Thoughts on Photography
These are my thoughts on photography and photographs in general—our web log. I discuss why we take photographs, the pleasure and satisfaction I gain from it. I also discuss what makes a good photograph, the psychological and artistic aspects of it. And I discuss what makes a photograph boring and unappealing. These are my musings on photography.
Looking at my photographs for the past year or so, and comparing them to photos I took three years ago, I can see that I’ve made more progress in my photography skills. This has been due to several factors: equipment changes and a new perspective.
posted: sep 17, 2018 ✧ words: 1530 ✧ past month: 1207 views ✨ read more…
Despite my well thought through decision a month or so ago to buy a new Leica M-mount camera, in particular one without a LCD screen (i.e., a Leica M-D), I’ve decided to buy instead a Leica Q compact camera.
posted: sep 7, 2018 ✧ words: 1117 ✧ past month: 1878 views ✨ read more…
The best camera for creativity would be digital with a full-frame sensor, but have the simplicity of a film camera: knobs for setting manually the exposure (i.e., ISO, shutter, aperture) and no other settings, nor an LCD screen to distract you.
posted: jul 30, 2018 ✧ words: 1064 ✧ past month: 1079 views ✨ read more…
Staying Creative: An Argument Against LCDs
The best way to take good photos with a digital camera is to turn off the LCD screen while photographing. It’s too easy to rely on it, rather than think about what you’re photographing.
posted: jun 18, 2018 ✧ words: 1182 ✧ past month: 809 views ✨ read more…
I enjoy photographing people. But I’m often disappointed by many photos I see on social networking sites. I wish people would take the time to make better photographs.
posted: oct 7, 2016 ✧ words: 403 ✧ past month: 1099 views ✨ read more…
Many people believe that higher quality photography equipment makes necessarily better photographs. While equipment can make a difference, there are other factors that can compensate or undo the effects of a good camera and lens.
posted: aug 11, 2013 ✧ words: 799 ✧ past month: 1066 views ✨ read more…
Over the past several years, I’ve used a few programs for processing photos, but mostly Adobe Lightroom. I had been mostly cropping, adjusting colors, and other things that are fairly straightforward. Lately, I’ve started getting more creative.
posted: aug 4, 2013 ✧ words: 398 ✧ past month: 851 views ✨ read more…
When I was a boy, I was fascinated by tools. My father and grandfather used tools to make things: I would stand next to them in their sheds watching them work with tools. I wanted to be like them. It was a manly thing to build and fix things with tools.
posted: jul 24, 2013 ✧ words: 1025 ✧ past month: 800 views ✨ read more…
For the past couple of years, I’ve been transitioning away from SLR cameras and others, to rangefinder cameras. To learn how to use my latest rangefinder camera, I started a project of taking thirty-six photos each day for practice.
posted: jul 14, 2013 ✧ words: 605 ✧ past month: 1065 views ✨ read more…
When talking about photography, it was assumed you were referring to film cameras, and would stipulate if speaking about a digital camera. With the wide acceptance of digital cameras, it’s now necessary instead to clarify if speaking about a film camera.
posted: jun 30, 2013 ✧ words: 572 ✧ past month: 816 views ✨ read more…
Over the past eight years I have been very involved in photography, but sometimes I get disenchanted with my progress. It’s useful sometimes for me to compare my photos over the years to see my progress.
posted: may 5, 2013 ✧ words: 1502 ✧ past month: 923 views ✨ read more…
Using Reluctantly Camera Phones
My young girlfriend has gotten me to use my mobile telephone to take pictures. I have always disdained this idea. One should use a camera, not a telephone for photography. Still, women can change a man’s perspective.
posted: apr 8, 2013 ✧ words: 882 ✧ past month: 805 views ✨ read more…
Each camera has a sensor for recording an image: an electronic image sensor or a piece of a strip of film. There are advantages and disadvantages to each type. At the basic level, the type of sensor use will effect the results of the initial image.
posted: jan 7, 2013 ✧ words: 292 ✧ past month: 850 views ✨ read more…
Still life scenes have been popular among artists that draw or paint. However, I haven’t seen much done by photographers. I’m wondering why. I have some thoughts about this, but would like to know the thoughts of others about this topic.
posted: aug 26, 2010 ✧ words: 371 ✧ past month: 802 views ✨ read more…
As I improve my skills at using Adobe PhotoShop for processing images taken with film and digital cameras, I’m wondering if a state of the art, high-end digital camera can produce better images digitally and in print than any film camera.
posted: apr 27, 2010 ✧ words: 1322 ✧ past month: 1117 views ✨ read more…
The main question or set of questions about film cameras is if I want both printed images and digitalized images, which one is better choice? So I tested this with the same conditions (e.g., same lens, settings, etc.) for both types of cameras.
posted: apr 21, 2010 ✧ words: 760 ✧ past month: 818 views ✨ read more…
Film Camera and Lens Combination
Lenses are key to taking high quality photo, but they can be expensive. This is a problem I had with film cameras. However, since I already own several excellent EOS L-series lenses, I bought an excellent Canon EOS film camera to use with these lenses.
posted: apr 19, 2010 ✧ words: 934 ✧ past month: 960 views ✨ read more…
As part of my latest activities to relearn film photography, as well as to learn what escaped me about film in my youth, I have begun trying black and white film this week. It’s been an interesting experience.
posted: mar 17, 2010 ✧ words: 1124 ✧ past month: 820 views ✨ read more…
Rangefinder cameras can be impressive looking, but some don’t have built-in light meters. For many decades photographers did without them, but now it’s frustrating. Using a simple guide and a hand-held meter, I’m learning how do without.
posted: mar 10, 2010 ✧ words: 1392 ✧ past month: 912 views ✨ read more…
I confess that I like camera equipment. I like researching new equipment, deciding what to buy, buying it and then using it. If I didn’t use it, I would be accept that it’s a problem. But I use my equipment and enjoy doing so. Is that bad?
posted: aug 5, 2009 ✧ words: 613 ✧ past month: 821 views ✨ read more…
Three Enjoyable Aspects to Photography
Photography has three main components: the equipment, the act of creating photographs, and the photos themselves. Enjoying all three is part of being an amateur photographer. In this musing I expound on this and tell about my history related to them.
posted: jul 27, 2009 ✧ words: 805 ✧ past month: 1176 views ✨ read more…
Photographs that contain certain elements and patterns are appealing. They are easily reproducable: anyone can become a good photographer. What’s curious, though, is why we find photographs with certain patterns so appealing.
posted: jul 25, 2009 ✧ words: 539 ✧ past month: 807 views ✨ read more…
The Secret World of Macro Photography
While some may consider macro photographs interesting, I consider it to be a form of meditation — or a method of creating material for meditation. The subjects I photograph with a macro lens relate to a childhood need to hide from the larger world.
posted: jul 12, 2009 ✧ words: 660 ✧ past month: 899 views ✨ read more…
Normal people take photos to remember social events, to tell others about their life. Amateur photographers take them for other reasons. To explore their motivation, I first define the term photographer, then professional and amateur photographers.
posted: jul 8, 2009 ✧ words: 858 ✧ past month: 878 views ✨ read more…