Syv Ritch's rants about the business of photography and the state of the industry
You know the saying:
There's no stupid question. There are only stupid answers.
Dumb! There are many stupid questions. Here are some of the dumb questions I'm regularly asked:
- What camera do you have? Does it make a difference? Do I get the job based on my images or my cameras?
- What's the best camera? If you are in the street around many cops or rent a cop then a cell phone. For a family event, a small point a shoot will do a excellent job without overwhelming anybody or anything. For Birds in Flight any camera with a “nuclear powered” lens.
Earlier I wrote:
Authorities in Kuwait have banned the use of Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) cameras by members of the public.
This was started by the Kuwait Times. Today, 27-Nov-2010, the Kuwait Times published:
The newspaper regrets failing to verify the information. The article wrongly stated that a ban on DSLR cameras was implemented by the Ministries of Information, Social Affairs and Finance. This information is false. In a follow up investigation, it was proved that no such ban has been issued. We regret this error and deeply apologize for any inconvenience caused.
Authorities in Kuwait have banned the use of Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) cameras by members of the public.
The ban, which applies to the use of DSLRs on the Gulf state's streets and shopping malls, makes it illegal for anyone except journalists to use the cameras. Smaller 'compact' digital cameras and camera phones are exempt.
The ban has been brought into force by the combined action of the country's Ministry of Information, Ministry of Social Affairs and Ministry of Finance.
Only an idiot would buy a 1Dmk4 and shoot in JPEG!
by Richard ... aka Anon Imous
Anon Imous screams first, opens his big mouth, contradicts everybody and is not very competent. You know the type. You know him at the photo club, you also see him at the wedding where he always tell everybody how bad the professional photographer is and what he's doing wrong, he always shut down people on the forums…
BTW, Have you noticed that Anon Imous is always a guy.
So back to why would an “idiot” buy a Canon 1DMk4 and shoot in JPEG? Linn is that idiot.
Yesterday morning at was at Reifel, a bird sanctuary. There are lot of photographers that come. Now's the season for the Snow Geese that migrate between here and Siberia, Russia.
2 Photographers were arguing over “What's Best” Full frame vs APS-C or cropped format. After a couple of minutes, I left the scene, it was degenerating in “I'm better than you.” Leave those turkeys for a little longer, and they'll be blood on the floor. I couldn't believe that people can still argue vehemently about full frame vs APS-C.
This morning, actually very early this morning, the phone rang. Only 6:30am, I just finished walking my dog. “Must be from my Ontario customers” I said to myself, but usually they wait until 8am or 9am Pacific Standard Time, or 11am or noon Eastern Standard Time, their time, unless there's an emergency.
No, it wasn't. It was Jon, no “h”:
Jon — They stole my photos!
Me — What?
Jon — They stole my photos! You know the ones from …
Me — Who stole your photos?
Jon — The … Magazine!
Some people are “jerks!” I was doing a photo shoot for a customer downtown with some breaks in between for the people to relax, when this guy barged in and asked me questions about my Canon 7D. Actually, it wasn't about my 7D, it was about his Canon 7D. He had problems with the exposure. It's was almost always wrong.
There's a pretty good integration between Lightroom and Photoshop. The main difference between Lightroom and Photoshop is that:
- Lightroom is a Digital Asset Management (DAM) with image editing capabilities such as crop, colors, white balance…
- Photoshop is a pixel editor where you can use layers to change and combine pixels to do whatever you want with it, including starting from scratch without a photo and ending up with an image.
Canon can't do anything right, their latest, the 60D is made of plastic, should have included the 7D autofocus system and needs the lens micro-adjustment… Nikon can't do anything right either. Their latest, the D7000, which doesn't ship yet, should have at least 20 megapixels, run at 8 frames per second, a fully articulated LCD and 2 CPUs to run at full speed…
People clamor for better. I want it now! Then you have the people that will tell you, “it's not the camera, it's the person behind the camera”. And the camera manufacturers toot their own horn.
Usually, I don't pick fun at a whole group of people. I have commented and lambasted people doing or saying damn stupid things when they are related to the business of photography.
The life of wedding photographers is tough. No testing, no trial, only one day and it must be done right. No second chance.
