Photography

A few weeks ago, I went to see Radiohead playing at Victoria Park in London. As I tend to do when I go to see something that I think might be interesting, I took my camera along.

As I went through the security check, I was told that I wouldn't be allowed to take my camera out once I was inside the arena- especially with my zoom lens. Apparently "small" cameras and mobile phones with built-in cameras are fine, but "big" cameras are forbidden.

I came across this article on Wired about the RAW picture format.

If you don't know what RAW means (and are too lazy to click on the link), it's a picture format that some cameras can use that basically means that you're capturing everything that the camera's sensor is recording.

OK, so enough rambling- time for some "action".

As this is supposed to be a record of me and my wife learning how to take good photos, I think the best way to fill the "action!" part of this introduction would be to show some pictures that we've taken.

I think the most important thing about photography is the photographer. Being able to spot something worth pointing a camera at, knowing where to put the camera to get the best picture, and how to manipulate the environment to get the best picture has to be the most important thing. I firmly believe that a good photographer will be capable of getting a better picture with a disposable camera than a bad photographer is likely to get with any amount of kit.

Not all that long ago, I thought I'd got over my geeky impulses that were making me want to spend all my money on stuff I didn't really need. I got over the fact that I wasn't playing a Gibson Les Paul wasn't really what was holding me back from being a real life guitar hero. I got over the fact that not having thousands of pounds to spend on the latest synthesisers and recording equipment wasn't what was stopping me from being a great songwriter.