
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Dear Keith,
Wasn't it two of your countrymen who wrote Affluenza: When Too Much is Never Enough?
Cheers,
R.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
Hi Roger,
A couple of Aussies yes ... but let's not forget I'm a Kiwi! 😀
Current consumerism is revolting I agree and sometimes it does make me grind my teeth ... personally I don't see an end to it, just an escalation.
But ... I'm not going to let it ruin what there is left of my life! 😛
Roger Hicks
Veteran
daveleo
what?
I feel the same as many of the comments here. I complain about my stuff ("If Nikon doesn't give me what I want now, I'm switching to Fuji."), but that's really "desire", not "need".
I can appreciate some of the comments about not having a studio setup, or the right tool for the next photo you want to take (that 8X10 LF camera or that SLR for macro).
When I asked the question, I had just come from another forum (less experienced people, apparently) who were bleeding about (literally) having their "creative potential" stifled because the very latest cameras didn't have this or that (39 autofocus points and a blindingly fast moving subject algorythm ! ? . . . a particular user option was located in the wrong sub-menu ! ). And I thought . . . . . . "Am I the village idiot? or are these guys out of their minds?"
I can appreciate some of the comments about not having a studio setup, or the right tool for the next photo you want to take (that 8X10 LF camera or that SLR for macro).
When I asked the question, I had just come from another forum (less experienced people, apparently) who were bleeding about (literally) having their "creative potential" stifled because the very latest cameras didn't have this or that (39 autofocus points and a blindingly fast moving subject algorythm ! ? . . . a particular user option was located in the wrong sub-menu ! ). And I thought . . . . . . "Am I the village idiot? or are these guys out of their minds?"
Jamie123
Veteran
I completely agree and I also share the OP's opinion on the ridiculous 'unleash your talent' marketing phrases. Of course equipment alone is not enough to take good pictures. But that doesn't mean that equipment is irrelevant or that you can do any kind of photography with a single device. Every single camera I have ever used has imposed certain boundaries on what kind of picture I can take. For me that's part of the appeal of photograpy.
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Of course, part of the appeal of photokina is finding stuff you hadn't thought of: novel or particularly fine answers to known questions, such as Alpas, or novel ideas such as Lensbabies.
Cheers,
R.
Cheers,
R.
laurentb
Established
If I ask the question to myself, then I keep on the good ol' Rolleiflex, and anything else is sitting on the shelf.
If I were honest to myself, then I'd use all (or most) of the monney I saved to buy more film... the more I shoot, the more my images look like what I want, and the happier I am.
OTOH, If I stick to this, then I'll never try a Leica, and provided what the Rolleiflex did to my "vision", then I might be missing something...
If I were honest to myself, then I'd use all (or most) of the monney I saved to buy more film... the more I shoot, the more my images look like what I want, and the happier I am.
OTOH, If I stick to this, then I'll never try a Leica, and provided what the Rolleiflex did to my "vision", then I might be missing something...
nighstar
eternal beginner
if anything having too much equipment to choose from limits my potential.
that and not having a car + being so goddamn busy.
that and not having a car + being so goddamn busy.