R.A. Squared Photography

Just got the retro-cam app for my phone, and got my hair cut. So…put the two together and got myself a very overly dramatic self portrait. Gives me the idea to try to recreate this shot with a nice camera tomorrow…should be fun!

You can get a similar effect using the hipster camera app on the iphone. Amazing how popular recreating old, scratchy, single lens vintage film cameras has become.

I’ve always been a gear nut. I love buying new toys, learning all there is to know about them. I’m the nut that researches everything and up until recently pixel peeped. I like nice lenses and spend possibly way too much time looking over mtf tables, or at least I used to…

I’ve run out of gear.

Not to buy more, no, there’s an unlimited supply of stuff to buy. All of it guaranteed to make your photographs shine like the brightest star and have Nikon and Canon calling you to give you more gear because they love what you do with their gear. No screw those small fries, I’d only shoot with Hasselblad medium format digital and my point and shoot would be Leica. Then my shots would be adored and drooled over.

When I had an AE-1, I dreamed of having an EOS. Surely autofocus is necessary?
When I got my A2e, I wanted digital, cheaper than film, and more accurate results.
When I got my Rebel XT, I wanted a 30d, prosumer body and sensor. Better all around?
When I got my 30d, I wanted full frame. It’s full frame. It’s film again.

Now that I’ve got my 5d, and an assortment of very sharp primes, you know what I’ve learned? After spending so much money, time, and effort, I got better pics with my AE-1 Program than with most of my other gear. Why? Because I gave myself the chance to learn it’s abilities. I knew that camera without looking at it. Manual focus, manual aperture, manual everything. But I knew it so well that it felt automatic. I knew how to compensate for my “primitive” light meter. My shots were either dead on focus & exposure, or close enough that it didn’t matter. I bracketed shots without the computer telling me what a slightly overexposed and slightly underexposed picture was supposed to be. I knew when the shot turned out. Without needing a backlit high resolution LCD showing me a histogram.

Now that I’ve got the classic 5d (Classic, like it was old or something. It’s only been 5 years or so, not 20 or 30 like my other cams) I’ve run into the same wall that I had with my AE-1, when I couldn’t afford new gear. I’m forced to realize that it’s not the equipment that counts so much as the photographer. I can no longer think, you know, if I only had that 5dmkII, that would’ve turned out great. You know why? Because it wouldn’t. The new 5d is a magical camera, it does amazing things, but once you venture from “P” mode, it’s just another camera. A very nice camera, that does nice things, and shoots video. (Very very nice video). Still though, it’s a camera, and without the ability to use it properly, it’s just going to leave you wanting. I know my 5d. I can go into most any situation and be able to capture it effectively. With most any lens, I can get a good shot if I have to. Are there lenses I like? Of course, but I’m not about to tell a potential client that I couldn’t get the shot because I brought the wrong lens. There’s always a workaround, and once you learn it, you have another trick up your sleeve. I want some huge sleeves full of tricks.

Since being forced to stop upgrading, I’ve had to improve my eye to improve my photos. You know what? Any camera I use now is taking better pictures. Is it the camera then, or have I improved? I’ve learned about lighting and working on my timing. I still like new gear, and like to play with and use nice equipment. The thing is though, now that I’ve gotten better, I don’t need most of it, and I’m all the more better for it.

You want to talk about “classic” cameras? I’ve got a 1948-ish Ciro-flex, with a fixed lens, manual everything, and you even have to line up the film on the back manually. It takes “vintage” pictures. They’re awesome. It take pictures that would take hours on photoshop to recreate. And it takes them on medium format film. And the camera cost me $5. Yes it took me some time to clean, lubricate, and adjust the little camera, but the end result is more than worth it.

Seems we need to rethink “bang-for-the-buck”.

Just so we’re clear, I’m no wedding photographer. I do small events, cars, landscapes, architecture, and other things that don’t move much. Or at least, nothing that anybody will miss if I don’t get the shot.

This past Friday morning was my girlfriend’s best friend’s wedding. I already knew the couple and their family. Nice folks. They were having a rush wedding, so no real time to prep and go over details. They had a couple friends with cameras, and I was going to be one of the shooters. Somehow, it went through the grapevine that since I had biggest camera, I would be the primary. Ok I thought, no big deal, I’ve read every web article on weddings ever written. I almost exclusively use “M” mode on my camera, and have decent glass. I had backup equipment, and a nice pressed suit. This would be cake.

I was barely ready ( this is my opinion, my gf kept saying I would be fine, but that’s her job isn’t it?). I hadn’t realized how much exposing a white dress would darken a black suit. Av mode was nigh useless. I hadn’t realized that even though I was able to get the shots indoors, I would forget to switch from iso 1600 back to 100 for the outside shots, then back to 1600. There’s a lot to be said for Auto iso, lol.

The worst was my lack of crowd control for the formals. 6-7 photogaphers besides me drawing attention away from the group. Oh yeah, heads and eyes pointed everywhere.

Still, even though I’m sure the pros will chuckle, I wouldn’t have traded the experience for the world. There are some things you won’t learn unless you do it. Unless you are forced to work your camera and knowledge to your absolute best. When your best plans are ruined and you get the shots anyway. That nice fun either you do it, or you do it attitude.

I loved it. Once I got home and looked at the pics, I only saw the great ones, around 10 of 488 frames. Once I relaxed though, and looked again, I started seeing more and more keepers. Ended up with a good 150 shots. Again I’m no pro, but working like one, is something no amateur should shy away from.

Even though this post may have started on a negative foot that’s just my own doubt talking and isn’t a reflection on the families and people I had the opportunity to photograph. I love all of you guys. Thanks for making this such a fun event, and letting me enjoy myself as well as work. Thank you so so much.

Here’s my favorite shot from the day.

Shot with Canon 5d classic, with Tokina 28-70mm f2.6-2.8.

In the words of the amazing Ru Paul, “You better work!”

-Raul