clickers anonymous,camera make,lens and a virtue

recently, i have had 3 people in a a span of days between them ask me what DSLR camera they should get. i gave them my advice, but dont worry Canon lover friends of mine, i was honest, to say i could only comment and talk about Nikon as i have not used a Canon in my life.

But thats not putting Canon down as i know its one great camera brand too. i also said, whether they'd get a Nikon or Canon, what matters is they invest in some good lenses and learn the camera settings to optimise the use of the camera's functions. its sad when people buy their SLR's and do not fiddle with the AF points, ISO's, get the exposure and metering right, they might as well stick to point and shoots. i suggested to them to learn their camera by either attending a photography lesson (basic lessons to learn the functions) or if they're persistent enough to read a manual, play with it and learn in hindsight.

re. the lens they should get, i told them to know what photography they wanted to do. one wanted to photograph her cakes better, one wanted better pictures for her travels and one just wanted nice photos of her children. it made sense for all of them to get an all-around lens and invest in a specific lens for their craft.


after every discussion with these friends of mine, i always get the jittery happy feeling you get when you know you're getting a new expensive gadget. i always remember the feeling, sleepless night and you're itching to just hold the thing and play with it. even if you're buying your first or upgrading to your third camera, the feeling is the same--(well, basing on my experience anyway). i always get the butterflies in my stomach and the anticipation of feeling the gadget in your hands. yes, even if youre getting the same camera model as your last one (to add to your kit). no matter how much you memorised the contours and buttons of the thing, the excitement is there.

i felt that when i was talking to them (online). i could feel their excitement and i was excited too.


out of the three, only one wanted to hopefully pursue it professionally. (although if you ask me, it all starts generally not pursuing it professionally but when things get out of hand, and people start to notice your photography, you start to open up to possibilities of 'maybe, i could earn money from this hobby'. to which i say, "why not!". the world is our model/click click). the one who was intending to do it professionally asked me for a few tips, on how to make it. i gave her some honest answers.
i told her, that i really dont know. my photography is still at the baby stage, and this is just so i could get a few bob while taking photos of things i really really love (wedding, the accoutrements that come with it, the dresses, make up, romance, etc). the only way to get a free pass to photograph someone's wedding is to be the photographer, so thats the grand scheme.

some people do not like weddings, some prefer sports photography, some people travelogue-documentary photography, and some simple portraiture. depending on one's preferred scenery, i say go for it.

i also told her to research and read as there are gazillions of photographers out there who are sooo good,and extremely talented and these people are all online. its that accessible. some are household names by now, and some are just starting out and some are yet still waiting to be discovered. i am far (far far far) being considered good (yet). i am still learning everyday, and i also asked her to expand and learn more of others who are very good. although i was flattered to be asked for an opinion, but in reality, there are so many out there, who are far better beyond comparison. do not get me wrong, i am happy where my photography is right now because this is what i'm capable of. im taking it slow and in appropriate levels. i want to crawl first before i run, so to speak.


and thats the best part, the learning process. each day we learn new stuff, out of introspection and most often than not by mistakes (hopefully with lesser repercussions).

my friend G thanked me and said, she will keep that in mind. i gave her links to some of the photographers i admire, and told her to study from them, and learn her own style. one of the pitfalls of alot of photographers right now is that you can hardly tell which one's photographed by who as almost everyone has adopted the same style.


i told her that i also read a quote somewhere that said something to this effect: " id rather be a bad version of myself than a poor copy of someone else". i always try to keep that in mind when doing my photos and im sure she will.

being revolutionary is daunting and hard, but thats the beauty of it, to be different, and eventually make our own mark.

right now, that is the quest, to stick to my style, bad or awful it might look, it should be fine, because at the end of the day, its me, after all.




***

in hindsight i could have added: oh humility, thats important..people will always say positives about your work but do not let it get to your head. you are only as good as your last shot.

once a photographer let it get to their head how good they are, their craft will just be a stage for feeding their ego. the passion to learn and yearn will be gone, as they feel they are the best. the worst case scenario is that the photographer becomes greedy and tramples other people for the sake of their own photography. ugly? it could get that way. ironic when photographs generally convey something visually aesthetic.

there are so many talented photographers in Flickr too who do not take themselves seriously (and what amaaaazing photos!) and still accept criticism and feedback, and some even are so humble that they say that they are emulating someone's style and gets to learn from their readers day by day. that to me is beautiful in its honesty.

one should not confuse quiet confidence and stark arrogance--there's San Francisco bridge between the two.

***


i wish to photograph alot of people and events (now) but the heavens thought id be better off slothing off my time in books and patients.

i am a slave to the fates.

ergo, back to my books.