Spirit of photography

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<p>After a couple of decades into photography, I've gained some nuggets of wisdom along the way - mostly hard-earned. Most of which seems like common-sense, and that many of us know - is not all that common. Or rather, with the seductive marketing and glossy advertising that the major brands are heaping upon us, it is easy to lose sight of what photography really is. We are perpetually tempted into hankering after the latest camera or the newest incarnation of a lens, or lured into swapping our system for the latest and newest system on the block. New products are always heaped with bells and whistles such as HD video and whatever techno-gizmo. And I must have that latest carbon fiber tripod that spreads in every imaginable angle!</p>

<p>It's really fun to be caught up in the torrents of technological advances, and I admit to indulging myself with the latest gadgets (say hello to my Leica X1 and Apple iPad... ugh!). But in the quieter moments without Internet or television seducing us with the latest gadgets, the mind turns back to photography at its purest form - to take the best photos you can. Towards that goal, I've written a short piece summarizing some of the lessons I have learnt along the way on how to take better pictures. It's not an article on composition or technique, but rather something more philosophical about one's approach to photography.</p>

<p>I hope you'll enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.nelsontan.com/articlespage/spiritofphotography01.html">http://www.nelsontan.com/articlespage/spiritofphotography01.html</a></p>

 

<p>Very nice, Nelson. One addition I would make to your blog points is "spend more money on books and shooting"... spend more on printing, framing, and displaying your work too. It is the retrospect of one's work that helps you see where you need to go.</p>

<p>I also enjoy working with my old equipment. Of all the new ED/IF/G/NC/APO/Blah blah blah lenses I can use, it still thrills me to mount the old 24mm f/2, 45GN, or 105mm Nikkor on my camera. Or to use my aging Hasselblads instead of the gee-wiz new Hasselblad H cameras I have to rent for paid work. They are like old friends. After misplacing the charger for a Nikon DSLR recently, it caused me to state that a real camera is one that doesn't need batteries. Nice thoughts, and thanks for sharing.</p>

 

<p>Great article/post!</p>

<p>I have been working with photography for almost 40 years and every time I look at one of my images and think, 'Gee that's good', I look up at the first photo I ever took with an SLR (I was 12 years-old) and think, 'But that's better.'</p>

<p>That first picture had it all, perfect exposure, stunning contrast and bokeh, spot-on composition... And I took it with a Praktica L, using a Carsen 135mm lens and a Sekonic hand-held light meter. 40 years and I have yet to better that first, blind luck picture... maybe one day.</p>

<p>In the mean time, I keep working and practicing and experimenting in the hope...</p>

<p>I hate these kinds of posts. "Poor me, I have too much money and I just keep spending it on crap that won't make me happy or talented! Wah wah wah." </p>

<p>Well said Rebecca, and appropriate. Sometimes the rest of us just don't care.................</p>

 

<p>Ron, I know what you mean. For me it was a Taron VR and, even though my teacher practically spit upon seeing it, the Taron took that one really great photo I look back on in my teen years. </p>

<p>Nelson, it might enthuse you to know I have turned back to using my Agfa box camera but, being unable to let go of technology, it had to be a box camera with dual format options (8 or 15 exposures), two apertures, yellow filter built in and two speed shutter. </p>

<p>Hi guys, glad you enjoyed the article. I think most of us have been through the cycle before (but that doesn't preclude us from being drawn in again!). That's why many photographers are going back to basics and clearing their gears to a more manageable (and spouse-friendly) systems. A more spartan set-up can help to focus the mind on the process of photo creation rather than try to manage all the gear available.<br>

<br />Michael: point taken on printing and displaying your works. I do enjoy editing and printing out my works, and I agree that it's a step in the photography process that not many people follow through. Perhaps I'll do a separate article on that someday!</p>

<p>I'm with Rebecca, get a camera that works, understand it and take some photos.</p>

<p>Interesting read thanks Nelson. I like the last two points the most, two that I'm aware of and actively trying to learn.</p>