Image by Palma Brozzetti
I started taking photos with a Brownie "Hawkeye" box camera in 1959 when I was 11 years old; long before I made the "responsible" decision to become a lawyer. Soon, I was using my Dad's Argus C-3. It taught me to focus, to use a lightmeter, and to set the aperture and shutter speed. And, of course, I had to learn about 35mm film, ASA (now ISO), and film types. The fully manual "Brick," in short, was a terrific tool to learn the basics of photography. Every budding photographer, even today, should use one. In 1966, I bought my first 35mm SLR, a Praktica Mat manufactured by VEB Pentacon Dresden in East Germany. Then, in 1968, I purchased a Mamiya-Sekor 1000 DTL, which I used into the 1980's. My last film SLR was a Pentax SuperProgram. It still works perfectly.
In 1998, I bought the first of a series digital camera: a Nikon Coolpix E900, and then a Coolpix E995, a Sony F828, a Canon EOS 350D ("XT"), two 30D's, two 40D's, two 50D's, and, now, a 5D Mark II and 1D Mark III. I've shot only two rolls of film since 1998, and, by and large, I don’t miss it. I shoot most of my photos using two lenses, a Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM and a Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM. I also have a Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM and EF 50mm f/1.4 for special occasions.
While my tools have changed, photographic theory and composition hasn’t. An f/stop is still an f/stop, a shutter button still activates the shutter, the focus ring is focuses the image, and film/sensor speed is adjusted for lighting conditions . A well composed image, whether on film or digital, remains a well composed image. And, finally, the photographer’s knowledge and vision have has stayed the most essential element to good imagery. At least, that's what I try to teach my photography students. Go ahead! Disable all automatic camera functions and use your incredible brain to capture moments through your magicalm mysterious machine! You'll be amazed what you can do!
If you wish to see more of my work, please stop by The Artists' Gallery, at 4 E. Church St., in Frederick, MD, in which I am a member, or go to http://www.the-artists'-gallery.org or http://marcw.smugmug.com.
Thanks for dropping by! Now, please check out the "eye candy"!