At last I know why my photos are no good: my insistence on using un-cool cameras. To make matters worse, in the words of the immortal funk group Tower of Power, "what's hip today might soon become passe."
C'mon Kirk! Aren't you missing the whole point? Cellphone cameras are so 2020. Not even the iPhone 14 is selling. The only cool camera (which I don't think you own, and which is essential to make you a good photographer) is a new M6. :) :) :) :) :)
This video is SOOO TRUE! Inspiration is a wonderful and priceless thing.
I am an attorney who must sign 50 to 60 escrow cheques each day. I hated this part of my job. Then one day I got a Mt. Blanc fountain pen and using it to sign is an erotic experience. The way the nib skips over the paper, making different scratching sounds, depending upon the pressure you place on it, is very powerful. It has made the ritual of signing cheques the best part of my day. And, having to dis-assemble it to clean it each week, filling it with ink and making it write smoothly is another ritual that I look forward to immensely.
I pulled out my old M6 over Christmas and put in some HP5+ The sound of that shutter, the very quiet thud, is also very powerful. I have started taking the M6 for walks in the woods just to hear that sound. Oh my god, I am turning into a Kirk.
The video reinforces what a lot of us concluded a while back - preference for cameras and other gear is a very personal matter. And one reason why you are reluctant to recommend cameras, which you wrote about recently. If some gearheads would accept that fact there might be fewer (or no) flame wars in certain online fora. The video was well done. Thank you for posting a link to it.
It's a bit too easy to be overwhelmed by the number of smart phones sold and to arrive at premature conclusions. You have to keep in mind that there are a lot more humans on the planet today than in 1950 so it's not exactly surprising that the number of phones sold now dwarfs the number of cameras sold then. Besides, back in the day, it could have been that there were a lot more Instamatics sold than Exactas or Nikon/Canon rangefinders/SLRs. What that actually mean to "photography" isn't so clear to me.
It's nice that smart phones make it easier for the avg non-photographer to get good snaps of their loved ones, no question, but judging by the number of prints in shoeboxes in people's homes, they did ok back then too. The main thing that the modern public has done is to fill up the interweb with images, some of that is good, some isn't.
We Moderate Comments, Yours might not appear right after you hit return. Be patient; I'm usually pretty quick on getting comments up there. Try not to hit return again and again.... If you disagree with something I've written please do so civilly. Be nice or see your comments fly into the void. Anonymous posters are not given special privileges or dispensation. If technology alone requires you to be anonymous your comments will likely pass through moderation if you "sign" them. A new note: Don't tell me how to write or how to blog! I can't make you comment but I don't want to wade through spam!
fun one
ReplyDeleteAt last I know why my photos are no good: my insistence on using un-cool cameras. To make matters worse, in the words of the immortal funk group Tower of Power, "what's hip today might soon become passe."
ReplyDeleteJudging by today's post on MJ's site we're all destined to use cellphone cameras. The trend is overwhelming...
ReplyDeleteC'mon Kirk! Aren't you missing the whole point? Cellphone cameras are so 2020. Not even the iPhone 14 is selling. The only cool camera (which I don't think you own, and which is essential to make you a good photographer) is a new M6.
ReplyDelete:) :) :) :) :)
This video is SOOO TRUE! Inspiration is a wonderful and priceless thing.
ReplyDeleteI am an attorney who must sign 50 to 60 escrow cheques each day. I hated this part of my job. Then one day I got a Mt. Blanc fountain pen and using it to sign is an erotic experience. The way the nib skips over the paper, making different scratching sounds, depending upon the pressure you place on it, is very powerful. It has made the ritual of signing cheques the best part of my day. And, having to dis-assemble it to clean it each week, filling it with ink and making it write smoothly is another ritual that I look forward to immensely.
I pulled out my old M6 over Christmas and put in some HP5+ The sound of that shutter, the very quiet thud, is also very powerful.
I have started taking the M6 for walks in the woods just to hear that sound. Oh my god, I am turning into a Kirk.
I shoot film with a Canon camera. How cool is that.
ReplyDeleteIf It works for you then who am I to say? Canon made some wonderful cameras.
ReplyDeleteThe video reinforces what a lot of us concluded a while back - preference for cameras and other gear is a very personal matter. And one reason why you are reluctant to recommend cameras, which you wrote about recently. If some gearheads would accept that fact there might be fewer (or no) flame wars in certain online fora. The video was well done. Thank you for posting a link to it.
ReplyDeleteIt's a bit too easy to be overwhelmed by the number of smart phones sold and to arrive at premature conclusions. You have to keep in mind that there are a lot more humans on the planet today than in 1950 so it's not exactly surprising that the number of phones sold now dwarfs the number of cameras sold then. Besides, back in the day, it could have been that there were a lot more Instamatics sold than Exactas or Nikon/Canon rangefinders/SLRs. What that actually mean to "photography" isn't so clear to me.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice that smart phones make it easier for the avg non-photographer to get good snaps of their loved ones, no question, but judging by the number of prints in shoeboxes in people's homes, they did ok back then too. The main thing that the modern public has done is to fill up the interweb with images, some of that is good, some isn't.