Daniel Goh's Blog
Daniel Goh male Junior Writer
A video game junkie always looking for more convenient ways to do things tech wise. Some say its lazy, I say its innovative. Currently being sucked into the world of social media addiction and will never leave the house without his trusty iPod and headphones.
So with the recent unveiling and launch of full frame DSLRs like the Nikon D800, Nikon D4 and Canon EOS 5D Mark III, I’m sure many photographers out there (myself included) are fighting hard to keep their drool from collecting in a large puddle at their feet. An incredibly large sensor, great ISO performances and even a lightning fast shutter speed that will put Usain Bolt to shame – all add to the envy we have for those who have the means to afford one of these sexy beasts.
But as major photography manufacturers are always about innovations, coming out with bigger, better equipments, I started wondering about their race for the largest sensor and where does it all end. Recently, I had the privilege of speaking to an older gentleman who claimed to be an established wedding photographer and he was complaining about the state that photography is in today. I can’t really recall the conversation word for word but the gist of it was that there are too many commercial photographers these days that aim to impress with equipment rather than skill. Looking around, I have also come across similar circumstances I’ve seen people claiming to be photographers, but yet their camera dial never leaves ‘Auto’.
Trying to learn more about this phenomenon, I searched around the Internet, read numerous articles detailing how equipment does not matter as much as one would think, and two quotes really caught my attention. The first comes from the very famous Ken Rockwell saying, “Buying a Bösendorfer (which is apparently one of the best pianos out there) doesn't mean you can play the piano. Buying a great camera doesn't mean you can create compelling photographs. Good pianists can play on anything and a good photographer can make great images with a disposable camera.” The other comes from Ansel Adams, father of the Zone System, saying that, “The single most important component of a camera is the twelve inches behind it.”
So maybe it’s time to forget about chasing for the biggest sensor or the best type of glass available in the market, and really focus on honing your skills and understanding in composition, shutter speed, aperture and lighting, because those are the ones that will really define your image.
“Your equipment does not affect the quality of your image. The less time and effort you spend worrying about your equipment the more time and effort you can spend creating great images. The right equipment just makes it easier, faster or more convenient for you to get the results you need.” Good old Ken, once again dishing out great advice.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m in no way trying to toot my own horn or being a sour grape, but just looking at some images I found here, taken with the entry-level D3100 was more than enough evidence to convince me once and for all that the resolution and sensor race on digital imaging products will never end, but what you learn about the fundamentals of photography will stay with you for a lifetime.
