In the age of cheap digital single-lens reflex (commonly known by its acronym, DSLR), readily available at most consumer electronic retailers, one would think to learn photography effectively, you will need one of those, or something more exotic, like a range finder. But I disagree.
Photography, according to Wikipedia, is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film.
A simpler explanation: You make photographs by capturing light, with your light capturing devices (cameras). Here is a sample of the said process:
The few expected reactions when I claim the photograph above was made with a Canon IXUS 200 IS: "it must be photoshopped!", "you lied, it's taken with DSLR!", or the more generic "it's impossible!"
But it's true - the photograph was taken with a Canon IXUS 200 IS, and the only thing closest to it being photoshopped, was adding the watermark that promotes this blog. Other than that, everything is original and uploaded onto Flickr untouched.
I understand the disbelief, anyway. Canon IXUS 200 IS is not known for great photography, even though it has Canon's DIGIC 4 processor. It looks like a toy. You have to tap the LCD screen to select your focusing point, and in terms of creative control it only allows you to go as far as choosing a mode. Everything else is automated.
This is not a camera you want to use, if you are paid handsomely to capture some memorable moments in a wedding.
But if you are not being paid at all in a wedding, then this little Canon IXUS 200 IS is quite perfect for the occasion. It's small enough to fit in your pocket, so you don't have to carry a bag of equipments and worry about them going missing during the event. You can roam the hall making photographs unsuspected, because everyone's attention is on the man with a big camera.
If you are any good in photography, chances are you will end up having more impromptu photography opportunity with your friends or families, than the man with a big camera. Those are the photographs that will spark a smile on your face, because it's something personal to you and everyone involved.
And that's the essence, or spirit of photography. It's not just about capturing light or translating them onto a tangible piece of image. It's about creating images that matters to you, creatively or philosophically, or even just for a moment of laugh which no one else in the world will understand.
With the rise of cheap digital cameras, professional photographers who are in this business for decades, are telling me "photography is dying", because "rubbishes" are being created every minute by amateurs with some money to spend. You don't need to know exactly how aperture works anymore. You just buy a fully automated camera, and you are a photographer. It is a very sad phenomena for the industry as a whole.
I disagree.
Technology is here to improve our lifestyle. Photography used to be a privilege, because only the rich and knowledgeable can afford and operate cameras. You have no choice but to pay a large price, just to get a family portrait done. In the old days, it was the only way to identify a family member.
But now, hardly a day goes by without someone making a portrait of themselves, immortalizing their latest image, regardless of how silly it may look. 50 years later if you still have a copy of it, you can show it to your children, and everyone can have a good laugh over it. Also insights of what will eventually become the "old fashion".
When a client looks for a photographer, the equipments are not the most important thing to consider anymore: it's the creative factor, or how well a photographer can execute your ideas within your budget. You will be paid not because you have the best camera in town, but because you have a great service and creative skill that satisfy your customers.
How can that be depressing?
Large cameras and lot's of non-essential accessories were the standard of impressing clients and friends. Now, they are largely irrelevant. Whatever they were made to do, now can be accomplished by devices much smaller, simpler, and cheaper.
As a photographer, I rather do my job with the least amount of equipments, preferably pocket fitting ones, than with the equivalent of an entire van's worth of stuff.
Photography is the art of capturing lights, not the art fondling a camera. If you can achieve what the DSLR big boys can do, with your little toy camera which offers no creative control at all, that feat itself is much more impressive than actually owning a DSLR.
Cameras, at the end of the day, are just tools. Like a brush to a painter. If you can't make a half decent image, it's never the camera's fault: it's you not being decent enough in the quest of better photography.
awesome!
ReplyDelete