Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS Posted December 21, 2017 Share #161 Posted December 21, 2017 Advertisement (gone after registration) This may be slightly off topic but this mantra is often repeated in the forum and is so untrue! I suspect this mantra is created by half cynical, petty jealous photographers who long for something they are not willing to afford to ease their minds (but to no avail I’m afraid). 1. There is not one camera that is completely fit and apt for every possible kind of photography. So for certain purposes yes one camera can make you better than another camera. A good photographer is a photographer who chooses the right tool for a certain job. 2. If a camera doesn’t feel right for you and you’re not happy with it, this forms a barrier to produce the good results. 3. I have experienced it too many times that people are very enthousiastic about images made with certain Leica lenses, which I’m certain they would have found just nice when it had been made with other lenses. well spoken mateOn the talk Photography forum there are hundreds of these kind of comments about you don’t need expensive camera gear to take better pictures....... it’s a load of bollocks. All my best pictures come from my Leica S system period. Even on here you get snide remarks when you want to go out and upgrade your camera gear. And it all stems from jealousy and just being a sad B When I listen to Gordon talk about his X1D you can feel his excitement about the new Camera and his pictures. The same with Jesse when he talks about his S pictures in Iceland. I will shut up now before I get really rattled Once again well spoken Neil Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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Paul J Posted December 21, 2017 Share #162 Posted December 21, 2017 (edited) I don't think cameras make better photographers - the process of shooting makes you a better photographer. Cameras serve the photographer. They can give you better IQ, if that's what you want. They can give you a lo-fi IQ, if that's what you want. It can give you what ever quality or trait you are wanting and it can make it easier to get the pictures you want. It's about knowing what you want and searching and finding the right thing for it. But that is a different process and result for everyone, it's a personal thing. Rarely, a piece of gear will come along that inspires me to just shoot for the sake of it but that feeling is usually short lived. It's the process of shooting though that makes a better photographer so if a new camera can inspire you or help facilitate that then great. It's a vehicle in that regard, It's a tool. But the feeling of 'new' extremely rarely is lasting or keeps me interested or has any bearing on the actual image. For me Inspiration and being a better photographer comes from the photo and what I put in it and how I execute it. It's from shooting, shooting, shooting and the learning never ends because my world around me and I in it are constantly changing. That inspiration is never ending. Once I know what I want to say then the gear then reveals itself after a lot of searching for what I need to represent that. The camera is both important and unimportant but for me it's way down the list or chain in terms of photography and image making. Once I'm using something it's because it serves the purpose and I've chosen it for a specific purpose and even if it's difficult to use I find a way to make it work. But at the same time when I can find a piece of gear that re-presents my style, my point of view, my process, when it makes it easier to facilitate that point of view and can re-present all that in a visual way then I can really bond with it because it is re-presenting me and I use till it's dead or until I change my mind about what I want to shoot. It's part of the artistic process and its different for everyone. But I enjoy reading and listening about others processes too, because it can make me think about my own process in a different light or introduce me to something I'm unaware of. Edited December 21, 2017 by Paul J 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
otto.f Posted December 21, 2017 Share #163 Posted December 21, 2017 Oh and: 4. There’s some hidden narcistic tendency in this mantra: as if the ego of the great artist is the only thing that counts to come to astounding photography. Bullshit 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
faranstudio Posted December 21, 2017 Share #164 Posted December 21, 2017 This may be slightly off topic but this mantra is often repeated in the forum and is so untrue! I suspect this mantra is created by half cynical, petty jealous photographers who long for something they are not willing to afford to ease their minds (but to no avail I’m afraid). 1. There is not one camera that is completely fit and apt for every possible kind of photography. So for certain purposes yes one camera can make you better than another camera. A good photographer is a photographer who chooses the right tool for a certain job. 2. If a camera doesn’t feel right for you and you’re not happy with it, this forms a barrier to produce the good results. 3. I have experienced it too many times that people are very enthousiastic about images made with certain Leica lenses, which I’m certain they would have found just nice when it had been made with other lenses. Agreed. Experience and feel for sure impacts the result to some point and we should all shoot with what makes us happy that’s why we all end up with multiple systems 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
faranstudio Posted December 21, 2017 Share #165 Posted December 21, 2017 I don't think cameras make better photographers - the process of shooting makes you a better photographer. Cameras serve the photographer. They can give you better IQ, if that's what you want. They can give you a lo-fi IQ, if that's what you want. It can give you what ever quality or trait you are wanting and it can make it easier to get the pictures you want. It's about knowing what you want and searching and finding the right thing for it. But that is a different process and result for everyone, it's a personal thing. Rarely, a piece of gear will come along that inspires me to just shoot for the sake of it but that feeling is usually short lived. It's the process of shooting though that makes a better photographer so if a new camera can inspire you or help facilitate that then great. It's a vehicle in that regard, It's a tool. But the feeling of 'new' extremely rarely is lasting or keeps me interested or has any bearing on the actual image. For me Inspiration and being a better photographer comes from the photo and what I put in it and how I execute it. It's from shooting, shooting, shooting and the learning never ends because my world around me and I in it are constantly changing. That inspiration is never ending. Once I know what I want to say then the gear then reveals itself after a lot of searching for what I need to represent that. The camera is both important and unimportant but for me it's way down the list or chain in terms of photography and image making. Once I'm using something it's because it serves the purpose and I've chosen it for a specific purpose and even if it's difficult to use I find a way to make it work. But at the same time when I can find a piece of gear that re-presents my style, my point of view, my process, when it makes it easier to facilitate that point of view and can re-present all that in a visual way then I can really bond with it because it is re-presenting me and I use till it's dead or until I change my mind about what I want to shoot. It's part of the artistic process and its different for everyone. But I enjoy reading and listening about others processes too, because it can make me think about my own process in a different light or introduce me to something I'm unaware of. Process as you mentioned plays an important role in mastering the craft in any creative field. In my case I focus a lot on the story and source of inspiration and how I can reflect that on my images. Right tools in right hands will enhance the quality of the output (no limited to Photogrpahy). In that sense I had the best experience shooting with M246 and that feeling and excitement is still with me. