Tired of technology. Want to make beautiful pics. And my socks hurt:)

[shawngibson]

<p>Not sure if this would be better here or in the how-to-photograph-diapers forum, so:</p>

<p>In the old days, loved taking pics. I had an FG-20 (Nikon) and learned everything...how to develop negs, prints and even how to colour prints, both colour and negative (though I always got labs to process colour film....too little tolerance for me).</p>

<p>I was happy snapping away, cuz my background was painting and I always did everything myself.</p>

<p>Then I got serious.</p>

<p>I bought a LOT of cameras, and magnatudinally more lenses, looking for the "perfect" setup.</p>

<p>Then digital came along. Life got Weird.</p>

<p>I could never afford a Leica, probably never will be able to, but I finally dumbed down all my stuff and went back to basics (E-P2 and no artificial lights, sold a full Acute2 setup with 4 heads and even a nifty ringflash!). It's like my Contax S2 all over, but without all the hassle of the real world (developing etc.).</p>

<p>And that begs the question to me, how much do we get caught up in technology AT THE EXPENSE of our creativity?</p>

<p>I want for the first time in years of gear to get back to taking pics, even if I'm not using the best stuff (I just sold my 5D and 85/1.2 + 35/1.4 setup cuz it was awesome but it annoyed me carrying so much stuff and not conducive to Life).</p>

<p>There is nothing like holding a small setup in your hands and concentrating on the technical details (all three of them, ISO, F and shutter) and instantly reconnecting with your subject, in your head, quickly. Hell I even photographed my toe the other day, taking more pics than ever.</p>

<p>There is a point to this post, just not sure what it is, other than please remember to put ice on your wounds when you are hit by small meteors because you were carrying too much fancy gear to dodge the meteor...Oh crap that wasn't the point. I lost the point. I feel like Leonard Cohen.</p>

<p> </p>

[William Kahn]

<p>Life will improve greatly if you buy better socks...</p>

[shawngibson]

<p>I own socks? I did not know that...!</p>

[MichaelChang]

<blockquote>

<p><em>"And that begs the question to me, how much do we get caught up in technology AT THE EXPENSE of our creativity?"</em></p>

 

</blockquote>

<p>It's age related, Shawn. We start young with simple things, then catch the bug and buy bigger and better things until it consumes our lives and resources. Then we get old and realize life is better when things were simpler so we get rid of our things and post in newsgroups about our new found religion. :-)</p>

[shawngibson]

<p>Yeah that makes sense. That's EXACTLY what I did. I feel a sense of needing to live, regardless of what gear I have, and take the pic. As I say I haven't felt that for year, but I feel this need to own the best of the best. That feeling is waning. I've had fun with nothing more than a macro lens and the kit lens while I wait for my lenses to arrive. And that, again, begs the question...do I even need to wait? Why am I waiting, why am I not out catologuing my life, small as it may be?</p>

<p>I'm almost ready to buy Voigtlander lenses just because I want to catch life and to hell with the bokeh:)</p>

<p>Name a photo you love, as a person, not a photographer. You don't know the gear that was used (I guarantee you that). You love the photo. Life means more than gear. I want to get out and take pics:)</p>

[shawngibson]

<p>Michael - your Portraits of a young lady, are exactly what I'm talking about. You breathe when you shoot, and you look. You don't worry about your gear. Beautiful photos..</p>

[MichaelChang]

<p>I concur, Shawn. :-)</p>

<p>But what do you do when you're hit with those moments when you think life has passed you by - was that all there was to life: never owned a mansion, a real sports car, a 10/10 woman, a Leica...?</p>

<p>I think we all struggle with this at various stages of our lives unless you're <a href="http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Pages/home.aspx">Gates or Buffett;</a> these are guys with a real purpose: how to give a significant fraction of their wealth to worthy causes before their death in order to better mankind; I envy them.</p>

[MichaelChang]

<p>Thanks, Shawn - that's high complement!</p>

[tom_cheshire]

<p>Same thing going on with me. I started with simple cameras. They took the pictures I wanted but the obsession grew. Learned all about photography and the whole bit. Now, looking at digital, it is something to take snapshots with for the web and nothing more. The top film cameras I have seem like a burden to use. Logically, i know "camera x" has all the features and flexibility but it feels more like going to work when using it than enjoyment. I find myself going back to simpler film cameras more like the Olympus Trip or twin lens reflex or box cameras. I want to make photos and feel happy doing it. I want to be uncomplicated again. I want to have fun and like the cameras I am using. </p>

[hjoseph7]

