Photographers and smaller cameras.

An article by David Muench - Landscape Photographer.
http://www.outdoorphotographer.com/columns/natural-connections/stormlight.html


A quote from National Geographic and Magnum Photographer Steve McCurry
"I continually see photographers walking around with huge camera bags on their shoulders and I just wonder how can you stop and smell the roses and observe life when you have a 20-pound bag hanging off your shoulder. It just mystifies me."


A quote from another photographer:- 
"don't try and tell me that a smaller sensor is superior to a larger format! Because that isn't, and never will be, true."


We're into another of those photographic controversies about new v old, small v large. The 35mm versus medium format and digital versus film debates of the past have been replaced by a small camera versus large camera debate. In all of these there is one theme. Can something that makes our life easier as photographers give us comparable quality to something that is more difficult to use? As ever there are people who embrace the new technology, and those who resist it.





It goes without saying that when two cameras give the same performance the smaller, lighter and cheaper alternative becomes very attractive. But what about when thats not the case? A Nikon D3X has incredible resolution, will do virtually anything that a camera can, is built like a tank and produces image after image that will satisfy the most demanding of users. So why when I had one, did it sit on the shelf most of the time? If I am serious about my photography, and I am, then why didn't I use it all the time? As has been written here many times, the answer is that it was way too big, and way too heavy for me to use for any length of time. 



Mercantour National Park, Provence, France. 35mm film.


Its interesting, but no surprise, that landscape photographers are in the forefront of this move towards smaller, lighter cameras. Those of us that make our living doing it have been carting huge amounts of equipment around for many years, and in my case are starting to to suffer the consequences. In my own case I have a body that has to be "managed" rather more than it used to be. Hauling a medium format camera, lenses and a tripod up hills is no longer an option I can consider, and my enthusiastic embracing of camera systems such as micro four thirds is a matter of self preservation above all.



View from the Quiraing, Isle of Skye, Scotland. 6x4.5 film


The photographer quoted above is correct when he indicates that a larger sensor is superior to a smaller one. There is no doubt that my D3X produced images that were of a higher quality than my m4/3 cameras in almost every way. But the fact is that I would never have carried the D3X the distances that I can carry my m4/3 cameras, or indeed my Leica M9, which certainly can stand comparison with the Nikon.


We all make our decisions based on what works for us at any given time. I'm no longer prepared to have my photography become an endurance test. It seems more and more photographers are coming to the same conclusion.


D



Chartreuse, Alps, France. 6x4.5 film

Priorities.

I have a member of my extended family, who whenever he visits, looks at my camera gear and says things like, "Bought another toy then?" "Nobody needs that many cameras"

He then proceeds to tell me how much he would like to do this and that but that he can't afford to do it.

Every Saturday night he goes off to one of those new chrome covered pub come nightclubs in the local city centre and spends around £100 on alcohol and taxi fares, and having a "good time"

When I mention to him that he's spending £5000 a year on these weekend jaunts and with that money he could start to finance some of his creative ambitions, he dismisses this with some monosyllabic grunt and the advice that I should "get out more" and stop sitting around buying cameras on the internet.

Priorities.

Words - D

Images - D & A

Driving

After reading this yesterday- http://cjeastwd.blogspot.com/2010/02/winter-driving.html

I was reminded of all the driving I used to do when I was photographing for the travel market and my own French picture library. It is a downside to this kind of work. I would often drive 6000 miles in a 2 week period, and by the end of trips like this, would be pretty exhausted. The last time I did something like that I literally couldn't walk for 3 days, and decided that enough was enough.

The post above reminded me of dealing with the different driving conditions, and drivers in different countries.

The first thing to remember is that in Europe, apart from Malta, all the other countries drive on the wrong side of the road. So coming out of the channel tunnel, or off a ferry, a lot of readjustment is necessary.

I consider one of my greatest ever achievements was driving round the Arc de Triomphe in Paris 12 times in a week, and surviving. Anyone who's ever done it will know what I mean. About 100 other roads (well thats what it feels like) converge onto this huge road island around the monument, which is covered in cobbles! http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=9138725

I read once that driving insurance in France covers you for everywhere but the Arc de Triomphe. I don't know if thats true, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was. This then leads into the Champs Elysees, which is the only drag strip I know of actually situated in the middle of a city.

Driving in France is not for the faint hearted. Anyone who has seen the film Weekend will get some idea of what its like, though the cannibalism is probably a little exaggerated.

I once ventured into Italy, in the Alps and was expecting all sorts of mayhem. It was however quite uneventful until a car came hurtling past me on a blind hairpin corner. A-ha I went, Italian driving. However they turned out to be French.

The scariest place I've ever driven in was somewhat of a surprise. I decided to try to photograph Luxembourg in a day. It is a very small country. Late in the day I arrived in Luxembourg City. It was like I'd suddenly been transplanted into the middle of the Indianapolis 500. I've never seen cars going so fast and so erratically. Since Luxembourg is a pretty rich country (In the hotels they have brochures on their "discrete banking services") all the cars were pretty upmarket and my Ford Fiesta was completely overwhelmed. The next day I headed back to France which seemed really sedate. That probably gives you an idea of how bad it was.

So having just lost all my visitors from France and Luxembourg tomorrow its back to the usual stuff.

Words and Pictures - Anonymous