2009/05/08

Ongoing Discussion

DaGoddess @ 04:00

It's not the camera

This is something I hear time and time again. Not to pick on or her readers, but I finally came up with the only response that makes sense:

And remember folks, it isn’t the camera taking pretty pictures, but the person using the camera. Set your camera on the counter unattended. Set flowers, babies, rainbows, and such in front of it and let it do its thing, all the while you never touch it once.

How many pretty pictures did it take?

Thanks to Aaron, the creator of What the Duck. If he wasn’t already married and wildly talented, he’d be single and talented.

Birthday wishlist item #78

5 Comments

  1. I don’t fault those peoples ignorance because I’m one of them. For most of us it IS the camera taking the pictures.

    Unless you’re a professional or enthusiast trying to learn a bit more about the way things work, there’s only one setting: AUTO, and only one way to make it work: click the button.

    Comment by Pam — 2009/05/08 @ 05:13

  2. You’re much nicer about it than me. I usually tell people that hardware is critical only if you’re going to utilize all of its potential. But if you simply cannot be bothered to crack open the manual and really learn how to use what you already have, then your pictures will always look crappy no matter how good your equipment. But then, I’m mean and cranky like that…

    (Caveat to sunlight: Direct sun at noon is horrible. Direct sun early morning or late afternoon is fantastic.)

    Comment by Jan — 2009/05/08 @ 07:37

  3. Joanie, all people have to do is hit your “photography” category to see that you have a tremendous talent and a terrific artist eye. I agree that most of it is the person taking the picture, equipment comes into it by way of what can you afford to help you get the most out of what you see.

    By way of equipment, I have this quirk of the brain wherein I have a nearly impossible time taking pictures with cameras that do not have a viewfinder. Trust me, this makes me nuts because most p&s cameras don’t come with a viewfinder – or only a so-so vf. *sigh* (can I trade in my brain for a better one???) Those cute screens on the back of cameras… they do nothing for me.

    This is why I adore my Nikon D80 and seriously considered a D300 (even if it was way too large and too much camera for me) back when I was buying because the viewfinders on these cameras are awesome. I settled on the D80 because it was the smallest camera with an adequate view for me. It’s also why I have such problems with other cameras I try to use that are smaller. It’s so very difficult for me to compose a shot with them.

    I have been reading everything about “smaller” cameras so I can buy an adequate backup (for times like now when my D80 is having the sensor cleaned). I would love the Canon G10 for the RAW image ability, but the VF is only 80%!!! ARG! So I’m looking at a slightly larger Canon SX10IS… but I need to find one and see if I can even use the VF.

    Or maybe I’ll just say the hell with it, buy a D300 and use the D80 as my smaller backup camera. :rofl:

    Comment by Teresa — 2009/05/08 @ 09:03

  4. Trust me. I have owned cameras that take lousy pictures. And I can do that on my own without the camera making things worse.

    Of course that started back in the days when I had my head under the canvas hood while exposing the plates and someone would walk up behind me and flip it over and ask “Say, what are you doing under there with this camm-ee-raa thing?

    Comment by Lloyd — 2009/05/08 @ 10:43

  5. Auto is fine. But can the camera choose a subject, frame it, and take the picture itself? No.

    The camera is a tool used to capture what WE see, what WE define as interesting, what WE deem important.

    Cameras come in all shapes and sizes, with all sorts of bells and whistles. None of that makes a whit of difference if you can’t see the image in your mind.

    Comment by DaGoddess — 2009/05/08 @ 14:20

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