We start of in photography wanting to own and buy everything and then as things progress we realise that we need less and less. The image and the vision takes over.
I've just read a lovely book: The World's Top Photographers: Photojournalism: And the Stories Behind Their Greatest Images (World's Top Photographers) (Hardcover)
by Andy Steel
Their are some astonishing ommissions from these pages including many of the photojournalists I rate highest in the world, but perhaps they weren't willing to collaborate and I know it's impossible to include everyone. Anyway...
Something struck me reading through the pages. The diversity of cameras and equipment they use is amazing. However, it is clear that many stick to just a few lenses, often fixed focal length. Of course journalists working for daily newspapers who need to cover every eventuality from sport to hard news will have a wide range of lenses but even then it seems that they settle on a few favourites to get various jobs done.
My message as ever is focus on the vision and the image. What camera and lens suit your vision best?
Cheers,
Paul
I've just read a lovely book: The World's Top Photographers: Photojournalism: And the Stories Behind Their Greatest Images (World's Top Photographers) (Hardcover)
by Andy Steel
Their are some astonishing ommissions from these pages including many of the photojournalists I rate highest in the world, but perhaps they weren't willing to collaborate and I know it's impossible to include everyone. Anyway...
Something struck me reading through the pages. The diversity of cameras and equipment they use is amazing. However, it is clear that many stick to just a few lenses, often fixed focal length. Of course journalists working for daily newspapers who need to cover every eventuality from sport to hard news will have a wide range of lenses but even then it seems that they settle on a few favourites to get various jobs done.
My message as ever is focus on the vision and the image. What camera and lens suit your vision best?
Cheers,
Paul
Comments
80% of my images are now created with a Canon 5D and 17-40L lens. For low light and minimal DOF I use a 50 prime and the only other lens I carry is the 70-200L, which is good for portraits and where I need a telephoto. That's it. I went for the 5D because it's light but delivers superb quality. I ain't lugging nothing else these days and I've gone off using flash too.
Had a look at your website. Lots of strong, original images. A pleasure to visit.
Just to let you know I've blogged your blog.
cheers
Chris
Cheers David. So you've found the same thing in your interveiws. It's about the image and telling the story.
But why? I guess it's up to a certain kind of curiosity to approach my subjects. The fixed focus do allow me to move around and check the perspective permanently until it fits the vision of the image built in my mind.
Camera? The vast majority of my shots were done with the old horses F3 and F4, less with the DSLR. It needs a different, more goal kept sight in thinking working on film than just with the trash-bin... . And I really do hate this little window they do call a 'viewfinder' ;-)