There is a fashion photographer named Richardson, I think his first name is
Tony... anyway, he is shooting all of Gucci this year and next I mean, this
guy is a MAJOR fashion shooter with an account like that. Anyway, I read in an interview with him in New York magazine that his cameras are Contax point and shoots no model given. He uses their on camera flash, auto focus because he claims his eyesight is so poor, and shows up at a shoot in a hotel room with 4 or 5 of them stuffed in a knapsack. He shoots one while another is being reloaded by whomever else is in the room. Art directors come to the session and are appalled by the lack of technology in the room, then they see the proofs and are thrilled. So... this guy is making big bucks shooting Kate Moss with a point and shoot and I am making pennies shooting some kids with an Eos 3... doesn't info like this make one feel like a dick?
Tony Polson from usenet:
"No. I already learned, a very long time ago, that buying "better"
equipment did nothing for my photography.
I was given some training by a top UK press photographer, alas now dead,
who noted my shiny new Olympus OM-1, of which I was very proud. He
asked me what I had used before: a Zenit B, with M42 mount, no meter,
preset Russian 58mm f/2 lens and shutter speeds from 1/30 to 1/500.
He set me a task, which was to take photographs of a street in Liverpool
city centre (UK) to demonstrate what contribution the street made to the
city. He did the same. I used the OM-1 and 50mm f/1.8 Zuiko, he used
my "rejected" Zenit B. Needless to say, he got the better shots - by
far - with a camera that cost less than one fifth the price of the OM-1.
Later he taught me how to identify the shortcomings of my existing gear,
how to establish what I needed from a replacement item and how to decide
if a new item actually had what I needed. He then told me I must always
set myself new goals for what I would aim to achieve with the new gear,
and that if I didn't achieve them, I must return it or sell it.
Ever since then (early to mid-1970s), I have been able to state exactly
why I bought an item and whether it lived up to my expectations. I've
also avoided spending vast amounts of money on so-called "desirable"
items for which I really have no need.
It was great advice. "
Tony... anyway, he is shooting all of Gucci this year and next I mean, this
guy is a MAJOR fashion shooter with an account like that. Anyway, I read in an interview with him in New York magazine that his cameras are Contax point and shoots no model given. He uses their on camera flash, auto focus because he claims his eyesight is so poor, and shows up at a shoot in a hotel room with 4 or 5 of them stuffed in a knapsack. He shoots one while another is being reloaded by whomever else is in the room. Art directors come to the session and are appalled by the lack of technology in the room, then they see the proofs and are thrilled. So... this guy is making big bucks shooting Kate Moss with a point and shoot and I am making pennies shooting some kids with an Eos 3... doesn't info like this make one feel like a dick?
Tony Polson from usenet:
"No. I already learned, a very long time ago, that buying "better"
equipment did nothing for my photography.
I was given some training by a top UK press photographer, alas now dead,
who noted my shiny new Olympus OM-1, of which I was very proud. He
asked me what I had used before: a Zenit B, with M42 mount, no meter,
preset Russian 58mm f/2 lens and shutter speeds from 1/30 to 1/500.
He set me a task, which was to take photographs of a street in Liverpool
city centre (UK) to demonstrate what contribution the street made to the
city. He did the same. I used the OM-1 and 50mm f/1.8 Zuiko, he used
my "rejected" Zenit B. Needless to say, he got the better shots - by
far - with a camera that cost less than one fifth the price of the OM-1.
Later he taught me how to identify the shortcomings of my existing gear,
how to establish what I needed from a replacement item and how to decide
if a new item actually had what I needed. He then told me I must always
set myself new goals for what I would aim to achieve with the new gear,
and that if I didn't achieve them, I must return it or sell it.
Ever since then (early to mid-1970s), I have been able to state exactly
why I bought an item and whether it lived up to my expectations. I've
also avoided spending vast amounts of money on so-called "desirable"
items for which I really have no need.
It was great advice. "
