Discussion Starter

… and says to you “You can have any camera in the world, just tell me what one you want.” What camera do you pick, and why?

I would be hard pressed going past the Canon 5DmkII, purely because I have a range on Canon lenses. There are Leica film cameras that would also be high on the list, and an Olympus Pen F, but I am pretty sure the 5D2 would top the list.

What about you?

Do you ever lose your Phojo? Phojo, for the people scratching their heads, is photographic mojo. Do you ever wonder where the next photo is coming from? I see it all the time on photographic forums and Flickr. People pleading for inspiration. They feel they have lost their phojo and fear it may never come back. I admit, it has happened to me on many occasions.

So often, when people bare their souls on the interwebs, they get such a varied range of advice, it must be hard to know where to start. But, in one of those cyber oddities that are all to rare these days, when people claim to have lost their phojo, I hear the same piece of advice. “Have you tried the 365/52 projects?” Again, if you are wondering, they are projects on Flickr. The 365 group and the 52 weeks group are both based around a similar premise. Take a self portrait either every day for a year, or every week for a year. Easy. Well, not so easy it turns out.

Imagine, every day, you have to take a photo of yourself. That’s, every single day for a year! This from dictionary.com. Narcissism describes the trait of excessive self-love, based on self-image or ego. Now I am not saying that the thousands of people who are involved in the 365 project are in love with themselves, but I bet their aren’t too many emos doing it either. I really don’t think I have the head for the 365 project. So, how about the 52 week project. Surely, even I can manage one self portrait per week for a year. Or can I? Do I want 52 photos of me through out the year? I doubt even my darling wife would! But, I need a challenge, so, as of July 1, I am into it. The 365 project is just too damned daunting for me, but I reckon I can manage the 52 week project.

To spice things up even more, I am going to try and make it a charity event. I am not 100% sure how I can manage this at the moment, but I will give it some thought over the next fortnight and keep people advised. I will look into some childrens charities and see what would be the best one to support.

Watch this space!

Do you have a supportive partner or spouse, boyfriend or girlfriend? And when I say supportive, I mean supportive of your photographic endeavours?

I ask after reading on a photo forum a while back about a bloke who was continually frustrated by his partner complaining about him always being out taking photos. This went on for a year or two until someone suggested he buy her a camera. So her bought her a low end digital SLR, which he says now, saved his marriage. Now the only arguements they have is over who is using what lens!

Now I am one lucky fellow. The bride is very supportive of me and my photography. But having a photography tragic in the family has one small negative. We have very few photos of us together.

A rare photo of the bride (Andree) and I together.

I am not all that keen on having my photo taken (probably because the camera lens adds 10 kilograms to the extra 20 I am already carrying) and when I do, I like to take it. Which creates a bit of a problem. I have to hand over the camera to someone else to get a shot of the two of us. Now that shot isn’t going to be a shot that I took, it isn’t really my photo. Also, it will usually be on auto focus and a I try and set the camera up to be as easy to use as possible which will probably result in a photo slightly different to what I would like. In the end, it isn’t my photo. Maybe it is time to get the tripod out and get some shots of us together. Or grab one of my photography buddies and drag them along.

Suggestions or comments welcome.

How often do you print out your photos? And if you do, what size do you print them? I have about 20 6×4″ shots of mine up in my work area, and a few printed and framed at home, but not many.

Prints certainly look different to what you see of the computer screen. Not being back lit being the obvous difference. If you get a large print made, it is surprising just how much detail you can see in the print. Of course it is there on the computer screen, but how often do you zoom right in on your photos?

So, do you print?

Do you take a photo or make a photo? This one has had me puzzled for quite some time. I have always said that I take a photo. Since I have been more absorbed with all things photographic, I have heard people say they make photos. To make a photograph certainly has a more romantic notion, as opposed to taking it.

