What motivates you to pursue the craft of photography? Fame, fortune, insanity or something else.
For me the answer to this question is multifaceted. Because I make my livelihood as a photographer the fortune part comes in to play, although the fortune is a tiny one in my case, but it is also my creative outlet. If I wasn't paid to do it I still would.
There is an interesting thread on the APUG site that I have provided a link to.
http://www.apug.org/forums/forum50/59887-photographs-main-reason-you-photograph.html
This is sort of related to what I am talking about so you maybe interested in what different folks have to say.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Gear Again!!!
OK, so I have an old issue of Outdoor Photographer that has been sitting around that I hadn't got around to reading. I picked it up and looked at the cover to see what was inside.
One of the blurbs on the cover said something to the effect shoot like Ansel Adams with your DSLR.
Now this caught my attention.
Just how in hell can you get the same result as a large format camera/film combination; and like Ansel Adams no less, using a DSLR.? So I went to page 56 and started to read the article. The article was about perspective control lenses. Gear again!!
I am not anti-gear by any means, but so much is written it the photo magazines about gear. I know that many people use the photo magazines to research what they want buy, but it seems like there is a glut of these kinds of stories.
It seems to me there is an inference being made, if you use this gear or that gear you'll get this result or that result. Yes you need to use photographic equipment to do photography.
BUT
Gear doesn't make an image it just takes the picture.
Great equipment in the hands of an inexperienced photographer will not make world class photographs. I have see way too much emphasis put on improving skill level by getting the latest stuff. Just because the guy in the camera store or the author of an article says you need it don't make it so.
You need to learn and master the craft. The more you understand the how and the why the farther ahead you will be creatively.
I am sure that if I won the super lotto jackpot tomorrow I would run right out and buy as much gear as I could carry.
But would it improve my photography?
One of the blurbs on the cover said something to the effect shoot like Ansel Adams with your DSLR.
Now this caught my attention.
Just how in hell can you get the same result as a large format camera/film combination; and like Ansel Adams no less, using a DSLR.? So I went to page 56 and started to read the article. The article was about perspective control lenses. Gear again!!
I am not anti-gear by any means, but so much is written it the photo magazines about gear. I know that many people use the photo magazines to research what they want buy, but it seems like there is a glut of these kinds of stories.
It seems to me there is an inference being made, if you use this gear or that gear you'll get this result or that result. Yes you need to use photographic equipment to do photography.
BUT
Gear doesn't make an image it just takes the picture.
Great equipment in the hands of an inexperienced photographer will not make world class photographs. I have see way too much emphasis put on improving skill level by getting the latest stuff. Just because the guy in the camera store or the author of an article says you need it don't make it so.
You need to learn and master the craft. The more you understand the how and the why the farther ahead you will be creatively.
I am sure that if I won the super lotto jackpot tomorrow I would run right out and buy as much gear as I could carry.
But would it improve my photography?
Monday, March 9, 2009
Arena Racing
I posted some images from the lawn mower races quite a few months back.
Arena racing is a similar sport from the standpoint that just about anyone who wants to participate can afford to do so. Many of the cars are owned by the people driving them.
These cars run around 60 MPH during a race. The track is designed to fit in the space a hockey rink would set. So even though the cars are small there is just enough space to run them two abrest.
Because of the small track space and speed of the cars spinouts and smash ups are a regular part of these events. It is the only racing I have been to where when a car gets fliped over on it's roof two or three track guys come out, check the driver out, and flip the car back on it's wheels so it can be on it's way. (here's a good example http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpgVck6QpvM )
If for some reason a body part like a fender, hood or trunk lid become loose they are re-attached with liberal quanities of duct tape.
Pre race check out.
up on 2 wheels.
Arena racing is a similar sport from the standpoint that just about anyone who wants to participate can afford to do so. Many of the cars are owned by the people driving them.
These cars run around 60 MPH during a race. The track is designed to fit in the space a hockey rink would set. So even though the cars are small there is just enough space to run them two abrest.
Because of the small track space and speed of the cars spinouts and smash ups are a regular part of these events. It is the only racing I have been to where when a car gets fliped over on it's roof two or three track guys come out, check the driver out, and flip the car back on it's wheels so it can be on it's way. (here's a good example http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpgVck6QpvM )
If for some reason a body part like a fender, hood or trunk lid become loose they are re-attached with liberal quanities of duct tape.
Pre race check out.
up on 2 wheels.
Spin in turn 4
This young lady just won her first race. Iwas rooting for her.
Heated words between a drive and race offical.
If you want to find out more http://www.arenaracingusa.com/
If you want to find out more http://www.arenaracingusa.com/
or
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Lighting The Way
As photographers we concern ourselves with many things while pursuing the craft. What lens to use, camera type, film or digital, do I need a tripod, etc.
But before we ask those questions we need to ask ourselves what about the light. I would dare say the most important component of any photograph is light. Sure other things are important but without the light you have no image.
I know this seems like a very basic statement, but I think you would be surprised just how many people are out there shooting with no regard to the way the light is falling on their subject, and I don't necessarily mean people new to photography.
Learning to see and use light is sort of like learning another language, the more you understand it's subtleties the better you can communicate your thoughts and ideas. The more you study the light and what it's doing the better you photography will become.
Let's say you are out shooting an environmental portrait and light is very hard. You make the decision to move your subject into a shaded area, this helps you with your subject so you take the shot. When you look at it you see that the background is really washed out because it is so much brighter. If you would have studied the scene a bit closer you would have noticed that this was a problem and you could have made a different choice as how to proceed. All this comes with experience. The more you look at the light and learn how it behaves the better you results will be.
So do yourself a favor, study your light a bit closer. You'll be glad that you did.
But before we ask those questions we need to ask ourselves what about the light. I would dare say the most important component of any photograph is light. Sure other things are important but without the light you have no image.
I know this seems like a very basic statement, but I think you would be surprised just how many people are out there shooting with no regard to the way the light is falling on their subject, and I don't necessarily mean people new to photography.
Learning to see and use light is sort of like learning another language, the more you understand it's subtleties the better you can communicate your thoughts and ideas. The more you study the light and what it's doing the better you photography will become.
Let's say you are out shooting an environmental portrait and light is very hard. You make the decision to move your subject into a shaded area, this helps you with your subject so you take the shot. When you look at it you see that the background is really washed out because it is so much brighter. If you would have studied the scene a bit closer you would have noticed that this was a problem and you could have made a different choice as how to proceed. All this comes with experience. The more you look at the light and learn how it behaves the better you results will be.
So do yourself a favor, study your light a bit closer. You'll be glad that you did.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Shooting with Friends
Last Sunday I left the comfort of a nice warm house to go shooting with a few friends. It was some of the same group of folks who get together every so often to make the great photographic masterpieces of our time.
We decided to go out to the lake shore by Grand Haven MI. The power station in Grand Haven discharges warm water into the channel and the open water attracts eagles who feed there.
I don't have a really long lens, the eagles were far away and Sam wanted to shoot at the pier so I went with him.
He had never been out the the big lake in the winter to shoot before. I think he had a good time. We need to make a return trip on a day with more sunshine.
Sam the artic photographer.
Blowing snow.
We decided to go out to the lake shore by Grand Haven MI. The power station in Grand Haven discharges warm water into the channel and the open water attracts eagles who feed there.
I don't have a really long lens, the eagles were far away and Sam wanted to shoot at the pier so I went with him.
He had never been out the the big lake in the winter to shoot before. I think he had a good time. We need to make a return trip on a day with more sunshine.
Sam the artic photographer.
Blowing snow.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Film is Dead?
Here is a link to an interesting story about a resurgence of Kodak film use.
The use of film has been relegated to a niche but the niche seems to be growing especially among younger professional photographers and fine art shooters. Film does have it's own look that can't be duplicated digitally, it's not better or worst, just different. I think that different look is what many people are after.
There are a number of informational sources specific to the use of film, magizines and some websites. Here are two resources on the Web that you may like to check.
First is APUG the Anolog Photography Users Group and Second is the podcast Inside Analog Photo Radio.
If you still shoot film check them out.
The use of film has been relegated to a niche but the niche seems to be growing especially among younger professional photographers and fine art shooters. Film does have it's own look that can't be duplicated digitally, it's not better or worst, just different. I think that different look is what many people are after.
There are a number of informational sources specific to the use of film, magizines and some websites. Here are two resources on the Web that you may like to check.
First is APUG the Anolog Photography Users Group and Second is the podcast Inside Analog Photo Radio.
If you still shoot film check them out.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Baby it's Cold Outside
I drove my daughter back to Chicago yesterday, so on my way back I stop at St Joe and took a few shots of the Lighthouse. Man it was cold and I didn't have any gloves.
But I did manage a few nice shots anyway.
But I did manage a few nice shots anyway.
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