things I don't understand about photography

I'm afraid you have all missed the essential fact. None of you are true photographers unless you are using Leica. ;)

Oddly enough I was in Bond Street (fancy London shops for those unfamiliar with the English capital) and a young man (younger than me anyway) and his rather dramatically "look at me" vocal Asian girlfriend were wandering around Smytheson, which sells upmarket stationery and leather goods. Dangling around his neck was a black Leica M9. I was tempted to ask if it was jewellery of if he ever used it. Something about this couple suggested the former.

Someone quite wise (possibly Cartier Bresson or a fella like that) once said the camera doesn't matter: its just a box to trap light. The glass is quite important but what matters most is the 8 inches of grey matter behind it.

Adrian

RAW vs JPG. film vs digital. zoom vs prime. CF cards vs SD

Canikon vs Nicanon.

people buy the most expensive automatic cam, but say proudly they ONLY use MANUAL.

people say "Ugh!" to using program mode, yet use aperture mode. ( is aperture mode manual?)

Photoshop vs Lightroom ?!

pixel-peeps vs enjoying a memorable pix.

technical savvy over artistic content
( Ooooops. someone already posted that. :D )

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Oh, you were referring to his brain.

Whew! for a moment I thought twas about his Asian gf.

:rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by Adrian

.... but what matters most is the 8 inches of grey matter behind it.

Adrian

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[ hmmmm..... did I get that right ? ]

How some cameras make a 300mm lens into 450mm but not really.

All the fuss about noise when I can't hear a darn thing.

Pic versus image (pronounced imaaaj)

Why do I have to pay for video whether I want it or not?

Why only imaaajes that look like abstract paintings win photo contests.

Why some people think it's a compliment when they say your photo looks like a painting. (Oh, okay I get the previous one :()

ISO......???? Like ISO confused? :confused:

Heck, just trawled through this thread. No wonder I'm getting nowhere. Seems I've got everything wrong. Oh well, back to pencil and sketchpad.

Anyone for brass rubbing?

The first thing to be done is to take the flash OFF the camera. Strobist.com recommends doing this first and foremost to every camera. Preferably using a hammer.

The flash is then placed in a waste paper basket 6.4 metres behind the subject and then set to COMMANDER mode. Said mode is also in control of 44 remote flash units (OR SLAVES!) placed at certain set degrees in/and around the subject to recreate an 11am dull day in a carpark in Barnsley.

All the above information MUST be added to the metadata in the IMAGE FILE and in the comment area if adding to the flickr group pool, otherwise they'll cry like a 7-year old girl and throw it out.

Also recommended is the use of things normal people like photographers will never have heard of, such as "DOLLIES" "ALIEN BEES" and my personal favorite the "BANANA RIG"

Now, back to basics.

Whatever file type you're using means you're an idiot.

Raw+Jpeg = Idiot, you're wasting space on your memory card.

Raw+tiff = Idiot, you're wasting space on your memory card.

Jpeg = Idiot.

Raw = Now we can talk photoshop!

Photoshop? = Idiot, you should be using Lightroom!

Lightroom? = Idiot, you should be using Elements!

Elements? = Idiot, you be using the GIMP!

(Ahem)

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Originally Posted by Adrian

what matters most is the 8 inches of grey matter

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That was a low blow. Everyone else who knows me, reads my posts, etc., has always been content without having to highlight my deficiency.

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Originally Posted by Adrian

I'm afraid you have all missed the essential fact. None of you are true photographers unless you are using Leica. ;)

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Interestingly enough, on another website that I lurk on occasion, moderators have removed photos from a Leica-specific forum for not being up-to-par. Apparently, Leica shooters have a minimum standard, and this member's photos didn't meet that standard. I think the word 'elitist' was used. And for good reason.

Makes me realize how lucky we are to have this place to come, and make fun like this!

You are all way behind the times. There is only one camera worth owning, and that is the little pink samsung. When I go out wearing that around my neck, all the women flock to me like seagulls on a hot chip

Dang... I thought it was my daughter's purple panasonic P+S

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Originally Posted by Andrew76

Interestingly enough, on another website that I lurk on occasion, moderators have removed photos from a Leica-specific forum for not being up-to-par. Apparently, Leica shooters have a minimum standard, and this member's photos didn't meet that standard. I think the word 'elitist' was used. And for good reason.

Makes me realize how lucky we are to have this place to come, and make fun like this!

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Reminds me of a Rolls Royce story I heard ... you'll never see abroken Rolls being towed - they always send a high-sided truck.

Image is everything, pun indended!

I don't get this one..:o

Why some people think it's a compliment when they say your photo looks like a painting. (Oh, okay I get the previous one )

After reading all this, I'm depressed. Have decided to sell my entire kit, both 5D3's, all lenses, bags, lights, etc., and buy the new Canon 7D L with the new R lenses. Then . . . I'll finally get some good imaaaages.

Zen

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Originally Posted by Christina S

I don't get this one..:o

Why some people think it's a compliment when they say your photo looks like a painting. (Oh, okay I get the previous one )

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Referencing the preceeding line about only abstract photos winning contests. In other words the less it looks like a photo and the more like a painting, the more artistic it must be. Makes me crazy. If I wanted to paint, I'd paint.

Granted I may be in need of counselling... :mad:

Thank you. I get it now :)

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Originally Posted by NorthernFocus

Referencing the preceeding line about only abstract photos winning contests. In other words the less it looks like a photo and the more like a painting, the more artistic it must be. Makes me crazy. If I wanted to paint, I'd paint.

Granted I may be in need of counselling... :mad:

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Christina S

I don't get this one..:o

Why some people think it's a compliment when they say your photo looks like a painting. (Oh, okay I get the previous one )

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Just remember - paintings sell for 10x what photos do!

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Originally Posted by Colin Southern

Just remember - paintings sell for 10x what photos do!

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Really? http://www.cheappaintings.net/

Quote:

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Originally Posted by NorthernFocus

Referencing the preceeding line about only abstract photos winning contests. In other words the less it looks like a photo and the more like a painting, the more artistic it must be. Makes me crazy. If I wanted to paint, I'd paint.

Granted I may be in need of counselling... :mad:

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Apparently painting is meant to be good therapy
just saying :)
Graham

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Originally Posted by Mike Buckley

Really? http://www.cheappaintings.net/

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Yep - they're not paintings - they're prints of paintings :)

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Originally Posted by GrahamH

Apparently painting is meant to be good therapy
just saying :)
Graham

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I'll stick with plumbing and carpentry. You get to bang on things and cut them in half.