For the love of Photography...Part 1...

Decisions, Decisions...

Earlier this week, I had the chance to buy a what is known in the world of photography as the 'cream machine' (Nikkor 85mm 1.4).
(Forgive me all non-photo addicts that are reading, this might bore you, but then again, it's good insight for life! So, keep reading...)
I tried the lens out and I wasn't really feeling the working distance on my D300 (which has a crop sensor), but was feeling the pull for a new lens, one with iconic status, the one I was holding...When I take photographs I like to be up close, it's my style. Others like to be backed off and that's their style...I also like minimum equipment. Even back in the days, it was just me, my SLR and one or two lenses. (RIP oh, cool fisheye!)

On the one hand I wanted that lens because it IS a great lens but on the other hand, I didn't want to dish out the money for a lens that I really was not going to use too much, just because. Especially, there are a few lenses on my 'wish' list. If you know me, you know I am not a good decision maker. Especially, relatively expensive buys (oh for a trust fund/unlimited credit cards that I never had to pay back LOL). Well, I can already see my hubby and Dad nodding vigorously to my lack of decision making skills...

The very nice and very wise man who was selling the lens had a look at my images, mostly taken with my 50mm lens. He said since I was doing so well with the 50mm, I should stick with it. He told me I could get great images with a pinhole camera. What a nice guy!
Since he saw I was uncomfortable with the working distance, he asked why I wanted the lens...
I had to dig a bit for an answer. This was quickly turning into a psychological counseling session :o)

So, why did I feel the need for this lens?

I told him, I think, a lot of it was the people who are always talking about lenses and turning their noses up if you don't have the best or most expensive one out there. Maybe having this lens would convince me and make it concrete that my images were indeed good (even though I think they are good already, not in a big ego way)...I am a firm believer in 'it's the eye of the photographer' first and foremost. Maybe it was keeping up with the Jones syndrome that inflicts this culture. No doubt good glass matters. It can help to improve your images, but that alone won't make the image. Someone has to make the exposure. Ever seen sharp snapshots taken by someone with a bag full of the best lenses? That's not the lenses' fault, now is it?

'Ahhhh, the Len's snobs' the wise man said, telling me basically this:
When someone (AKA a lens snob) asks what lens/camera you are using in a questionable (oh, that lens/camera) fashion, pull out a wallet size image and tell them the type of lens/camera that takes an image like this (pointing to said photo).
That man is a genius!
Ironically (or is that coincidentally?), I found THIS website today, a few days after I had put this post together...I don't even know who this guy is but I loved his little video snippets...
And here is something else from the same man in the link above. This is very cool under one minute video. Can I get a WHOOOO YEAH for Part Time Photographers?!!! Can I say YEAH for PT Photographers working their lenses: big, small, long, short!!!
Part 2 coming soon...
I leave with this typical Okinawan structure...

and a sunset from Sunday night...that's a ship passing by...Summer is coming!