<p><em> "I want for the first time in years of gear to get back to taking pics, even if I'm not using the best stuff (I just sold my 5D and 85/1.2 + 35/1.4 setup cuz it was awesome but it annoyed me carrying so much stuff and not conducive to </em>Life)."<br>

Not sure why you are taking things so drastically. Couldn't you just buy a manual camera, a couple of manual lenses of ebay and some film ?</p>

[shawngibson]

<p>I don't want the best, Michael. I want life. A little one, that's all I need to catch the moments. How many macro shots can I take? Dead, lifeless things. I used to have a huge portfolio here on pdn, but I removed it because it stopped being current.</p>

<p>What changed? Nothing. The world just got different. It got scared, lots of weirdos out there and I work in a very conservative industry, finance regulation (so I don't meet people often now)...people aren't what they used to be, and photographers are always looked at with suspicion.</p>

<p>If I have to hire a model to take photos I'll be damned. I'd rather find a new focus because taking the photos has always been the most enjoyable part, next to the result when I get lucky and have a photo I love:)</p>

<p>I really like you portfolio, and it's funny you were most honest with a girl, a subject most people just see negativity (for the photographer). Look at Sally Mann, Nan Golden, and for that matter look anywhere you want if your thoughts are honest. Nowadays people just want quick shots of Miley Cyrus or naked shots of their latest obsession. Like I say, it never used to be like that.</p>

<p>The most amazing moments in life are those with those you love or with those you find something beautiful with, and most of the time it's got nothing to do with technology or what the current standard is...but we all get caught up in both now, no matter our intentions. Nor are our intentions even noticed. But I work with lawyers and finance people LOL...</p>

<p>Life can be beautiful. Unfortunately we're too busy trying to make it ugly.</p>

<p> </p>

[mark_drutz]

<p>Life is a balancing act. There's work, family, friends, community responsibilities all competing for our time. We have to balance all that and find time to enjoy doing what is fun for us. Well sorry to say, we can't have it all. We have to decide what's important and what's not. Then we can give more time to the important things and less time to the less important things.</p>

<p>I have an MBA and I had several job offers. I decided to become a teacher. I taught math in an inner city middle school for 30 years. I felt good about what I did. I didn't make a lot of money, but I was there for my children when they were growing up. I didn't miss a play or an open school night. I was Mr. Mom for the summers. I made my choices and for me they were the right choices. Ironically, when I had a few extra dollars I used my background in economics and invested it. By the time I was ready to retire from teaching, I had a pretty good nest egg, so the money end worked out anyway.</p>

<p>You seem to be a point in your life when you're starting to wonder what it's all about. You want to simplify not just your photography, but your life in general. That's good. I have a D90 and a bunch of lenses, but I often go out with my new Fuji HS10 bridge camera. My advise is to think about what's really important to you and put more of yourself into that. Don't wait until you have time for what you enjoy doing, make time.</p>

<p>I'm not saying to quit your job, buy a Corvette, and take off. Just make time for those things that are really important to you and spend more time doing what you enjoy doing.</p>

<p>Then again, I could have misread the whole thing. In that case, disregard the above.</p>

[nathangardner]

<p>What's a negative?</p>

[andylynn]

It's important to get socks that fit properly. If they're small and have to stretch too much they'll pinch foot bones

together and be uncomfortable.

[tonmestrom]

<blockquote>

<p>I bought a LOT of cameras, and magnatudinally more lenses, looking for the "perfect" setup</p>

</blockquote>

<p>the perfect setup really, can only be found between your ears</p>

<p> </p>

<blockquote>

<p>And that begs the question to me, how much do we get caught up in technology AT THE EXPENSE of our creativity?</p>

</blockquote>

<p>that depends on whether you control your tools or they control you. It's not technology that's to blame.</p>

[starvy]

<p>The idea of progress has generally understood today to be a better day that yesterday. It also admits tomorrow to be even better with the aid of human understanding of the world in a scientific sense. How far can we stretch this theorem? I think there is a limit to our ability in each field of choice after which the technology simply does not improve life so much. By improvement, I refer to ease of use. Ultimately, as a hobbyist photographer, our interest is in creating images that are constant sources of fun. However, we all have fun in different ways. I decided almost a year ago that what I enjoyed in photography was handing older mechanical cameras. I use DSLR combined with old manual focus lenses. I still shoot film. The lack of funds does not allow me to get the very best kit that would allow me to have more fun, however, since I have never experienced that fun, the older, mature part of me appreciates what I have even more.</p>

[keith selmes]

