I imagine that all of us who develop some artistic activity have a tendency to certain oddities, to certain hobbies and obsessions that make us somewhat strange in the eyes of all those who do not share our tastes and hobbies.
I must admit that photographers, seen from the outside, are somewhat curious, and the more we specialize in something, the worse. You just have to see us risking our lives at nightfall, jumping down the mountain, willing to be cold all night long to get a photo of the stars.
Not to mention the anxiety we feel before a photographable scene if we have left the camera at home, how we disconnect from our companion's conversation when we see an interesting light, or how suddenly we can be seen crawling on the ground or perched to a tree to get a different perspective.
Yes, sometimes we do strange things and, like everyone, we have our particular hobbies, obsessions and oddities. Today I am here to share some with you, I don't know if they will be yours or if they ever were, because obsessions, like everything else, evolve. Some I had and cured of them, others are new and others, sure, are yet to come.
I hope we do an exercise in empathy together, that we share oddities, that places like the Photographer's Blog make us feel less alone in our personal madness :-). I'm going there.
1. THE PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT
Oh the team! It makes for a book of obsessions on its own, between those of a consumer type and those of a team care type , we could write several volumes ?
- The megapixels: I don't know why, but among all the features of a camera, the one that generates the most obsession is the number of megapixels ? . It is one of these obsessions that we are losing as we learn a little more about photography and we realize, once and for all, that any camera on the market very long meets the necessary quality that we need to work.
- The Brands: I know there are many purists who enjoy breaking down every single feature, feature, who love to compare makes and models and be on one side or the other of the " ists ." For me, it's pure marketing. To this day, all brands more than meet what we mere mortals can expect from them.
- The latest model: Another classic when we talk about obsessions with photographic equipment is always craving the latest model on the market without stopping to analyze the differences with the previous one.
Many times these differences are scarce or imperceptible to us when working and there is also usually a large difference in price between the new and the previous one. Therefore, it is important to consider if the less new model meets our expectations to save us a good pinch that we can invest in other types of photographic material such as a good objective.
- Make it new: Especially at first, it is difficult for us to dare with the second-hand market, but it is worth familiarizing yourself with it, since sometimes it allows us to achieve objectives or other types of material that would otherwise be impossible to achieve.
- More expensive is better: Yes and no. In other words, a 2,000 Euro camera will be better than a 400 Euro one on paper. Now, will it be better for you? Have 200,000 buttons that you don't even know how to use? A camera that weighs 3Kg and whose compatible lenses are worth a bundle? A camera that generates 40MP files per photo? Really?
- Zoom lenses with a wide range of focal length: I also think that this one is surpassed after a while in photography. At first it seems to us that having an 18-300mm is the best thing that has happened to us in life, much better than an 18-80mm and infinitely better than a fixed focal length. But the truth is that the objectives that cover such a wide range are not the best in terms of quality. They usually have little light and are made of worse material in order to make them competitive in price. Think that a good optic of these characteristics is usually priceless for mere mortals.
- Focus
- Sharpness
- I can't stand someone looking at my photos before I've seen them myself. I can't with it. I know it's absurd, but it makes me angry, what can we do?
- I don't like anyone touching my camera without my permission, not even to put it in its place if I've left it in an inappropriate place. Not even my own family. I know, crazy.
- In composition I love natural frames. I see one and I see a photo, I love them, although half of the time I don't like the result, but I always look for them ? .
- The flares: Well yes, I also love that the light sneaks through my lens. I don't always like the result, but I love seeing the flashes of light here and there in the middle of my image.
- I never leave the camera with the strap hanging, I can leave it where it doesn't touch, but never with the strap hanging. It makes me very nervous not only mine but seeing it on any other camera.
- It's hard for me to delete photos. But something sick. And so I have the hard drive, I don't even tell you. I think that the selection of photos is the most difficult job of any photographer.
- I used to be a just-in-case-take-everything and hauled like a mule anywhere. I've been getting over this little by little, and my back thanks it ? .
2. THE COMPOSITION
Another obsession that drives many photographers headlong is composition and specifically the rules of composition.
