I find one of the many technological aspects of photography that folks tend to under appreciate is the level of processing skill required to create truly high quality images/prints.This is especially true when images are shot in RAW mode. The biggest improvement I've seen in my images since switching from film to digital occurred after I really buckled down and became more proficient at post processing using Lightroom. Hard as it may be for many of you believe this many of the images you create have the same quality potential as the work of pros...you just need the technical processing skill to achieve the desired result. As to camera gear I have images shot on an 8MB Olympus with a simple kit lens attached that make nearly as good 8x10" prints as my much newer and more sophisticated Nikon gear. And this past summer I worked on an extended photo essay entitled "Adventures In A Tiny Canoe" during which I shot hundreds of images with an old Point & Shoot Canon Powershot G15 that are superb on the screen and capable of producing acceptable 8x10".
Many thanks Ben!!!!!!!!! Words of wisdom! Which are brushed aside in our consumer society to acquire more, more, and still more! The latest! The improvements! Oh my.... the ads written by real craftspeople who know exactly how to play on consumers' desires to have "the best and the latest" - even if they cannot afford it!!!! :"That doesn't matter - life is short" say the consumers as they go out and buy, buy, buy! The rest of us who have "been around for a while" and abhor time payments and subscribe to your sage belief "do the best with what you have" do in fact follow that less "glam" approach! Some of my coolest photos did indeed come from a Canon Powershot - an early one, 8 mp, single retractable tiny lens..... and full screen on a 27" monitor they are great. So are the prints made from some! But remember, America is a consumer society and advertising is a helluva lucrative "profession" :) Give me artistic photography instead, any day. I come from a long line of serious music folks, performers, etc. and an appreciation of the visual goes along with that. Since you excel at that in such a superb manner, you have quite a multitude of fans and admirers with your unique perspectives on unique and even everyday vues...... Thank you for all that. I toast your success! (when the Sun is over the yardarm) - Yves
Wow there is a lot to process here. I enjoy my Canon SX70, even realizing that larger lenses add capabilities I do not have. Your photos in this post are awesome. I appreciate the info.
I find one of the many technological aspects of photography that folks tend to under appreciate is the level of processing skill required to create truly high quality images/prints.This is especially true when images are shot in RAW mode. The biggest improvement I've seen in my images since switching from film to digital occurred after I really buckled down and became more proficient at post processing using Lightroom. Hard as it may be for many of you believe this many of the images you create have the same quality potential as the work of pros...you just need the technical processing skill to achieve the desired result. As to camera gear I have images shot on an 8MB Olympus with a simple kit lens attached that make nearly as good 8x10" prints as my much newer and more sophisticated Nikon gear. And this past summer I worked on an extended photo essay entitled "Adventures In A Tiny Canoe" during which I shot hundreds of images with an old Point & Shoot Canon Powershot G15 that are superb on the screen and capable of producing acceptable 8x10".
Fabulous and VERY informative article! Thank you!!
Many thanks Ben!!!!!!!!! Words of wisdom! Which are brushed aside in our consumer society to acquire more, more, and still more! The latest! The improvements! Oh my.... the ads written by real craftspeople who know exactly how to play on consumers' desires to have "the best and the latest" - even if they cannot afford it!!!! :"That doesn't matter - life is short" say the consumers as they go out and buy, buy, buy! The rest of us who have "been around for a while" and abhor time payments and subscribe to your sage belief "do the best with what you have" do in fact follow that less "glam" approach! Some of my coolest photos did indeed come from a Canon Powershot - an early one, 8 mp, single retractable tiny lens..... and full screen on a 27" monitor they are great. So are the prints made from some! But remember, America is a consumer society and advertising is a helluva lucrative "profession" :) Give me artistic photography instead, any day. I come from a long line of serious music folks, performers, etc. and an appreciation of the visual goes along with that. Since you excel at that in such a superb manner, you have quite a multitude of fans and admirers with your unique perspectives on unique and even everyday vues...... Thank you for all that. I toast your success! (when the Sun is over the yardarm) - Yves
Thank you Benjamin.
Great comprehensive post, esp for those earlier in their photography journey!
Thanks so much! I'm so glad you are enjoying my content.
Wow there is a lot to process here. I enjoy my Canon SX70, even realizing that larger lenses add capabilities I do not have. Your photos in this post are awesome. I appreciate the info.
They do, but you have to start somewhere. You can do so much with a really basic setup!
😁you went back into the archive to respond to that! Thanks!