<p>I think perhaps we have to experience a range of equipment and technique before we know what we as individuals should keep or get rid of. So its not so much a question of age as of photographer age, i.e. how far though the process you are.</p>

<p>Perhaps some people are lucky enough to find what suits them very early and don't need to spend much time on this. But most of us will need some time to learn what we don't need, and even then if we start a new project, we may need to go through the process again before we can settle into image making without the equipment distraction.</p>

<p>A lot of people seem to need masses of equipment for their professional work, and very little for their personal work.</p>

[kslonaker]

<p>You sound depressed, actually. Not sure it's associated with your camera equipment. :) I, for one, embraced the digital age! I used to love developing my own prints, but when digital came along, it allowed me to be really creative. I always wished I could paint, but I couldn't with a paintbrush. I can now with the computer, using my own vision to start with. I love it! My equipment isn't super-fancy, but it's better than what I've had in prior years. Really doesn't matter; I just love taking/making pictures. The computer part of it is as equally enjoyable as taking the picture in the first place. Don't get me wrong - I still enjoy taking 'pure' images, too - with very little editing.</p>

[waltflanagan]

<p>I agree with Kim, you sound depressed or perhaps just burned out and need a change. About every 4 years I start wondering what the heck I'm doing. I usually try to take a longer vacation (2-3 weeks) and do some thinking while hiking. Almost every time I realize that I need a new job. It takes a few months to find one but I've always been happier after starting a new job. </p>

[Spearhead]

<blockquote>

<p>I bought a LOT of cameras, and magnatudinally more lenses, looking for the "perfect" setup.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>There's a problem there and it has nothing to do with photography.</p>

 

<blockquote>

<p>And that begs the question to me, how much do we get caught up in technology AT THE EXPENSE of our creativity</p>

</blockquote>

<p>There's a problem there and it has nothing to do with photography. </p>

<p>Photography is about seeing. There's a great quote from the late Marcy Jacobsen, I read it in the forward to a book of her wonderful photographs:</p>

 

<blockquote>

<p> <em>"I was a photographer long before I owned a camera."</em> </p>

</blockquote>

<p>That's really what it's about.</p>

 

<blockquote>

<p>There is nothing like holding a small setup in your hands and concentrating on the technical details</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Holding things may satisfy some people. Seeing a photo unfold in front of me and knowing my equipment well enough that I don't think about holding it is what works for me.</p>

 

<blockquote>

<p>photographers are always looked at with suspicion.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>In my experience, no more than anyone else. And when people are "suspicious," I just talk to them and it usually evaporates.</p>

<p>Nowadays people just want quick shots of Miley Cyrus or naked shots of their latest obsession. Like I say, it never used to be like that.</p>

<p>I'm not sure that a broad sweeping statement like that has any validity. And every boy I knew growing up wanted to see naked shots regardless of who was in it, other than by sexual preference.</p>

 

<blockquote>

<p>Unfortunately we're too busy trying to make it ugly.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>"We"? Who is "we"? So you mean like this?</p>

<p><img src="http://spirer.com/pb1/content/images/large/357P9584_Edit.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="525" /></p>

<p>Somehow I'm not buying into all this, it sounds like misplaced angst.</p>

[shawngibson]

<p>>>You seem to be a point in your life when you're starting to wonder what it's all about. You want to simplify not just your photography, but your life in general. That's good.</p>

<p>Definitely. I'm actually doing visual and audio (Media Specialist) now, finally doing something potentially exciting (building webcasts) but the industry I'm in stagnates it. I'm happy to be here, professionally, but not so much artistically.</p>

<p>>>It's important to get socks that fit properly. If they're small and have to stretch too much they'll pinch foot bones together and be uncomfortable.</p>

<p>I just photographed my socks and my shoes just for you...lol...no pinching, but I never realized how much my socks stink until I put a macro lens to them. No wonder the cats avoid my feet...</p>

<p>>>that depends on whether you control your tools or they control you. It's not technology that's to blame.</p>

<p>Of course. But I don't like big setups, even though that's what I constantly ended up with. I just sold a 5D, 85 and 35 primes, and full AcuteB setup because it wasn't natural to me. I was doing, for YEARS, what I thought I was supposed to do, to be serious. And the gear collected dust. Now, I haven't left my home once without the E-P2, hell I bring it into every room with me at home, walk with it and take pics of nothing, because it's fun:)<br /> <br /> >>You sound depressed, actually. Not sure it's associated with your camera equipment. :) I, for one, embraced the digital age! I used to love developing my own prints, but when digital came along, it allowed me to be really creative. I always wished I could paint, but I couldn't with a paintbrush. I can now with the computer, using my own vision to start with. I love it! My equipment isn't super-fancy, but it's better than what I've had in prior years. Really doesn't matter; I just love taking/making pictures. The computer part of it is as equally enjoyable as taking the picture in the first place. Don't get me wrong - I still enjoy taking 'pure' images, too - with very little editing.</p>

