Cropping can be handy, but there is nothing clever about it. It
should be a last resort.
That's a completely ignorant and arbitrary judgement.
Nothing ignorant about it Ron, unless you want to go down this macho I am a better photographer than you are road. Which wont serve any purpose at all.
Its just good common sense. Its better IMHO to go out and use some skill to frame the shot, rather than the fix it later way of thinking. Skill thats the word. Raises your game up to a point where you can deliver the goods, time and time again. Of course we all make mistakes, the odd wonky horizon, not so good framing. And hence use crop if needed. But thats it a tool to be used when needed. Not a crutch.
No point going out and not taking time to think about what you are doing.
You gotta come up with something far more impressive than that for the lets have more res argument.
Those who know what's going on will understand how to use their
tools, rather than mocking people who understand their tools.
"Fortunately, photography is about images and not about your
arbitrary notions about how images are supposed to be captured"
Right problem is Ron some of us know how to take photos and good
ones at that, whats right for you isnt for everyone. What I do isnt
for everyone either. The difference is I dont try to convince
others that its right. You seem to. And provide no real reason or
fact as to why this is.
On the contrary, I gave a list of good uses of this technology.
Nobody says that you need to take advantage of new technology. You
can play games with yourself to make life harder for yourself if
that what makes you happy. Just don't try to confuse others by
calling your little game a virtue.
Ok so you can crop a bit more. Notice the word Ron a "bit". And you can print a "bit" bigger. This is it? Not what I call amazing blow me away stuff.
As for my little game, its just my view, unlike you I dont feel the need to tell everyone else how to take photos, or put up some self declared guru site with hints and tips. SUre if you want to help thats a good thing. But try to look beyond the number will you? How about lattitude and tones?
You dont need loads of res to take good shots, you need a good eye.
Nothing less, nothing more. Talent was never defined by what camera
you have...
You need a camera to take pictures. A camera is a piece of
technology. We all use technology to make it more pleasant and
more efficient to take good pictures - otherwise we'd still be
using silver plates, manual focus, manual exposure, etc.
Silver plates never stopped anyone taking superb shots. In your haste to declare the true and guiding way to photography miracles, you miss the point almost 100%. Its never was gear, it never will be.
When 35mm was introduced, it got better over time, lenses got better, cameras faster and more reliable. But this was ALL SECONDARY to the ultimate game of GETTING THE GREAT SHOT.
Some people still use manual focus, manual exposure. If my light meter failed on my 35mm SLR, its all manual. I can take the shot...can you?
I have a 120 roll film camera from the 20's. There is no light meter...but I can use it. Because I decided to learn how to. Anyone can its not that hard.
One thing is certain, the great photographers never really bothered worrying about gear, or lenses, or whats down the road technology wise. Whats the point? We all know things will improve. Free yourself to worry about the meat, or the picture. Dont become a slave to technology. It will never take a good shot for you....just another tool.
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