The most important component

Like many photographers I get caught up in the "equipment race". With the power of modern advertising it is easy to think that if I just get that next piece of equipment it will take my photography to a whole new level.

In some rare cases that may be right. However, the vast majority of the time, I would suggest that we are the equipment that needs upgrading.

Let me give you an example of what I mean.

Since it had been many years since I was active in photography, I had two cameras when my interest was rekindled. A decent point and shoot Fuji and an older Canon EOS 10. This is a film camera, not a digital one. I got caught up in the equipment race and went out and bought the nicest, newest Canon digital I could barely afford. Since this was Canons latest and greatest camera I was sure that it would take breathtakingly beautiful pictures. All I had to do was walk through the forest, making sure the lens cap was off, and by the time I got home I would have some real money-shots waiting for me to print.

Ha!

Now I'm not so naive as to think I wouldn't have to compose my pictures well. And to ensure the correct exposure for each picture. One thing I did expect was that the auto-focus would take care of the focusing chores if I ensured that the right focus icon was on the subject when I pressed the shutter release half way down.

Even when I did all those things to the best of my ability, I was sorely disappointed in the sharpness of the pictures I was getting. It seemed that everything was just a little "soft" or fuzzy. This was a cause of great frustration. I mean I just bought the latest and greatest, but now all of my pictures look slightly out of focus. There is no way I'm going to be able to sell any of these. This was especially frustrating on my recent excursion with the World Wide Photo Walk event. One of my favorite pictures of that day was a macro shot of some beautiful purple flowers. I set the depth of field as narrow as I could so that just the blossoms would be in focus. Guess what. They weren't. Now at best I have something between a nice shot of flowers and an abstract, that isn't really either one.

I was sure that the 15 megapixel sensor was highlighting the shortcomings of the "kit" lens that came with my camera. Great. Now I'm going to have to save my pennies, sell a lot of my stuff and eat a lot of ramen so I could somehow save up enough to afford an "L" series lens for my camera. However at my current budget, that would happen some time around 2012.

Well, as it usually works in my life, frustration got the better of me and I went a' google'n. A quick search on "increase sharpness in canon 50d" lead me to a plethora of information on a new-to-me feature of my camera. There is something called the Auto Focus Micro Adjustment. This helps ensure that the lens is focusing its image correctly on the sensor. About an hour of reading and adjusting my camera now allows me to take pictures that are as sharp as I was hoping for from a camera of this quality.

This helped me remember one of Ansel Adams' quotes: "The single most important component of a camera is the twelve inches behind it."

This is my new mantra. As I'm trying to make a go of this on a shoestring budget, I don't have a lot of money for additional equipment. Fortunately, upgrading the brain behind the camera is probably the least expensive upgrade a photographer has available to them. With all of the information out there on the internet, and with the cost of books (compared to lenses or camera bodies) brain upgrades are fairly cheap.

Ken Rockwell, a long time photography blogger, does much greater service to this idea that I can. I hope you wander over to his place and read his blog on why your camera doesn't matter.

While I do agree with Ken, I also want to encourage all of us that are utilizing these digital contraptions we call cameras to learn as much as we can about them and what they can do to help us capture great images. In addition to the little manuals that come with our cameras, there are much larger, more in-depth books about them as well. A trip to the book store or a stroll through an online bookseller will show just how much information is available to us about these techno-wonders. Not to mention the many other aspects of photography that go into making great images.

Happy snapping.

Take a Walk

On July 18th I joined over 32,000 other photographers on a little stroll.

Actually it was a world wide event that took place in more that 900 cities. Photographers got together to meet and take pictures in their local area. I joined the Vancouver, WA walk that was organized by Tom Hubbard. There were some really nice folks there and we had a great time.

You can find out more about the walks here.

As soon as I get my website up and running I'll be posting some of the pictures that I got on that walk.

If you are interested in photography at all, and I suspect that you are if you're reading this blog, then I highly suggest that you plan to join the event next year. There will be photographers from all levels with all types of equipment there who will be happy to answer any questions and to help you get better pictures.

If you live in the Portland Oregon area or are going to visit, I also suggest you take a look at the Portland Metro Photographic News website. This is a great resource for all things photographic in the Portland area.

Missed Opportunities and New Friends

I recently read that if you want to be a professional photographer, you always need to have your camera with you. Because the best way to ensure that you come across something you want to photograph is to leave your camera at home.

The other night I attended the Portland Metropolitan Photographers Association meeting and on the way home I saw the most incredible full, orange moon rising directly over the road on the way home. Where was my camera?

AT HOME!

Okay, I've learned my lesson. From now on my tripod and camera bag are always in the car with me.

By the way, the folks at the PMPA were some of the most friendly, professional and eager-to-help people that I have ever met. I will definitely be attending more of their meetings and joining the association.

Genesis

At 42 it is a strange feeling to have so many things be "new" at one time. While my loving wife and children are a rock in my life, just about everything else is either just starting, or is in a state of flux.

This is the first post of my blog as I begin my journey from cube-dwelling-code-monkey to entrepreneur and professional photographer.

Don't get me wrong. I am grateful for my job and the lifestyle it provides for my family. However, after almost 13 years at it, I've finally come to the conclusion that I need to move on to something that will allow me to feed my creative side and still feed and clothe us.

Not too long ago some close friends opened up a poker club as a "side business". This really got me thinking that it was time for me to branch out and not be totally dependant on someone else for my livelyhood. My first thought was to become a contract software developer as this usually has pretty good pay. Then I read Escape From Cubicle Nation. This book has rocked my world. One of the primary points the author states in the book is that a key ingredient in success of a new business is passion. As I contemplated adding more code-monkey time to my schedule, passion was not one of the emotions that came to mind.

Fortunately, I have also been reading blog posts from Dan Heller. Dan is a professional photographer that states that there is still room for new photographers. Not only that, but to be a successful photographer requires business skills in addition to photographic skills. I have a dream of earning a living as a photographer and then to help others do the same.

That is the purpose of this blog. In hopes of encouraging others that have unrealized dreams, I'll be sharing my triumphs, trials and tribulations as I break out of the mold that has become both familiar and uncomfortable.