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Overated primes II
- Thread starter Jere Landis
- Start date
Bobo Hodls
Veteran Member
Unbiased, not really.
It may have been said up topic already - primes also help one to see outside one's comfort zone. If you don't have the right focal length for what is in front of you, still making something of the subject takes some determination often enough. What results may fail, or it may open up a perspective that wouldn't otherwise be considered.
What I like about these two compositions regards limiting myself to two primes. If I mounted a zoom I would never have quite seen this area and captured it quite this way. They may not bring fame and fortune, but the exercise is not lost on seeing future scenes with a broader consideration of possibility - no matter what lens(es) are on hand when that something presents itself. I may even return to both sites again with the same perspectives in mind, to see if they can be done one better.
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...Bob, NYC
http://www.bobtullis.com
"Well, sometimes the magic works. . . Sometimes, it doesn't." - Little Big Man
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tedolf
Veteran Member
is that it is common for photography teachers (at least in the 70's)to force students to shoot with diffferent single focal lenghts for asingle assignement. The purpose was to force the student to "see" in different focal lenghts. You could do that with a zoom bet it would take a lot of self discipline.Unbiased, not really.
It may have been said up topic already - primes also help one to see outside one's comfort zone. If you don't have the right focal length for what is in front of you, still making something of the subject takes some determination often enough. What results may fail, or it may open up a perspective that wouldn't otherwise be considered.
What I like about these two compositions regards limiting myself to two primes. If I mounted a zoom I would never have quite seen this area and captured it quite this way. They may not bring fame and fortune, but the exercise is not lost on seeing future scenes with a broader consideration of possibility - no matter what lens(es) are on hand when that something presents itself. I may even return to both sites again with the same perspectives in mind, to see if they can be done one better.
--
...Bob, NYC
http://www.bobtullis.com
"Well, sometimes the magic works. . . Sometimes, it doesn't." - Little Big Man
.
Anyway, it was the training that made you "see" thigs in different focal lenghts so that you could select the right one.
Same thing applies today.
Jere notwithstanding.
Hope he enjoyed my lecture.
TEdolph
tedolf
Veteran Member
tedolf
Veteran Member
No, TEdolph, there are too many variables. This could well apply to others replies here. Opportunity, light, ability and aesthetics to name a few...is that it is common for photography teachers (at least in the 70's)to force students to shoot with diffferent single focal lenghts for asingle assignement. The purpose was to force the student to "see" in different focal lenghts. You could do that with a zoom bet it would take a lot of self discipline.Unbiased, not really.
It may have been said up topic already - primes also help one to see outside one's comfort zone. If you don't have the right focal length for what is in front of you, still making something of the subject takes some determination often enough. What results may fail, or it may open up a perspective that wouldn't otherwise be considered.
What I like about these two compositions regards limiting myself to two primes. If I mounted a zoom I would never have quite seen this area and captured it quite this way. They may not bring fame and fortune, but the exercise is not lost on seeing future scenes with a broader consideration of possibility - no matter what lens(es) are on hand when that something presents itself. I may even return to both sites again with the same perspectives in mind, to see if they can be done one better.
--
...Bob, NYC
http://www.bobtullis.com
"Well, sometimes the magic works. . . Sometimes, it doesn't." - Little Big Man
.
Anyway, it was the training that made you "see" thigs in different focal lenghts so that you could select the right one.
Same thing applies today.
--
Eternity was in that moment.
JohnMyron
Forum Enthusiast
MR T is always looking for more fight! Once and again I do agree with him and he does know a thing or to or he would have no move fight. But he has no real purpose but the more fight.
Sometimes he or she (i'm not sure) does keep threads alive way past any reasonable reason. I did have MR T in my ignore list but took him out because? Dam maybe I need to get a life!
john
my equipment is in Gear List
if you live near me you can test any of it...just e-mail
Sometimes he or she (i'm not sure) does keep threads alive way past any reasonable reason. I did have MR T in my ignore list but took him out because? Dam maybe I need to get a life!
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john
my equipment is in Gear List
if you live near me you can test any of it...just e-mail
JohnMyron
Forum Enthusiast
Who pulled your chain?
Tedolf does not need a chain to be pulled! I think Tedolf would agree with me on this.
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john
my equipment is in Gear List
if you live near me you can test any of it...just e-mail
Tedolf does not need a chain to be pulled! I think Tedolf would agree with me on this.
--
john
my equipment is in Gear List
if you live near me you can test any of it...just e-mail
JohnMyron
Forum Enthusiast
Tedolf does have some Wit regardless of what you think of the person. Hell I would like to met Tedolf. Tedolf has contributed A lot to this forum and is knowledgeable.
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john
my equipment is in Gear List
if you live near me you can test any of it...just e-mail
Jermonic
Member
People, please stop discussing, especially troll threads, and GTFO there and do some imagery instead. This place is sucking the soul out of you.
Guy Parsons
Veteran Member
No, the idea is to look at the scene with your eyes and visualise the image that you want, then zoom or choose the appropriate prime (and maybe walk a bit or crop later) to accommodate your visualisation.
Regards.......... Guy
Bobo Hodls
Veteran Member
Yes, to execute one's vision that is the recommended practice. But I'm still a student as well, and need to practice the scales and nursery rhymes regularly too.
--
...Bob, NYC
http://www.bobtullis.com
"Well, sometimes the magic works. . . Sometimes, it doesn't." - Little Big Man
.
phototransformations
Veteran Member
I'm saying I can see the shot and put the right camera to my eye faster than I can get the correct zoom while I'm trying to frame the shot. Alternatively, I suppose I could accomplish the same thing by getting to know very well the two extremes of a zoom, so I could quickly, without having to look, zoom to the widest and to the longest ends while I'm bringing my camera to my eye to capture the shot.
phototransformations
Veteran Member
It seems pretty clear from your original posts and your comments that you have not actually experimented at any great length with the technique I have described (that is, shot with one or two focal lengths only for weeks or months at a time), and so you don't know the experience of being able to put camera to eye, immediately match it to your mental image of the shot because a particular focal length is imprinted in your brain, and snap the shutter.
It's a very different experience from what I mostly do now, because I am mostly using zooms, which is see the approximate shot, tweak the zoom to frame it, and then snap the shutter. Instead of thinking, "I wonder if the people who say this have something worth trying," and trying it, you simply dismiss it because it is outside your experience. You don't need primes to learn to see this way, you just need practice. It's fine if it doesn't interest you, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist, nor does it make people like me "fanboys" of shooting this way or of primes any more than you are a "fanboy" of zooms. (Although maybe you are a fanboy of zooms?)
It's a very different experience from what I mostly do now, because I am mostly using zooms, which is see the approximate shot, tweak the zoom to frame it, and then snap the shutter. Instead of thinking, "I wonder if the people who say this have something worth trying," and trying it, you simply dismiss it because it is outside your experience. You don't need primes to learn to see this way, you just need practice. It's fine if it doesn't interest you, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist, nor does it make people like me "fanboys" of shooting this way or of primes any more than you are a "fanboy" of zooms. (Although maybe you are a fanboy of zooms?)
phototransformations
Veteran Member
I think it goes for most people who shoot a lot who at some point in their lives shot at single focal lengths. For people who grew up only on zooms, I don't think that's the case. I know that seeing in my mind's eye a particular focal length has faded considerably since I stopped shooting primes a few years back. I think it will come back now that I am starting to shoot with the 20 1.7 and 45 1.8.
No, that's only on the Special Platinum Limited Blu-ray Edition.
It's proper title is, "Prime Zoomer: Jere Landis on Jere Landis" .
Jere, I hope you know this is all in jest. If it helps, you can list me in the credits as Apprentice Manual Focus Follower Intern.
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http://453c.smugmug.com/
Wow! You've got more patience than most, or you're a firefighter waiting for a call.
That'd be me. After suffering with the kit lens, I always want at least one fast lens in my bag so I have a way to shoot in more challenging light. As sensors improve, this might not be so critical, but with my E-PL1, it's a requirement for me .
Agreed.
OTOH, why does it matter to anyone if the Category 2 folks buy lenses? I figure it's more MFT glass going out the door, so that's good for everyone. Now, if someone is whining that they simply can't get a good photo with an ineffable, magical quality after spending a bunch of money on primes, that's another matter.
Carl, I think what you're saying is,
"He is intelligent, but not experienced. His pattern indicates two-dimensional thinking."
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http://453c.smugmug.com/
Louis_Dobson
Veteran Member
Not so. It keeps one interested.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/acam
http://thegentlemansnapper.blogspot.com
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/acam
http://thegentlemansnapper.blogspot.com
Guy, I agree that's the final goal of such practice, but compared to Bob, I'm still learning the alphabet. I understand some of the basics we're discussing, but putting them into practice is a much more hit or miss affair for me.Yes, to execute one's vision that is the recommended practice. But I'm still a student as well, and need to practice the scales and nursery rhymes regularly too.
Discussions like this have actually given some meaning to this sequel, so it's not a complete waste of time. These topics make me think a bit more about what I'm trying to do, and how I might get there.
I'm still looking forward to Return of the Zoomers, though.
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http://453c.smugmug.com/
Louis, I agree. It also helps me think about what I'm trying to do, and different ways to get there. As long as the nastiness stays out, it's good stuff.
http://453c.smugmug.com/
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http://453c.smugmug.com/
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