What do you wish you'd realized earlier?

R

retinax

Well-known
Local time
2:58 PM
Joined
Aug 7, 2015
Messages
1,621
Hi all,
I thought we could have a thread where we share the things about which we've muttered "damn, am I dense" or just "duh.." to ourselves. Should be amusing and maybe some late realizations can be helpful to others.
This is prompted by my sudden realizing why sometimes the film wants to curls the wrong way, emulsion side out, and is a lot harder to get on the reel. It's because some cameras wind it on the take-up spool that way! And somehow it keeps that curl even when back in the cassette, probably because it's wound more tightly in the camera. Thanks, engineers.
Another thing: It took me a while to understand how exactly to make best use of dodging and burning. Not that I was great at it now, but realizing that one should generally pick a higher contrast filter or paper grade to get higher local contrast, and then use dodging and burning to mitigate blown highlights or blocked shadows (rather than the other way around, using it to increase contrast) has helped a lot.
 
I wish I knew I could scan film and edit it w software before I spent money on expensive digital gear.
 
A dangerous question to ask an old man ... My answer has nothing to do with gear or technique ....

The first thing that comes to mind is something that I was told years ago, by a well-known photographer whom I had the pleasure of accompanying on some work. Anyway, I asked him (and I paraphrase) how does one get into the fine-arts photography business. He reflected for a few moments and told me that at long as I had a full-time career that paid the bills, etc., that I'd never find the time (and fear) to succeed in his business. It was very simple, but struck me as inconceivable at that moment.

Now, many years later, I have been able to follow his advice, and you know what? Making pictures (many bad ones, which he told me was expected) I realize that he was right.

Now, the question remains: how might my life played out had I followed his honest reply to what he must have felt was a strange question.
 
Hm, first thing I can think of: When I was a young college student, I spent years cooking and eating inedible meals until I finally realised how extremely important onions are!
 
I wish I had realized that I should've gotten into the Leica M system way sooner than I did. Would have saved a bunch of money on all the other gear I bought instead. But then it was an experience I suppose I had to go through to convince myself it was what I wanted to do in the long run.


PF
 
You really only need one camera but that camera should be selected with care. For me that would have been something in large format, all those cool movements :)
 
I always wanted a Rolleiflex TLR.


My first TLRs were a Minolta Autocord and then a Mamiya C330f. Later still, I finally got a Rolleicord (sold it), and a couple of Rolleiflexes (plus two Yashicas and a Ricohflex/Diacord).



My favorites are still the Minolta Autocord and the Mamiya. I should have just stuck with them.


- Murray
 
Stick to one thing whether gear, film or chemicals and be an expert with it. Biggest regret: not taking that shot (lots of those).
 
Re: What do you wish you'd realized earlier?
Ans: What I haven't realized yet

That planning sometimes results a different outcome... That it's not a matter of slowing down, it's just being ready at the right moment.

Casey
 
I wish I’d checked that the film was winding on properly that time with my M4... 36 Pulitzer Prize winners all on top of each other.
 
... That what really matters is a camera and a few good lenses - and that's it. Everything else is clutter and chasing after the wind. And a few good lenses means (three good ones).
 
I wish I'd realized that you can shoot as much film as you want, and put it in the fridge or freezer to develop much later. So many images were missed because I was trying to 'save' film, when I should have just shot everything and developed when it could be afforded. I kind of blame my Dad, who was annoyed when I took loads of pictures at a holiday in Hawaii. Come on, Dad. we're on the other side of the world seeing women in bikini tops and hula skirts in real life! That put a dampener on my image making back then.

I wish I'd realized the vital importance of photography and daily/weekly journaling from my teenage years onwards. Much of my journals are spotty, especially from 12-16. I got a lot better from 16 on, but there's much I wish I had photographed and journaled from 12 to 16.
 
Expose more, develop less. In other words, the manufacturers' instructions don't give the best negatives.
 
Last edited:
I mostly wish I'd kept gear I was selling until later. Sold one of those daft Tomioka 55mm 1.2 lenses a couple of years ago, and they're now selling for 3 times what I flogged it for.

And I wish I'd realised earlier that Pentax are the SLR brand for me. Started with Pentax, sold a perfect, serviced ME Super and tried Canon, Nikon and Olympus before going back to Pentax. Trying to find an ME Super as perfect as my first one...

Also wish I'd realised that my Canon VI-L without a lens attached is the perfect shape to slip nicely out of my jacket pocket and onto the tarmac.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom