When we observe the general photography discussion over online photography community such as forums, Flickr groups and Facebook Group/Pages, the harmless discussion quickly takes dramatic turn and people obsess over technicalities and proving who knows what better, that I do not see how photography is fun any more. So what if that camera is better than that camera, so what if my lens is not as sharp as yours? What if I decide to break some rules of photography? Surely I do not want any bloodshed.
Maybe that is why you do not see me in any forums or groups. If you have invited me to join forums or that cool new photography group you have set up on Facebook, I must apologize and respectfully decline the invitation.
What is photography to me? It is my excuse to go out and have fun. I see photography as a form of therapy for my mind and soul and when I shoot, I will push aside all the complications and stressful thoughts. All I wanted to do with my camera was to enjoy myself, getting lost in the process of shooting nice photographs.
cross section
Portrait of a Stranger 1
Hush
Green
Purple
Portrait of a Stranger 2
Hood
Dim Sum
I'm with you on this one.
ReplyDeleteI see too many people talking about something they aren't buying and don't want but it's not suitable for anyone because they can't afford it or don't want it. An argument ensues and it all runs out of control. On the opposite end, I don't buy the kit lenses, so if someone else can make them work, great. I have a terrible time getting the image quality that I want, so I buy something else. I'm sure Ansel Adams with any equipment could do much better than the rest of us.
HI Sakamoto,
DeleteEveryone wants to be an expert and too many people giving opinions will just pollute the concept of photography. Yes, Ansel Adam would do much better.
Excellent attitude and perspective.. Agree 100%
ReplyDeleteLets stay positive and it will show in our photography!
DeleteOne vote for your perspectives. More often I have people look down on my equipment and do not give constructive comments.
ReplyDeletePay no attention to such people. If you come across people who see pass your equipment and actually look deep into your photographs, then pay attention!
DeleteThis is my own exact approach, as well. Normally every weekend I find the time to enjoy at least one photowalk on my own through the always exciting streets of Bangkok, where I live, and those few hours on my own, wandering without a set destiation, meeting anonymoys people are, more often than not, the highlight of my whole week. But that's not the end of the story, just half of it, because when I return home it's time to check the pictures, process the best and share them through my blog to complete the circle.
ReplyDeleteWhere does "fun" or enjoymemt come into play in all this? Simply from beginning to end. Gear is always the tool to reach a higher goal, not the goal in itself, as is so often the case.
Glad to see that you practice shutter therapy in your own way! I can relate to you, it is true that the "fun" runs full circle, from the shooting process into looking at the photos and processing them at home.
Delete2nd is amazing!
ReplyDeleteThanks Juan!
DeleteSorry 3th!!
DeleteHow wonderful and somewhat ironic to find this post here today. I was sent the link to your blog a while ago and clicked for the first time a moment ago. Why the happy irony? The link came from a friend on a forum (!) that I run - it's small, and the result of a group of us wanting to discuss images for the sake of the images, rather than focus on the equipment and what costs more... much like the ideals you mention here. I won't give the link to the forum, because it's not why I'm commenting, although in a long roundabout way, it's what brought me here!
ReplyDeleteWhen I look at the images I've shot over the years that I like most, I have to say they mostly came about through having fun with photography. The images that were 'work', or were 'forced', never really glowed like the others. So you are 100% correct... it should be about fun, and if we're honest, it often *must* be about fun! It shows in the results, including your great examples above.
Do you know what 'fun' with photography is for me these days? Steady, don't laugh... 'Instagram'! After all the years of working with (and for) expensive camera gear - Large Format, good SLR's and then DSLR's... and the perpetual quest for a small point'n shoot that will produce results better than a 4x5 bred with a pro level DSLR (FYI - it doesn't exist...!) - I'm getting really great fun from shooting with my cell phone and editing with free apps to do the basic work necessary to make a flat cell phone image into something that has some kick! In reality, it isn't Instagram that makes if fun, but it was Instagram that opened my eyes to the possibilities.
After all these years, I never would have thought that I'd be shooting with what can only be described as 'inferior' gear... and enjoying it as much as I am. I still reflect upon the contemplative process that goes into setting up for a LF shot, and the careful approach I always took to shooting expensive transparency film in any format - there is still much value in that. But the fact that I can also have 'fun' with a cell camera goes to show that 'fun' truly is a key part of what it's all about!
Hi Brocknanson,
DeleteWelcome to my humble blog and I thank you for the visit. I appreciate your comments and I do think many of us can relate to it.
I am not surprised to hear about "instagram", it is a huge hit and photographers are positively accepting it as part of their social network. There is no such thing as inferior gear, if you carefully work out our vision and translate that artistically into photographs that we take. I have seen some really amazing photographs taken with mobile phones.
beautiful portrait pictures and nicely written. The pressure that is coming from those kinds of groups(but they can also be really good and uniting people from the world in something they love) can sometimes be difficult and make a competition or stress of something we enjoy! Let's not let that happen:)
ReplyDeletehttp://boography.blogspot.com
Cora,
DeleteIt is crucial not to see anything as competition, and that is also why we should avoid stress! Yes, let's enjoy photography.
Thank you for your words :)
ReplyDeleteI agree to 100%!!!!! Yes, "So what if that camera is better than that camera, so what if my lens is not as sharp as yours? What if I decide to break some rules of photography?" :))))
As always, I am enjoying your beautiful picture.
Have a super day
Halina
Thanks for the kind words, Halina.
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