Obviously the most famous quote with regard to this dilemma of mine is from the old landscape master himself…

You don’t take a photograph, you make it. – Ansel Adams

Hmmm. Now, do we take it as gospel because a so called master of photography say it is so? Obviously not, after all, it is just his opinion. But there may be some truth in the matter if you look at it from an artistic point of view, which I am quite sure Mr Adams would have.

Made or Taken???

My understanding of the artistic side of photography is quite limited, as I am sure some of the readers know. But I do know that there is a lot more discussion about composition and lighting. Texture and form. Leading lines and the rule of thirds. So maybe to make a photo, you are making it conform to some rule or rules. To take a photo is just like it sounds. Like a thief in the night, you are grabbing an image, quickly, with out thought or preparation. An imprint of light on sensor or film with out calculation or premeditation. Most people don’t sit around snap shots pontificating (word of the week it seems) its meaning or form.

Do the artistic people make photographs and people like me take photographs? I look forward to your thoughts as usual.

25 Outstanding Examples Of Black And White Photography.

I must say, I was under whelmed. I love the horse photo above, but the rest weren’t exactly inspiring. Be interested to hear what other people think.

So, you want to buy a new camera. You think you might like to get into the world of digital SLR photography. You have seen them reasonably cheap at local camera stores. But, before you do, you think it is a good idea to ask for some advice at a photography forums you have seen on the interweb. Is this a good idea? Yes and no. What? hang on, yes AND no?

Lets talk about the yes first. Yes, because talking to people about a topic they are interested in will nearly always teach you something about that particular topic. They will usually have quite a bit of experience. I say usually, because the interweb is full of experts, or so called experts. Some of the suggestions I have seen on photography forums have been bordering on insanity. More on that in a bit. It is also a good idea because people will have experience with a wide range of gear. Different brands, different levels of equipment and differing skill sets. Which leads me onto the NO arguement.

Do you really need Leica on a Canon?, originally uploaded by norbography.

No, it isn’t a good idea. After what I have said for the YES case, you might be wondering why I would say there are negatives to asking the questions you want answered. Quite simply, there is a very good chance you will be getting advice off someone who is far more interested in photography than you might be. Or you might be as keen as mustard, but someone who owns a digital SLR and uses it at weddings and parties starts handing out advice, when they never take their camera out of Auto mode.

People need to weigh up the advice they are getting, and even ask the people they are discussing it with what their level of photographic skill and experience is. Time and time again, I have seen people told to get X lens and Y camera because that’s what the person giving the advice has got or used. This doesn’t mean the person asking for help will get the same use out of said piece of equipment. Why a learner needs a full framed camera that shoots 10 frames per second and the latest L series prime lens is beyond me. For people unsure of how far they will go in photography, I always advise them to grab a cheap second camera and lens, and see if the bug bites. They can always upgrade later. But if you tell someone to go out and get the latest and greatest camera and lens, camera especially, what happens in 6 months if they find they just aren’t into photography like they thought they would be? They will lose a stack of cash on the camera body, after all, it has probably been superseded, and they might get their money back on the lens if they are lucky.

I am sure some people will argue, but I am glad this is the approach I took. I bought a second hand Canon 300D and a couple of kit lenses. About 6 months later I found I loved photography, had some spare change laying around, so sold the 300D at a small loss, and upgraded to a 30D. The photography bug has since buried itself deep inside my brain and I have bought and sold all sorts of gear.

So before you go off asking for advice, find out who you are talking to. If they are rampant gear heads, it might be best to temper what they say. If they are people who bought a DSLR because Uncle Bob told them it would make them better photographers, a grain of salt may be needed. Try and get a cross section of views and it might make things just a little bit clearer.

Good luck.

Well it seems the interviews are quite popular, the taffic has spiked this week with the release of 4 interviews, so I am happy to do some more. What I would like to know is who else can I interview? I am pretty keen to have a chat to David Hobby from the Strobst’s Blog, but trying to contact him is proving a little difficult. Any other suggestions?