I haven’t been posting Blogs long, as I write this one, I have written twelve so far, my eight Blog (as I write this) was posted today. This is all still relatively new to me and I’m learning as I go along, where it will lead, I don’t know. I have some thoughts which I will share in this posting and ideas of where I’d like this to go…
Let me say first, the decision to start posting Blogs was made over-night…for the past few years friends had suggested on many occasions that I should start a Blog on photography – and I had always dismissed the idea. Without it being a conscious decision, in June this year, I found myself writing my first posting. What I remember was that I was feeling a certain amount of frustration about a number of things – I’ll mention a few here, but perhaps, in future Blog posts I will talk more about some of the others.
Perhaps the biggest frustration, for me, is my aging equipment, which I’m not able to replace, at least not in the for-seeable future. And then there’s travel, the wish to travel to foreign and exotic lands, meet and photograph people there. Coupled with this is the ever-growing channels on YouTube about gear – new gear, more new gear, certain people changing their new gear when something better comes out…on, and on. I also hear excuses from people I know about why their photography isn’t good, which they attribute with not having the “right” gear or new gear. For the record I do like cameras, lenses - gear, I’d love some new stuff, I have GAS, just like so many people. But photography is not about the gear. Enough please!
My whole intent when I started writing these Blog posts, was solely to share my thoughts, feelings, experiences, stories, some of my images…with anyone who cares to read or see them. I do not profess to being a photography guru – far from it, nor to offer sage advice – I can only tell you about my limited experiences. This Blog was never started with the intention of making money, if that happens – great! I’ll probably spend it on my family, perhaps a new lens, I don’t expect anything. I used to worry about looking at other people’s work and wishing mine was half as good. Too many worries, not enough time to create meaningful images, if for no one else but myself.
Almost all the work I produce is for own pleasure and…frustration, I’m not a commercial photographer, so I don’t have to worry about whether my work is up-to-the-mark – if you’re being paid for that – you’d better be good! I need to improve my photography for myself – and the silent audience that accompanies me everywhere. They are a heartless bunch and never satisfied! One day I’ll surprise them.
Some years ago, I was working for a Big Box Tech Store, it was the run-up to Christmas and what astonished me was the amount of money people were spending. It seemed incredible to me. I’ll relate to you, two transactions I made, they occurred over the space of two days – back-to-back.
The first was to a man who came in with his wife and daughter, they had a business and were buying presents for their employees, he seemed like a nice enough guy. They bought a fair number of things…then talk turned to what he was going to buy for himself. He wanted the best camera, he wasn’t a photographer, he just wanted a camera – the best and he could afford it. I sold him a Sony A9 – just out – and a Sony 24-70mm F2.8 GMaster, along with a really good laptop. It was a hollow sale. A colleague, who was with me and had witnessed the whole proceedings, quietly mentioned that I should have suggested to the guy to pass it onto me when he tired of it.
The next day, a high school girl came in with her mother, she wanted a camera, her excitement was palpable, she had C$300 and her mother was giving her C$300, as her Christmas present. I could feel her love for photography and I gave them the best deal I could – a Canon with the Kit Lens Package. She was over-joyed and I knew the camera was going to be cherished and loved and she would learn and enjoy photography with it. It made me feel good to have given happiness and I wonder who will take the more meaningful photographs.
I’m not here to judge or criticize people, I do form my own opinions as you do. In instances like those, it’s hard not feel or think about people with regard to the importance placed on possessions, whether they’re merely owned, or they are cherished, irrespective of price.
Who remembers Digital Rev TV – and Cheap Camera, Pro Photographer? Entertaining stuff, whilst making a point! It’s not about the gear. I keep telling myself that – but I still want new gear!
These posts are mainly about my experiences, stories, ideas I may have, projects I’m working on or perhaps thinking about. You almost never hear me get technical or talk specifically about gear – unless there’s a reason coupled to an experience and even then, it’s minimal because it’s about feelings and emotions when using the stuff. There is an ever-increasing amount of YouTube channels, Blogs about gear and the number of “experts” is on the increase too – you can seek them out for all that kind of stuff. I care more about creativity, vision, photography as an art, whatever that style maybe – and there are plenty of channels and blogs there too. Whilst my knowledge of this may be small, my wish is to understand it more and grow as a photographer and perhaps make a few good images along the way is forever growing – always trying to keep the ever-present audience appeased.
Perhaps this Blog will turn into a Rant, no – that won’t happen, perhaps I’ll run out of things to Blog about, a distinct possibility. However, it has occurred to me, since starting this in June, there is the possibility it may turn into a book – somewhere down the line – “My Blog”. It’s something I’ve thought about for a long time and never had any idea of how to set about it, and that’s how it stayed – a thought in the back of my mind. Perhaps this is how it will start, time will tell.
So, there you have it, some of the fractured processes of how my mind works and how I think. Hopefully time will improve my photography and my writing and I sincerely hope somewhere along the line, there might be a book.