The Camera

Your camera – even the camera in your cellphone – is basically just a light-tight box with more or less automation which may or may not be particularly helpful when It comes to shooting an image.

What do I mean by that?

It’s just this: In the hands of a competent photographer or photographic artist even a pin-hole camera can create amazing emotionally moving images. While it’s nice to own, you don’t need the top-of-the-line newest wonder out there.

In fact a lot of newcomers do buy equipment that is way more than they really need to get started. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with buying a $10,000 camera but the more the camera system, the longer the learning curve. A basic entry camera from one of the major manufacturers is my normal recommendation for someone just getting started.

Here’s why: Just like buying an airplane doesn’t make one a pilot, buying a camera doesn’t make one a photographer. So there’s more to photography than shooting in Auto mode and just pushing button. Plus some of the more modern technologically complex camera systems take some time to learn.

In the image above that’s Marion with her weather-sealed Olympus OM-5 wrapped in a plastic bag to ward off a heavy rain during one of our photo walks in Toronto.