What if you don't have to center, what if the rule of thirds, what if the law of the horizon, the lines , the visual weight, the negative space , and a lot of other concepts that yes, that you have to know, yes, that they have their explanation and that yes, you have to know how to apply them.
But it is also true that, the moment they become an obsession, we lose spontaneity and can condition and pigeonhole our creativity. My advice? That you be yourself, that you use the concepts you learn as one more tool, that sometimes you need and other times you don't, and that you never abandon your own style to follow the rules.
I always say that if we all followed the rules to the letter, art would be all the same, we would not have Picasso, nor Pollock, nor Miró, nor Warhol, nor Queen ? . So learn the language so you can write for yourself.
3. EXIF DATA
Another curious obsession that I have seen a lot when we are learning is the need to know how it was done with a somewhat exorbitant intensity. Surely if you have not had it, you will have seen many photographers asking how you took the photo, with what aperture, with what lens, with what speed, ISO or camera...
Sometimes we think that to get a photo like the ones we see we need to simply copy the parameters, when in the long run you realize that the parameters you are trying to copy are of no use if you are at a different time, with a different camera, a different light...
They influence millions of things and, although it is good to look at them to, for example, see the relationship between a diaphragm opening and a blur or that of a shutter speed and the freezing (or not) of the movement, I think they should help you just for that.
4. THE TECHNIQUE
I suppose that in a certain way it is related to the previous point and I suppose that it is also closely related to the personal interests of each one. Because don't get me wrong, it's fine, very fine in fact, to learn techniques to help you have more photographic tools, but technique should be just one more tool. You shouldn't let it kill your creativity or create frustration. These are the points where there are usually more obsessions in photographic technique.
5. THE PERFECT PHOTO
I'm afraid this is a difficult obsession to fight, but it ends up being very harmful if we don't learn to control it. If instead of taking pictures we become obsessed with taking the perfect photo, we miss many opportunities, magical moments, wonderful lights, different frames...
It's okay to be demanding of yourself, but not at the cost of turning your hobbies into an unattainable challenge. Many times the “imperfect” photos are the ones we like the most, the ones that breathe the most life and the ones that give us the most joy ?
And remember that there is no worse photo than the one you haven't taken.
6. SOCIAL NETWORKS
Social networks are a very powerful double-edged sword . Well used or conceived, they can be wonderful. They allow you to share your work, your hobbies, create a community, discover a lot of interesting information, etc. You already know them ?
Now, it's easy to give them more importance than they actually have , to live hung up on the likes of people you don't know and you don't even know if they're real, to constantly expect the approval of others.
Do not obsess, believe in yourself, take the comments for what they are, comments, and stay true. If you like a photo that doesn't have half the like you expected... what happens? Absolutely nothing. Photography is yours, you are the one who should be proud of what he publishes, of what he does, that no like or dislike makes you never lose sight of the north ?
7. PHOTOS OF OTHERS
Do not forget that you are you and only you, and that it is very good to be inspired, to get ideas, but constantly comparing yourself, copying yourself, or wanting to "be as good as" at all costs, will only bring you frustration.
Little by little, with practice and tenacity, it is likely that you will end up being “as good as” or better, but in your own style, enjoying yourself, and being yourself.
8. THE LIGHT
This one also drives us photographers crazy ? We are talking to someone and suddenly we are abducted by an incredible light, we abandon everything we are doing and go for it before the stunned face (or laughter or anger, depending on the person ) of the person accompanying us.
This is a good obsession but remember that each type of light can reserve a good photograph, do not stop taking photos because it is not the perfect manual light of a sunrise or sunset. Photos can be taken 24 hours a day, so don't miss your chance ? .
9. OBSESSIONS OR PERSONAL HOBBIES
These are a few small hobbies or obsessions that I admit to having. I say that we all have ours, right?
And here are today's obsessions, I'm sure you also have a good number of them and I hope to see them in the comments ? But before telling us about them, could you share this article so that it reaches as many photographers as possible to make them smile? ? Thank you very much and until next time.
