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To "George": When starting out, first figure out what type of images you want to make. No point in purchasing a P65+ back and a camera to accompany it (even if you can afford it) to make 8x10s or images for the 'net.
Second, find a camera store with a clerk who knows what s/he is talking about and will invest time with you (an hour or two or however long it takes) explaining the features of a few different cameras. Hold them in your hand and see how they feel. How's the balance? Do the menus make sense? Are the buttons in the right places?
After you've narrowed it down some, take the nice salesclerk's card and go home. Think back over your visit and which camera seemed best to you. Go back tomorrow and buy it.
Ignore the kit lens that comes with the camera. Buy a body and a fixed lens that fits your subject matter. Learn how to use the camera and how to see.
Add equipment as your photographic style and your needs demand. Yes, 'needs' is such a relative term.
Mike.
P.S., but not to "George"
Well, that was fun. Amused myself, which is something. Thanks for all the great comments. Of course, "George" is fictitious. And I've never actually recommended that a beginner start with a D700 and two primes. Wouldn't be a bad idea, though. Especially if fictitious George could buy the camera ...
What's the best lens to shoot _____? The one attached to your camera. I firmly believe in that. I've owned a number of different lenses over the years, and I've also shot with cameras (TLR for example) that have one fixed focal length lens. I've found that with 35mm for example one can create almost any effect by changing lenses, whereas shooting with a TLR with a 6x6 cm image and one lens forced me to be more creative in my approach.
I'd like to see a return to say a 50mm f/1.4 lens as a standard (or maybe 35mm for cropped format sensors), especially for new photographers as it does challenge how you see what's in the viewfinder and what you have to do to make it look the way you want.
Mike.
All Quiet
Things have been a little quiet here lately, but that's because I'm learning stuff. For instance, I think I've formulated a new standard recommendation: own as many lenses as you want at home, but take as few as you can with you for each shoot or trip. I'm really appreciating all the comments a...
Thanks for sharing this, Lianne! I added a tribute on our blog for you, as a way of sharing this wonderful work.
Hugs,
Mike.
http://www.wolfnowl.com/2010/04/what-is-dying-to-be-born/
An International Women's Day Gift - What is Dying to be Born?
If there's a book you really want to read but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it. ~ Toni Morrison I am beyond excited to share with you today a juicy project that I have been working on all year! Though I didn't write this book, I did compile it because it was a book I really ...
Photography and the Art of Seeing and More Photography and the Art of Seeing have been among my favourite photography books... and yes, I even did the exercises! I like the one-shot exercise - could be done with digital but it would take discipline. With my TLR only 12 images/ roll, so discipline goes hand in hand.
Mike.
The Ill-Fated Two-Part Exercise
As a follow-up on yesterday's post, I'd like to describe a two-part exercise I used to assign my high school and beginner college students. In the first part, they (and when I say "they" I mean "I") had to go into the darkroom and clip a three-inch piece of unexposed 35mm film, lay it across th...
Hi Jennifer: Listening to your 2010 Body Dialog with Soul Song as I wander through the web. I clicked on your link: http://www.healingrelease.com/markjenn.htm and it comes up with a 'page not found' error. Thought you might want to know...
Hugs,
Mike.
(http://www.wolfnowl.com)
Transformational Healing Music LAUNCHED!
Mark Romero and I just launched our collaborative project of healing music. This soul stirring transformational sound vibrational healing tool gets into your cells... Imagine, simply listening to this Transformational Healing Music and feeling the resonance created within your body as it shi...
Ctein: In Toronto (and in other places) is a place called 'Covenant House'. It's a no questions, few rules place for street kids. Now their operations are concentrated in one building, but back then they had several. I had supported them for some years, but finding myself in Toronto one day decided to drop in. I was quite surprised to discover the level of security there (although in retrospect it made sense). I couldn't get past the front door.
Went home and made up a 16" diameter dreamcatcher for the residence, and mailed it to Ruth daCosta, who was then the Executive Directoer. In exchange she offered me lunch and a visit to the residence. As mentioned, the place has very high security, so generally the building saw only residents, staff and some volunteers. When I showed up the kids had no idea who I was, until, one by one they associated me with the thing hanging up in their living room. Only then did they approach me, saying 'So, you're the artist'.
Artists create. What we create is art. It may also be functional, it may also be craft, but if someone puts thought and focus into creating it, it's art. I may not like it, you may not like it, but who gets to decide - for anyone but themselves - what 'art' truly is?
Mike.
Why Is It (Not) Art?
By Ctein (Editor's note: For several years now, Ctein [the name is pronounced "kuh-TINE" and yes, it's legally his entire name] has been writing three posts a month for TOP. Starting this morning, his contributions will be weekly and will be published every Thursday morning.) Greetings, Citize...
Beautiful image, Mike. Reminded me of Roberto Dutesco's work on the horses of Sable Island: http://www.dutescoart.com/gallery/sablehorses/index.html
Mike.
Random Excellence: Tony Stromberg
Tony Stromberg, Fierce Grace I really did stumble across this very randomly: I was browsing the newsstand at the grocery store on Saturday and picked up the March, 2010 issue of a magazine I'd never seen or heard of before called Cowboys & Indians. (It bills itself as "The Premier Magazine of...
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