Knocking off the rust, by getting moving…..
Last June I had a great experience when I was honored to get to be a speaker a NECC, the New England Council of Camera Clubs annual event! I met a lot of really nice folks, got to visit with some of my favorite Nikon people, and finally got to meet Mike Moats a close-up photogpraher whose work I have long admired! I first met Mike through Jack Graham another great photographer friend. They use to do workshops together. Mike helped me a lot when I was preparing to teach my two Kelby training videos on Close-up photography.
So anyway, when I met Mike at the show we finally got to sit down and talk and I was very impressed with his philosophy of doping close-ups! Now I must admit that I’m and equipment freak and couldn’t wait to ask him what gear he was using. To my shock he told me he used Nikon D7000s as his main cameras. Now don’t get me wrong, I love the D7000 I just thought with how spectacular his work was he was using an even higher end camera body!
He told me that he used the D7000 for several reasons;
1. It’s 1.5 lens factor actually gave him larger images within his files with the same focal length lens. That made a lot of sense and in fact I’ve recommended that myself in the past.
2. That he made 24″X36″ prints with ease from that camera. I knew that was possible, but after seeing his prints up close, I was even shocked myself, they were breathtaking, and from a DX camera!!!
3. His last reason was the one that shot me between the eyes!! He said he wanted to show his students that you could do good work without spending a fortune on cameras and lenses! I was stunned, I knew he was right, and I believe that myself, but I sure wan’t putting it into practice.
Here I write this blog and give advice on gear, but have been a little bit, o.k. a lot of a snob, about gear. I decided to turn over a new leaf, and this is what I plan to do;
It’s time for some New Years Resolutions about my photography:
A. In the new year I’m going to force myself to learn some new things about the gear I own and how to use it to the best of my ability.
B. I will designate periods of time; trips, assignments, maybe even a few weeks or a month at a time, and use just one set of gear to discover just what is possible with it. I plan to do a period with just a point and shoot camera, actually several different ones. A period of time with just one body and one lens, and probably not a zoom, just a single focal length lens, (like a D600 and a 50mm f1.4 lens). I plan to do a period of time with just an iPhone, and even a small manual focus system, and just one zoom in my autofocus system. I’m going to devote time to just DX , and time to just FX.
C. To keep myself honest, I will let you guys know what time period I’m doing what, and then show the results on the blog!
So the big question is, why am I doing t his? Of course the first part is Mike has shamed me into trying to think less about the gear and more about the image. Part two is that I truly want to be less of gear snob!!! But lastly, and most importantly, I am entering a new stage of my life and I have decided I want to become a serious student again, and learn as much as I can. I know that I’m surrounded by people that excel at different aspects of photography and I want to absorb as much of that knowledge and wisdom as I can.
No teacher is worth his or her salt if they are not also devoted students, so it’s back to school for this old dog! Surely there are a few new tricks I can learn!
So it’s starts today, for the next several days I’m using the D600 and a 50mm f 1.4 AF lens to shoot Christmas themed stuff, expect to see some results soon. One camera – one lens, hey I’m excited, I just my learn something here!!! Thanks Mike……
Blessings,
the pilgrim
My buddy Kent Ervin sent this shot to me, thought it was appropriate for my new experiment, “suspended over the water!” Sure hope that old dog can swim!
This entry was posted on Friday, December 14th, 2012 at 5:39 pm
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This shot just reminds me of how paradise will look like! Nice shot Mr. Fortney!
It will be a lot better than this!!
I strongly believe this! 100%
I’m also a fan of Mike’s macro photography for a while. He does some amazing work. He’s recently been posting some cool stuff from Old Car City that makes me want to make a road trip back down to Georgia.
I remember being with you and Kent in that workshop where the bridge shot was taken. I had a similar shot that I used in a recent program for a Methodist Men’s group called Seeing God’s Creations. I closed with that photo and a quote I use often
“God created it, I just took the picture” – Bill Fortney.
Yep, that’s the truth!
I have a photo of you on that same bridge. (Kent, I love your shot!). Bill, I’m excited about your resolution! Recently, I’ve been trying to work in SOME kind of photography everyday in some way. Because my iPhone is my most available camera, that’s what I usually end up using. Because of Mike Moats, I tend to shoot every succulent plant I come across because they are not only photogenic but also unaffected by wind- and in Texas they are ubiquitous – even in shopping malls. Your resolution will help me keep mine! I have learned that when you, Bill Fortney, set specific photo exercises for yourself, we all learn a lot from your experiences. Can’t wait to see what you have for us. Meanwhile, I’m going to go stick my 50 mm lens on my “real” camera and shoot along with you.
Glad to have the company!
Bill, thanks for your great words here. As you know, my camera is a Nikon D7000 and I love it. One of my favorite lenses is the 35mm and I’m guessing because it’s on a DX camera. I’m hoping to get the D600 someday but in the meantime, I’m learning so much about this wonderful thing called photography. I love your resolutions. Thank you for sharing them. I’m focusing on learning even more about my camera and how to get the very best photos I can with it. Also learning Photoshop and Lightroom from those Photoshop guys – Matt, RC, & Scott have taught me so much. I continue to learn from you and from Moose Peterson. I like your idea of a schedule of shooting. I’m going to do that more. Can’t wait to continue on in this new year of learning and growing in the Lord and in shooting more of His majestic creation.
Check out the special Nikon is running on the D600 this weekend only. It is such a good deal, I’ve almost bought one myself. Go to The Nikon Store.
What s neat challenge. Best of luck in your new endeavors. Was just looking at your Featured links along the margin. Charles Stanley is not only a great man of God, but also an accomplished photographer. 🙂
I am also a fan of Mike Moats. I took his class inColorado. Now living in Georgia. Where is the beautiful bridge in your post located? I would love to photograph it.
Cullen Fortney was at John’s Bar in Lacrosse, WI with frndies. At 1:30 a.m. he was no where to be seen. His frndies searched for him for hours with no luck. When he checked himself into the ER, he stated that all he could remember was being at the bar around 1:30 a.m., and then finding himself in the middle of the river, fighting the strong current. He remembers nothing between 1:30 a.m. and coming to in the middle of the river.