photogeneralist Loc: Lopez Island Washington State

We readily spend great amounts on improved photo gear but almost never think about upgrading the photographer.

When was the last photo seminar or class you attended? Photo exhibit or other art exhibit you attended? When you look at a good photo do you spend the mental effort to try to figure out what makes it good? when you look at a not
so good photo do you expend the mental effort to try to figure out what might/could/should have been done to make it better?

Angmo

Agree!!

Getting paid for work makes you also want to keep your skills polished. Paid fotog Dem to always want to learn more and try different deals to expand their horizons.

Nothing like putting topspin on knowledge.

cmc4214 Loc: S.W. Pennsylvania

For me, it is not effort, but time I don't have

mkiegold86 Loc: New York, NY. U.S.A.

You make a good point. We all spend on our equipment but what to we invest in growing our knowledge and skill. I have met people who call themselves photographers but in fact are more about the gadgets, the gear then the image craft.
If you are really a photographer then the gear are the tools you use to craft the image, and the image starts with you...

Shutterbug57

My next endeavor to improve my skills, both behind the lens and in the darkroom, is large format. Back to the basics, lens, film & meter. Shoot B&W, slow down and focus on composition.

PeterBergh

I hate to say it, but everybody has 24 hours per day. It's not a matter of not having time, it's a matter of setting priorities.

bedouin Loc: Big Bend area, Texas

Where did you lose your sense of humor?

karno Loc: Chico ,California

So your buying a large format?

Shutterbug57

Yup. The film holders, cable release and flash synch cable are in, the lens (Nikkor W 150/5.6) is in the mail, the first box of film is in the fridge, the camera, with lens board, is on order (should be in by Halloween) and today I need to order the 4x5 insert for my Patterson tank. Looking forward to this adventure.

I always shot film and, for most of my 50 years behind a lens, film was all there was. I only went digital when my kids were playing sports. I had the lenses and experience, so I became the team photog. I shot games photo-journalistically and hosted team web sites with the pics for the kids and their families/friends. Going digital for that was a no-brainer.

Digital is great for volume, but I still prefer film. I used to have my own darkroom, but I gave that up when I started shooting digital as the time was needed for raising kids. Now, they are out on their own and I am processing film at home again and have access to a darkroom at the club that I use for printing. I am enjoying getting back to my roots.

My film bodies are a Nikon N90s and Mamiya 645 (original version, fully manual). I have never shot large format, but am looking forward to learning the movements. I went with an Intrepid for several reasons: price, weight, and options. The option is that they are coming out with an enlarger back next month that will turn the camera into an enlarger and also let you backlight film for DSLR copying.

So, yeah, I am getting a LF camera and am excited to see how it helps develop my photography skills & vision.

cmc4214 Loc: S.W. Pennsylvania

Very true, but I can't figure out how to get through life without having to work for a living

PeterBergh

I'm fortunate enough to be retired, so I don't have that particular worry.

GAS496 Loc: Arizona

[quote=Shutterbug57]Yup. The film holders, cable release....

Welcome to the club. You are going to love the entire process, especially looking at the image on the ground glass. Photography at its purest form.

Jerry

DickC Loc: NE Washington state