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted December 21, 2017 Share #166 Posted December 21, 2017 well spoken mate On the talk Photography forum there are hundreds of these kind of comments about you don’t need expensive camera gear to take better pictures....... it’s a load of bollocks. All my best pictures come from my Leica S system period. Even on here you get snide remarks when you want to go out and upgrade your camera gear. And it all stems from jealousy and just being a sad B When I listen to Gordon talk about his X1D you can feel his excitement about the new Camera and his pictures. The same with Jesse when he talks about his S pictures in Iceland. I will shut up now before I get really rattled Once again well spoken Neil Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk You may get better photographs technically - and I suppose that is your definition - but not mine. I tend to look at content, composition, emotional impact, story telling etc. That means that the gear is utterly irrelevant, as long as it is able to convey the photographer's intention. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted December 21, 2017 Share #167 Posted December 21, 2017 Advertisement (gone after registration) Some of my best photographs are taken with my iPhone. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS Posted December 21, 2017 Share #168 Posted December 21, 2017 Some of my best photographs are taken with my iPhone.Andyis that the iPhone 6 or the newer iPhone X 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
otto.f Posted December 21, 2017 Share #169 Posted December 21, 2017 Andy is that the iPhone 6 or the newer iPhone X 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS Posted December 21, 2017 Share #170 Posted December 21, 2017 You may get better photographs technically - and I suppose that is your definition - but not mine. I tend to look at content, composition, emotional impact, story telling etc. That means that the gear is utterly irrelevant, as long as it is able to convey the photographer's intention. But Jaap thats because you don't have or used a MF camera...........it makes a difference "trust me" Neil Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted December 21, 2017 Share #171 Posted December 21, 2017 It’s an iPhone 6S Can’t see any point in upgrading to an iPhone 8 and I don’t like the face unlocking thing of the X Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted December 21, 2017 Share #172 Posted December 21, 2017 I've used plenty of MF. Ditched it because it did not suit my photography. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted December 21, 2017 Share #173 Posted December 21, 2017 But Jaap thats because you don't have or used a MF camera...........it makes a difference "trust me" Neil Technically, it will make a difference. A good photographer can take a good photograph with any camera. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
faranstudio Posted December 21, 2017 Share #174 Posted December 21, 2017 Technically, it will make a difference. A good photographer can take a good photograph with any camera. Yup! Agreed all the way. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS Posted December 21, 2017 Share #175 Posted December 21, 2017 It’s an iPhone 6SCan’t see any point in upgrading to an iPhone 8 and I don’t like the face unlocking thing of the X No way man.........that face unlocking is fantastic, the camera is also fantastic and its new (Say no more) Neil Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted December 21, 2017 Share #176 Posted December 21, 2017 (edited) The photograph is what it's all about. Everything else just plays a supporting role and by itself is useless. The biggest distractions I'm aware of are cameras and aesthetic. But they are part of the paradox of photography. They are both important and unimportant. All aesethic beyond composition and compositional aids like lighting and placement of content is totally useless and a lot of people spend their lives chasing it. But there comes a point when the photo is great and that is where aesthetic can and to me does really become important. When everything is there it succeeds. If you truly take care of every facet of the content then aesthetic takes care of itself. And I believe the same can be said for gear. It's secondary up to the point of capture where obviously the camera becomes the most important thing capturing the moment. But no camera tells you what to point it at and most importantly no camera will ever give you the sensitivity to press the shutter button and capture what you are feeling in that slither of time. But given we won't even be using cameras or even phones to take pictures in the future it just goes to show how unimportant the camera is. I'm obsessed with the technical side, just as any other part of photography. To me where it becomes important is in the mastery of the medium which for me is a worthy path to spend my life walking and endlessly trying to achieve as the goal posts continually move. For me even if the photo is there, if the technical isn't then it goes in the bin, or at least edited down into the "missed it" file. I think if you have high standards it only builds on the whole and you get better. Cartier Bresson gets over quoted but my favourite of his is something so simple, pure and strong that it just works. I'm paraphrasing but - There is only "Yes!!!!" No maybes. That sums it up for me in the most pure way - Maybe, or anything other than that Yes!!!! feeling goes in the bin. I'm digressing but the point is - none of this has anything to do with a camera. Edited December 21, 2017 by Paul J 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted December 21, 2017 Share #177 Posted December 21, 2017 No way man.........that face unlocking is fantastic, the camera is also fantastic and its new (Say no more) Neil My M240 is 3 years old and my M2 is exactly 9 months older than me. I don’t trust the face recognition thing. Very easy for a thief to unlock if they take it out of your hand. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS Posted December 21, 2017 Share #178 Posted December 21, 2017 I've used plenty of MF. Ditched it because it did not suit my photography. Fair enough but that doesn't mean that everyone else has to follow suite. Personally I enjoy and love shooting MF and LF and feel my images are better for it..........Thats a personal thing so not nesccessary what the theres see Neil Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS Posted December 21, 2017 Share #179 Posted December 21, 2017 Yup! Agreed all the way. Try printing a raw file from a Nikon 5000 4 feet wide Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted December 21, 2017 Share #180 Posted December 21, 2017 No problem if you stand 6 feet way. The largest print I have on my wall is 1500mm wide. It’s from a Nikon D700, with its 12Mp sensor. Looks great. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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