A Few Random Thoughts On Photography; Page 1

Portrait of a deadrise. (click to enlarge)

Recently, by watching a friend photograph I was reminded that I never think to get low to make my photographs.  I did and there is a world of difference in how the camera renders a scene when near ground level.  Try it.  Don’t make all your photographs at eye level.  That different perspective can make a great difference.

It’s a new year.  I’m now seeing headlines such as “Best Camera of 2021.”  The first thing that comes to my mind is “best for what?” and “best for who?”  How can a single camera (or even a couple) be best for everything and everybody?  You know the answer.  There can't be a 'best' camera for everything.  My advice is to ignore those kinds of presentations as they are largely meaningless for almost all of us.  Do your research and make your own determination as to which camera is best for you based upon your needs.

I don't know how the camera manufacturers can continue to introduce new models at the same rate as they have over the past 15 years.  Digital cameras are already better than good, have almost every feature that we can use, sensor technology is almost at a plateau (for the time being) and the market is shrinking.  In the future, I think we will have fewer new cameras introduced but instead firmware updates adding new features taking the place of new models.  But they may not be free any longer.  Even Fujifilm, which is known for its Kaizen philosophy of providing many updates to not only their new cameras but also older models, has seemingly largely abandoned the practice.

A lot of YouTube photographers put out some pretty mediocre stuff, both in on-camera presentation and in the images they show.  I suspect once they start making videos they feel compelled to put out something—anything—just to regularly publish.  I think they should reconsider doing that.  Publishing less frequently may not make them as much money but one is typically judged by one's worst work.

On the other hand, there are some YouTubers putting out excellent videos along with excellent photography.  You probably know who they are.

Two OCD things I have about composition is to, whenever humanly possible, leave a little space between two important subjects in a photograph.  For example, two horses standing in the distance.  Leave a bit of space between them.  Also, I like to leave just a bit of space between two trees, people, poles or whatever.  Leaving a small amount of space reduces confusion as to what your subjects may be.  The same goes for something in your image just meeting or crossing a horizon line.  Immediately I notice if there is something 'just' touching or crossing the horizon and move the camera either higher or lower to change perspective.  Something meeting or just touching the horizon line causes unwanted tension in the photograph.  Leave some space.

Some people say they don’t like Fujifilm cameras because they don’t like the dials for shutter speed and aperture.  What they are missing is you can program the front and rear command dials to change both of those just like in other brands of camera.  Fujifilm gives us the best of both worlds.

I don’t like the recent trend we’re seeing in new lens design.  Many of the new zoom lenses have become really slow, especially at the long end.  That goes for a couple of newer telephoto primes by Canon as well.  A few years back the maximum aperture creeped to f/6.3 from f/5.6 on many long zooms.  I’ve used a few and with the improvement in digital cameras’ sensors, the higher ISOs needed to use a lens at that aperture has been tolerable—barely.  But now I’m seeing f/7.1 lenses being introduced.  That, to me, is a bit smaller than I’m comfortable using.  On a heaveily overcast day and needing a high shutter speed for birds or such, ISOs soar.  Also what no one is mentioning is that these lenses, wide open, are getting close to inducing diffraction softening.  Then there is the limitation on depth of field.  Nope.  I don’t like this trend at all.

Let’s end the sensor wars.  Sensor size means very little in today’s digital photography world.  With the artificial intelligence based plug-ins and AI in some of the major editing software, technology is equalizing the differences between sensors of different sizes.  I'm not saying the differences are eliminated.  Larger sensors with larger pixels have more dynamic range and less inherent noise.  But if you don't shoot under those conditions, it doesn't matter.

Many times I hear ‘experts’ scoff at making the iconic photographs at famous locations. Well, why not?  Shouldn’t we be photographing to please ourselves and not worrying about what others tell us we should do?  Absolutely!  Also, when I’m at an iconic location, such as the Grand Canyon or Yosemite National Park, I make the iconic shots.  Then, when they are out of the way and out of my mind, I closely explore what else there is to photograph.  It's a viable strategy.

There is another side of the coin when it comes to all of the photographic technology available to us, especially everything that our cameras can do just about automatically.  The downside, for me anyway, is that when I employ too much technology it reduces the satisfaction I get from “me” making the photographic decisions.  If too much tech is utilized the camera begins to make most of the decisions, not the photographer.  Recently I’ve realized that over the past couple of years I’ve mostly reverted to manual exposure with Auto ISO for most of my image making.  At least I am deciding on shutter speed, aperture, focus, composition and when exactly the shutter is released.  The camera does the rest. Maybe I’m just too old school?  The alternative is to put your camera into the "P" (for Professional) mode!  Lol.

When and why did we photographers become so obsessed with smaller and lighter cameras and lenses?  Shouldn't we hold the philosophy of "the best tool for the job."  Other craftsman (and women and all of the other self-identifying genders also) still do?  You don't see a carpenter framing a house with a tack hammer nor putting tiny wheels and tires on a cement truck to save weight.  No, the best camera is not necessarily the one you have with you, but it is the one that best gets done what you need to get done, whether you have it with you or not.  Sometimes the best tool is large and sometimes it's not.

Will sensors be able to gain more dynamic range than is now available?  Maybe, but will they be affordable?  It seems the last three generations of sensors, even on high end cameras, still have about the same dynamic range.  Look them up on the Photons to Photos website.

Has traditional photography been ruined by the advent of mobile phone cameras, technology and the ease at which anyone can point their device at something and make a pretty nice looking digital image?  Or has its doors been flung open so millions can now enjoy a craft which, in years gone by, had pretty significant barriers to entry?  I guess it depends upon how you choose to look at things.

We all hear about how important ‘the light’ is and we should be photographing during the golden hour or blue hour or during dramatic light.  And...it is.  However, look closely at some of the photographs made with this light. In some that is all you will see—pretty light. No subject.  No main interest other than ‘the light.’  I want more from my photographs than just nice light.

Enough random thoughts for now.  My brain is tired.  After all, as of this week, I'm now an old man of 70!  Lol.  I guess that means I've left middle age.  Funny, but I don't feel more than about 45.  Someone should have told me many years ago that I need to grow up but I promised myself I would never quite grow up no matter my chronological age.

ADDENDUM:  Not only did I turn 70 but I've been battling the Omicron variant of the Covid-19 virus.  I've been home for the past almost 4 weeks trying at all costs to avoid it.  However, a family member unknowingly brought it to me!  Oh well!  I tried my best.  That said, it has been like a mild cold.  The upside is I'll now have additional immunity.

Join me over at my website, https://www.dennismook.com.  

Thanks for looking. Enjoy!  

Dennis A. Mook  

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