As photographers we face numerous challenges in the pursuit of our work. Poor lighting, uncooperative subjects (both human and animal), and equipment woes are just some of the limiting factors that can adversely affect our shots. The one constraint that is perhaps most overlooked however, is the photographer themselves. It is the individual behind the lens that determines the quality of the end product; ironic that the limitations inherent in oneself can be the be the most problematic to overcome.
The Sky's the Limit! f/5.6, 1/160sec, 24mm, ISO 500 (The French Alps as seen through a plane window)
When I show my pictures to others one of the first things they'll ask is, "What camera/lens did you use?" or "what settings did you use?" This is understandable, photography is a technical discipline after all. It is of course important to be familiar with the effects shutter speed, aperture and ISO can all have on an image. This can however limit our perceptions of what constitutes a good shot, or shooting style. I've rarely been asked questions such as, "what made you decide to frame the image in this way?" or "How did you approach your subject, what feeling were you attempting to portray?"
I took this picture with the first real camera I ever owned, a Nikon P520. I was drawn to it because it boasted a 42x optical zoom (more zoom equals better pictures right?) It was obsolete when I bought it and it's even more so now.
Le Moulin De Gooyer, Amsterdam. f/8.2, 1/10sec, 10mm (equivalent), ISO 200
I had a one night stop over in Amsterdam before flying on to Houston, Texas the following morning. It turned out that the "hotel" I'd booked was actually a creaky canal boat, and not feeling up to sleeping on what could become my watery grave, I went exploring. It was about 3 A.M when I came across this windmill. I noticed the contrail hanging in the sky, the sliver of moon disappearing with the rising sun, and the colours struck a chord with my mood at the time. I opted to expose the image such that there was no detail in the windmill, I metered for the sky, and I took the shot.
A Dragonfly in Hermann Park, Houston. f/5.9, 1/640sec 180mm (equivalent) ISO 200
I took this photo with the same camera; from a technical perspective there are several things to note. Firstly the P520 has a 1/2.3" crop sensor, similar to that which you would find in a smart phone, indeed inferior to some more modern smart phones. You'll also note that both of these images were taken at ISO 200. The reason for this is because above ISO 200, the noise introduced to the image quickly becomes a problem. This was a considerable limitation for me, yet I held on to this camera for a number of years and I sometimes miss it to this day. The point is that I learned to adapt my shooting style to the technical limitations of the time, improving myself as a photographer in the process.
There is a common misconception that great gear makes for great shots, that you need to shoot at a wide aperture, f/2.8 or f/4 to achieve that coveted bokeh effect. Little discussed are relative focal length, distance from subject, and the nature and proximity of the background itself. Below I've enclosed three images taken by me. I haven't included exposure data because I'd like you to determine which were taken with my old P520, and which were taken with my D750, 150-600mm setup. Keep in mind that the images represent a £2000 difference in gear cost...
You may have seen the difference right away, though I hope you appreciate my point. Great equipment should exist only to facilitate your artistic vision. You really are what makes your images. With every picture you take, you make many unconscious choices. How you choose to expose or compose your image is a direct result of your cumulative experience as a photographer. And your experiences themselves are defined by the limitations you've encountered and resolved over time.
I'd like to conclude by stating that introspection is a powerful creative tool. It can be leveraged in order to provide clarity and objectivity to almost all aspects of our lives. I believe that as photographers we can have a tendency to think outwardly, about our next adventure or the next best piece of kit. I've found that my greatest instances of personal growth have resulted from me seeking to understand my current motivations and my perceived limitations. Everyone is different and adapts to their given situations in different ways. Though I believe inward thinking is a great first step to overcoming our respective limitations, as both photographers and individuals alike.
Thanks for taking the time to read my article. Be sure to upvote and follow me if you enjoyed this post. I'll be producing a wide variety of content in the near future, I promise it won't all be as rambling as this. So stay tuned for more. Cheers everybody.
All images present in this article are © Alexander White
