I am sure as a Photographer, you have heard these words….”Your camera takes great photos” Frustrating, isn’t it? I understand that this is by no means meant to be an insult, however, Photography is a skill that people work very hard at so giving all the credit to the camera is like telling a baker that the oven makes great cakes, of course you need the oven but the baker did the creative part, the oven finished the job. The camera is the same, the creativity, images come from the photographer, the camera just captures the idea.
As for the camera, yes it does take great photos, because I set my camera up to take great photos! My camera does what I tell it to do! With the dial on ‘M’ so I can control the Shutter speed and Aperture, the correct lens and ISO speed I have total control over all aspects of how the image is taken. My relationship with my camera is one of control, I am always in control.
Before digital took over from film, I had never heard these words before, not one single person said it to me! I wondered why this was, maybe since the digital age, everything has become more accessible to everyone so they feel there is a better understanding of what goes into making an image. The strange thing is, nothing has changed about creating an image from film to digital, of course we have so many more options with portrait modes, sports modes etc. but ask pretty much any photographer, especially one who worked with film back in the day, that nothing has changed for them. They still set their camera up using Manual, setting the aperture, shutter speed and ISO, according to the lighting inside or out, lens etc., that they are working with. When you have been doing this for many years, knowing this information comes as second nature.
I have worked with many photographers over the years and like me, they take huge pride in their work, usually striving for perfection so to them….YOU take great photos!
“The single most important component of a camera is the twelve inches behind it.” – Ansel Adams