Could not agree more. Many pro musos and commercial photographers have
little interest in the 'art' - for them it's a job. Few commercial photogs
want to talk gear unless it will make them money. Most are interested in a
better tripod or strobe, rather than a better lens. Most of us are in it
for a whole different reason.
One art photographer I admire is Bill Brandt. I used to wonder how he got
such incredible depth of field in beautifully composed pix. I assumed of
course that he was using expensive wide angle lenses, etc. No. I eventually
discovered that he used a beat-up old folder fitted with an ancient lens he
found in a box somewhere. It gave him the effect he wanted, despite the
hard work involved in operating the rig. Very humbling.
I guess the project on the collectors guide shows that we mostly just enjoy
the equipment and hope that it will work for us occasionally, like it does
for those who have that 'gift.'
AndrewF
>As an amateur musician, I have often been stunned to discover that a
>professional musician I have met has very pedestrian opinions about Music
>(with a Big M). They seem to have a gift without the need to uncover either
>the deeper meanings or even the best equipment to ply their craft. I have
>heard of a number of photographers who were the same way. Lots of great
>work has been done with just a couple of lenses, and the quality of the work
>is of course never evaluated by graphing the resolution of the lens used.
>Many people will start off assuming that the tool is the craft.
>
>I have always enjoyed using a limited kit to see what I could do with it;
>you know, take something and do what you can even if you can't take
>everything. I would gladly get rid of almost every lens if I found I could
>do just about everything I want with only one or two lenses, but I'm just
>not there yet. I haven't shot enough (and maybe never will) to be able to
>say, "This is what I do, and this is all I need to do it." Bless you if
>you've passed through such a threshold.
>
>Anyway, thanks for a breath of fresh air. Keep doing what you do.
>
>Joel W.
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