<p>Keep doing what you're doing, Kim. You're doing it right. Yes, I guess I'm a bit depressed but to be honest this post, more than anything in months, has opened my eyes. I'm sitting here complaining that I can't take the pics I like, even though I finally have a setup that is invisible to me. So I've started stretching out. Why is it wrong to change focus, as noted above, the poster was correct - move on when you aren't getting what you want. You will find something new. And life is short.</p>

<p>>>I usually try to take a longer vacation (2-3 weeks) and do some thinking while hiking</p>

<p>I've had 2 vacation days this year, and about the same last year. I'm not really able to take long vacations as at my job no one can do what I do, and I'm the one who creates our product...webcasts.</p>

<p>>>There's a problem there and it has nothing to do with photography.</p>

<p>I agree, sort of. I do enjoy being comfortable, and what I've learned is that doesn't mean I have to chase uber-anything, it means I have to be happy, even if what I want isn't uber-anything. This E-P2 setup feels so good in my hands, it's invisible to me. I hope I can get 16" prints out of it lol...</p>

<p>>>Holding things may satisfy some people. Seeing a photo unfold in front of me and knowing my equipment well enough that I don't think about holding it is what works for me.</p>

<p>That was in essence my point, even if I didn't articulate it very well. I want to make images, that are artistically valid to me. When I had a small, cheap 35mm camera in my hands, I did that; when I got detail-crazy, it went away. I remember buying a P67 and trying to soup in in Tech Pan and PMK Pyro. I had previously done it tens of thousands of times on a 35mm system, but when the P67 came into the picture, my output died, even though in theory I was working with a much bigger negative. Unfortunately I was working with a much bigger EVERYTHING, and my confidence and desire waned.</p>

<p>I got caught up in technology, which almost always means 'bigger". I have been thinking a lot about when photography was most fun with me, and it was with a Contax S2 and one, normal, lens. That's my goal now, to get back to that. I'm already doing that, but therein sits the second half of the problem - I used to have no problem walking up to people and setting up shoots; now, it's like no one is interested. See my work, don't see my work, it's the attitude that has changed, I haven't, nor am I asking anything I didn't a thousand times in the past.</p>

<p>And you're right, I generalized (with a side-order of angst, for sure), but I did so based on the 'type' of people I work with, which is all I can do, ie they are the people I approach, and those are the responses I get. Having said that, however, I realize I should get out more and talk to different kinds of people than the lawyers and accounts I work with. Guess I need to get my mojo back and start approaching strangers...</p>

<p>Shawn</p>

<p> </p>

[GerrySiegel]

<p>I have been waiting for the less is more phase to get to me, Shawn. Hasn't happened yet. . I attribute that to my parents, skimpy on birthday presents. ("What! another pair of pajamas?") I now blame it on Amazon and Jeff Bezos. (Always making oh so discrete "suggestions" on what I ought to order. <br>

Seriously, I think everyone should do the trail thing now and then. Freeze dried rations ,one micro four thirds camera, one lens for 10 days. Just to appreciate that hot bath and the other goodies in the hobby room. A phase? Could be, yet" in his madness there be method.." Be well.</p>

[shawngibson]

<p>Hey Gerry. My Mom was a cleaner (who knows what my dad was lol), and I don't make big money, trust me. I always ate less for cameras and the crazy lenses.</p>

<p>I'm dying to get out on my bike and take pics, even just a few hours out of the city.</p>

<p>Although I did photograph Bambam today...and my toe again but I won't show you that:)</p>

<p><img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/11513995-md.jpg" alt="" /></p>

[leslie_cheung]

<p>Ironically, I am almost always trying to find the most in the least. It all started with traveling. It's a cool balance (and a good lesson)...if you want that (F1.4 or heavy 2.8 zoom) lens, you will need to pay for it by lugging it around everywhere (especially while shooting). With travel, one will downsize and compromise everything to the bare essentials. You might want to give it a shot... </p>

<p> </p>

[GerrySiegel]

<blockquote>

<p>I'm dying to get out on my bike and take pics, even just a few hours out of the city.</p>

 

</blockquote>

<p>Now that one sounds like a winner, Shawn. Go for it.</p>

<blockquote>

 

</blockquote><div></div>