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Response to talk me into or out of this...

from Jay Johnson (jay_johnson@deneb.com)
Shawn,

I like the first reply from Jeff Spirer regarding his friends work using taped together cameras and household lights. I came across the following web site (http://www.pdn-pix.com/legends8) for Rodney Smith. He is a very highly paid fashion photographer who shoots everything with one Leica M4 and a 50mm lens and Tri-X! His shots are very elegant and impressive. (And never a Polariod.) I keep telling myself that vision is everything and equipment simply a tool.

Einstein is claimed to have said "The best design is the simplest one that works." I think this goes for equipment too.

I also like the work of National Geo. photog David Allen Harvey. A few years back he did a very extensive double story on Vietnam. It was half the entire issue (in number of pages). He shot the whole thing with two Leica M6s and three lenses (28, 35, 50). Very minimalistic. (Compared to James Stanfield who takes a small truck load of equipment.)

Since I am on a very limited budget (read hobbyist) my battered Nikon FE and 55 mm Micro Nikkor will give me photos every bit as sharp as any other 35mm system. The only reason I may be forced to upgrade is my eyesight is deteriorating to the point where I'm missing the focus now on a noticable percentage of my photos. Autofocus may become essential. Even then, I don't need the leading edge camera. A used 8008S or N90 would work just as well for portraits as an F100 at half the price.

Look at your motives for equipment choices. Mine are always wandering to the wrong reasons (wanting to be in with the in crowd, just plain selfish materialism etc.) Then use whaterver produces the most pleasing prints. In the end, the print is all that matters.

(posted 8721 days ago)

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