Well not really but at least I got your attention and this blog needs a kick start so here goes – firstly my spell checker will hopefully convert my words to words you will all understand (it might be the across the pond version though) I am dyslexic and you will need to ignore my punctuation (if you find any)
A quite famous photographer went to a book signing by his favorite author who recognized him and said I know you you are Joe Blog the famous photographer – I love your pictures you must have a fantastic camera – yes the photographer replied I do and I also admire your books you must have a fantastic typewriter – the story reminded me of a true story and way of life I once held – I spent a great deal of my working life in the far east or pacific rim as its now called ( why do we always have to invent new names for old things) for five to ten weeks at a time I would live and work in jungle villages – the village structure was much like a camera club you had a chief (president) council elders (committee) and village dwellers (members) on my first day at a village I had not been to before there was a hatch and dispatch (birth and death) on the same day and in tribal custom this was a good omen and a special day to celebrate – the tribe had been converted from head hunters to christians long ago and the missionaries were long gone – but some tribal traditions never die – in the church communion was served from the bark of a tree and coconut half and a great night followed – next morning I went to speak with the village elders and much to my surprise saw the chiefs wife with a silver plater and chalice feeing swill to the pigs and corn to the chickens with them – when later in the day I asked the chief why the silver ware was used to feed livestock and not used for communion – he told me the silver ware was just plates and containers made by man where as the coconut was a seed from the palm that contained the recipe to make another palm so though the silver may look nice the coconut is of more use and when its job is done it is then like the silver just a container and of equal importance and its value is not what it is made from but in what you put into it – where is this leading us all to well its back to the fantastic camera syndrome be it a hasselblad or a zenith its what you put into it – so what made you choose the camera you use – for me it was full frame and 20×16 inch prints OK you can make a 20×16 print from a six megapixel camera or can you have you tried or just read it somewhere – does it really make a difference what it says on the front of the camera on mine the logos are all blocked out with masking tape and I smile inwardly when someone asks me what make it is and why have I covered up the logo – OK your turn now
(Admin can we have some more descriptive parent categories like Cameras-Printing- projected images etc I tried to make one but it wont let me or am I just LOOKING FOR TROUBLE
Cunningly, bluetwo, (newly rejoined member Ken Nolan to the rest of you!), only Mike and I have the “power” that comes with being administrators to create new parent categories. Anyhow, I’ve put one in called “Equipment” and added yours to it, also will add one called “Rants”, as I think yours fits that too!
Back to the substance of your blog – I did enjoy your tale of the silverware and I heartily agree with your sentiments. I get totally bemused by people asking me what make of camera I use when I lecture at clubs. As a minority Pentax user, I come across some very odd comments in return, like “I didn’t think anybody used Pentax” for example or even worse “I didn’t think you could take good photos with Pentax”. But, as in cooking, the proof of the pudding is in the eating! BTW – you didin’t tell us what equipment you’re using now
Yes and its a pleasure to be a member of a club with so many good cooks – On occasions I still use a battered brassy and bent old Contax RTS with 50mm lens (the first camera I ever bought from new) and get some funny looks as well as remarks from other photographers – we really are a funny lot – I dont have a leaning to any one brand of camera – my digital of choice at the moment is Nikon but thats because I find it easy to understand ( I dont have a use for the two thirds I dont understand) gives me the results I like and is easy work with – if someone brought out a digital camera that had just a manual and aperture priority program was capable of a 20×16 print and came with a two page user manual I would be the first to buy no matter what name was on the front of it – for those who prefer to do projected images I believe most modern phone cameras can give very acceptable results and certainly the more up market compacts do – the Canon G9 comes to mind light and compact gives stunning results and if I did not need to change to wider and longer focal lengths would be my choice – I recently had the use of a Samsung and for someone with good computer skills as a lot going for it – being an old darkroom worker who was use to 20×16 prints I looked for the digital equivalent – its definitely out there but at a price beyond my means – I enjoy the challenge but in this age of technology I am still only a dish washer in the league of digital master chefs and try to get as much right as possible in camera like we use to do with trannies
Ken