Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Photography - Post 16

I've been absent from this blog for a few days, but not absent from my computer. I've been traveling to many other parts of the U.S.A. and the world each day through the joyous discovery of Photo Blogs. Many of the sites I've visited can be found by clicking here: City Daily Photos . Other wonderful photography sites that have quickly become my favorites can be found in the sidebar on the right hand side of my blog.

There was a major downside to my marathon sitting and browsing , however, not limited to puffy ankles and total abandonment of daily housework. I am afraid that the sins of envy and covetousness entered my heart. I currently use a Kodak D4530 camera for all my photos, having only within the past two years abandoned film cameras. For any number of reasons, I really, really need to be content with what I have, but over the past few days I became convinced that, given a wonderful-state-of-the-art digital camera, I could be transformed in the blink of an eye into a wonderful photographer!

Sigh! What a delusion! I need to get over it, use what I have (point and click) to the best of my ability, and pray for forgiveness.

To say that I have taken a lot of photographs in my lifetime is an understatement. I have boxes and boxes of photos, some of which date back 60 years (and most of which need to be consigned to File 13.) I've been snapping one thing after another since one of my uncles gave me a Kodak Brownie camera in 1948; you know, the one with the square view-finder in the top. I'm sure my parents limited the amount of money I could spend on film, but I had a great time while it lasted, and a few black and white photos taken in those days have survived. Sadly, I have no remembrance what became of the camera.

One of things I always aspired to do was to take a photo that would be good enough to be in The National Geographic magazine. I (perhaps) have come close a couple of times in that I was completely satisfied with how the photo turned out. Both were taken with a Minolta SLR camera (now gathering cobwebs), and were complete accidents, since f/stops and shutter speeds were the same as Ancient Greek to me. Both those photos are on slide film (a passing fancy), and I have no idea how to convert them to a digital images.

I was browsing Digital Photo Challenge earlier this week and read that the person who took a winning photograph had taken one hundred ninety three (193) shots of the same thing before she came up with the one she entered in the challenge! Guess it was worth the effort; she was mightily pleased with her peer-conferred blue ribbon. If that's what it takes to be a wonderful photographer, I'd best just sit back and admire the work of others. Which reminds me -- I need to see if Abraham Lincoln , Hilary , and my French friend whose site name I cannot pronounce, have uploaded more wonderful photos!

Ta!

5 comments:

Lisa said...

I think it's wise to be satisfied with your current camera. State-of-the-art cameras -- especially dSLRs -- are much harder to use than point-and-shoot cameras. And I think when you're struggling with making a camera work, it's hard to see well.

I run into so many people who have great cameras and have no idea what to do with them. And conversely, some of the best photos I've ever seen were taken with tiny, basic point-and-shoot cameras. Which is not to say one is better than the other. What I mean is, how you see is way more important than what you capture the scene with.

Thanks for your kind comment on my blog, by the way.

Jeannelle said...

Yes, isn't it amazing how easily housework can be forgotten about while visiting blogs! That City Guide link in interesting.

I agree with the first comment...."how you see is way more important than what you capture the scene with". Perspective.

Have you tried taking your slide film to a photo shop to see if they could convert it to digital?

Anonymous said...

Hello Pat, have a nice day !

Ranch wife said...

Pat, I to covet camera's. I have an old 35 mil. Canon. I love it. But it is hard to use, as you say all the f stops and such are just like greek. But it takes wonderful pictures.
The new fangled ones are so much fun though. I love the point and shot that the kids got me for mother's day. And I agree that a big part of wonderful picture taking is "having an eye", for the subject matter. No matter what kind of camera you have, you still need the "eye".
With that said..I want to do better and learn more about photography. And one day I would like to upgrade..but for now I am content with what I have.
My daughter is the real photographer in the family. Her beloved Nikon is in the shop, and they want quite a bit to fix it. She is considering a new camera instead of fixing the old. Some of the prices she has shown me make my hair stand on end!

Have a great day!
~M~

Hilary said...

I know what you mean about needing to be satisfied with what you have and make it work for you. I got my camera almost exactly a year ago and I expect it will still take me a few years to make use of most of the settings. I've learned a lot over the winter especially, but more of that has to do with trying new angles and subjects and less with the settings, bells and whistles. Though there was certainly a newness in that too.

And I had one of those brownies too, and like yours, I have no idea what became of it.

Thanks so very much for the shout-out in your post.. tis much appreciated. :)