Like many photographers I regularly meet people when I’m out capturing images who also enjoy photography. Often times people ask each other what gear they are using. I’m frequently surprised when I hear folks begin their answer with the phrase “I’m only using a…” It causes me to wonder how gear elitism may be affecting photography in general and the camera market in particular. Continue reading The Negative Effects of Gear Elitism
Category Archives: Essays
Relax…it’s just a camera
As major photography shows draw near many photographers seem to get an extra dose of GAS in their bodies as they ponder what may, or may not, be introduced by their brand of choice. I received a number of emails over the past couple of weeks with the most common question being, “What will you do if the Nikon 1 system is discontinued?” After thinking about it for a few minutes my reply was quite simple, “Relax…it’s just a camera.” Continue reading Relax…it’s just a camera
Reconnecting with camera gear
From time to time I fall into a habit of only using certain lenses and overlooking other ones that are in my bag. Recently I was out doing some extension tube testing and I only brought my 1 Nikon 30-110 mm f/3.8-5.6 with me as this is my ‘go to’ lens for this application. I hadn’t used this lens as a regular telephoto zoom for quite a while. Circumstances led me to Bird Kingdom where I ended up using the 1 Nikon 30-110 mm without extension tubes to capture some bird images. The experience reminded me of the importance of reconnecting with camera gear we may not have used in a while. Continue reading Reconnecting with camera gear
Is photography therapeutic?
Countless millions of people around the world enjoy photography for a variety of reasons. For some it is simply an enjoyable hobby. Others find it to be stimulating from a creative standpoint. Many people enjoy it as it helps them create a treasured family record of special events, as well as every day occurrences. A question popped into my mind recently: Is photography therapeutic? Continue reading Is photography therapeutic?
Photographing butterflies with a minimum of gear
There is something inherently liberating about photographing butterflies with a minimum of gear. As they flit about I can easily follow them without being bogged down by a ton of gear. Continue reading Photographing butterflies with a minimum of gear
Ignore ‘Must Have’ Gear Advice
Like most photographers I’ve experienced bouts of GAS (gear acquisition syndrome), with some of it induced by listening to the advice of others. I don’t know what your experiences have been. Mine have led me to the conclusion that the best thing for me to do is to simply ignore ‘must have’ gear advice from others, each and every time I hear it. Continue reading Ignore ‘Must Have’ Gear Advice
The need for respect
Sometimes it is hard not to scratch one’s head when observing the behaviour of others. I had a recent experience with an article that I penned for another web site that really has me wondering if camera ownership is becoming politicized. Continue reading The need for respect
Reasons we overspend on camera gear
During a rather brisk walk this afternoon my brain was rattling around in my skull and it occurred to me that I’ve overspent on camera gear a few times in my life. I figured it was logical for me to assume that other folks likely have as well. I began to muse about the reasons we overspend on camera gear which led to this article. Continue reading Reasons we overspend on camera gear
Sensor performance isn’t everything
Choosing a new camera can be a daunting task given how many makes and models are available. While I am a big fan of the independent lens and sensor testing done by DxOMark, sensor performance isn’t everything when deciding on a camera. Continue reading Sensor performance isn’t everything
Things to consider when buying an inter-changeable lens camera
With advances in technology it seems to be more and more daunting to decide which inter-changeable lens camera to buy. Continue reading Things to consider when buying an inter-changeable lens camera