The tools of photography

OK, a friend of mine and I were talking this past weekend. He’s a amateur photographer and shoots with a DSLR. He was talking about taking his skills to the next level and create more artistic images. Now he shoots almost exclusively on automatic exposure, basically letting the camera choose the ISO, shutter speed, and aperture.

My first piece of advise was to switch over to manual setting and gain some control over the camera. He balked at the idea initially saying that he wants to be more artistic not be more technical. He said he didn’t want to be become a “camera geek”.

I explained to him that having a proficiancy with the tools of the trade is not becoming more “technical”, it’s learning the things that will allow him to become more artistic. The analogy I used was to Rembrandt, one the greatest artists. A painter not only must have to have an artistic eye, but also must learn how to mix colors, use different brushes and tools to create new textures. They have to know how to prepare their canvas, how to care for their brushes, and how to preserve their work. When you are look back on on the work of Da Vinci or Rembrandt you also have to remember that, if they needed paint, they didn’t just run to Hobby Lobby and buy a tube. They sometimes had to know how to make the paint they wanted to use. They had to know the characteristics of different brush materials and brush sizes.

My point being that an artist must know how to use the tools of the medium in order for their skills to improve. This is true regardless if you are sculpter, painter, or even a photographer. 🙂

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On an unrelated note, a client of mine, Apex Marine, has updated their website with photos I shot for them last summer. They just updated the website in time for the spring boat shows. Check out the product shots here.

Thanks for reading!

-Ken