Accountability……
I got an email that was disturbing for me. Someone, who will not be named, suggested that I was in the tank for Fuji after reading my review of the new 200mm f 2 lens. It’s fair that if you blog and share your “opinions” that someone might think you have ulterior motives. So please let me address this criticism up front.
When I was asked to be a Fujifilm X-Photographer, I was honored, but before I accepted I asked one question, “Do you expect me to promote your products, or may I continue to be totally honest about my opinions on any equipment or service from Fujifilm?” The only reason I said yes, was they said, “we would not want you to be anything but honest and up front about our products or services.”
The only reason I blog is to serve My Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, to share His love with others and to share about photography and other interests in my life. I get no special favors from any manufacturers who make the products i reviews or share about. Fujifilm does allow X-Photographers to buy some of their lenses and bodies at a discount. When the X-T2 came out they gifted a body with our names as the serial number to each X-Photographer. In spite of these kinds of acts on Fujifilm’s part, I would never review a product favorably because of my friendship with or association with Fujifilm.
Let me tell you why.
When I was a tech rep for Nikon I knew that if I was always honest with my clients and they came to know they could trust me, I could truly help them. The moment they would have discovered that I was lying on behalf of the company, I would have lost all credibility with them and could no longer help them or Nikon! That’s why I never lied to them, or have I ever lied to any of you.
The reason I chose the picture above is that I know that is how Jack feels and in this image of us we look pretty serious, and we are, we hold each other to that personal standard. I also owe it to my wife, my children, grandchildren and dear friends that expect only the best of me. Nothing that could ever be given to me could ever be enough for me to sell out my integrity, just to get it!
I promise you that when you come to this blog, you will get my honest opinions and feelings, I will not lie to you or ever try to misguide you. I hope most of you that come here already know that, if you don’t I’ve failed you and all the others that have honored me by coming here for information and inspiration!
You can take that to the bank!
Blessings,
the pilgrim
This entry was posted on Friday, August 17th, 2018 at 3:20 pm
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Sigh. I would never have thought that of you, Bill. From reading your previous posts I know I can trust you to be honest about what you write. Haters gonna hate. Ignore them.
Thakns Khurt! Good to know, you’re kind!
Blogs are full of irresponsible, and rude comments. There seems to be a lot of negative people in our society. Having followed your blog for several years and attended several of your workshops, I may not always agree with your opinions, but I fully trust that they are honest, fair and meant to be helpful. I would not think of questioning your integrity. Jerry R
Thanks Jerry!
I’d like to meet the person who questioned your honesty. They sound like a typical “troll”.
We don’t know each other personally, but I’ve met you at Photoshop World and attended a couple of lectures. It’s obvious to me that you like Fuji because it works for you and might work well for others. I don’t use Fuji but I read your blog because what you teach also applies to other systems. I use Olympus and have used your suggestions regarding prime lenses. Thank you for freely sharing your knowledge with the rest of us. Relationships between professional photographers and camera manufacturers benefit the rest of us and I have never felt you’ve given us anything less than full disclosure regarding your relationship with Fuji.
Thank you for always sharing,
Ed
Thanks Ed, I would never try to lead you or anyone else astray!
I have known Bill for a while now I have faith in what he has told me directly or what I have read in his reviews to be his honest opinion of which he is speaking about. He has a great wealth of knowledge to learn from and he is nothing but a true gentleman. I am proud to say I know him.
Thanks for all the time and effort you put in your blog.
Thank you Ken, great to hear from you! Lots of great memories back there!!!
My friend Bill Fortney has not just a photography workshop business named His Light Workshops, but a personal ministry of spreading His Light. To suggest absolutely anything that would reflect less than perfectly on Bill’s integrity is misguided and in grave error.
Love you brother, it’s all ok!
Bill.
You liked me, even when I was the only person you’d seen in years shooting a Pentax system on a workshop. You even thought my gear was pretty sweet despite me being the oddball. I remember you talking with someone the next year about their Olympus gear, and being impressed with their lenses and portability. I also know you’d still be shooting Nikon if they spread their wings with glass and bodies supporting the needs of heavy duty and more mobile professional photographers simultaneously. Even Nikon evangelists are not happy the DX lenses are in no way supportive or equal to the FX lenses. I even remember you telling me, you need to shoot what works for you.
Heck in your review you even said…The Nikon and Cannon equivalents are pretty sweet…BUT they are a lot larger and more expensive. (Well they need too…they are for a larger sensor).
Ok brother…you could shoot better than I with a pinhole camera. I know your work, I appreciate your work. I miss your company.
More importantly…I know your work points to the Lord in all you do.
That’s what matters.
God Bless
E
Eric, your words mean a great deal to me, from a man that is on the front line protecting us from terrorism, I’m just honored to be your friend! Thank you for all you do!
Bill,
I agree with all of the above comments. Not much else for me to add, but a wonderful friendship over the years with great guidance.
…..and what a great friendship it has and continues to be!
I agree with all the comments that others have made. Bill’s integrity is above reproach.
If the email was from someone that does not know Bill, the person may feel then need to question the how accurate the information or the source. I hope that person reads these comments and learns the the truth.
As for the review, at nearly $6000 I’d expect the lens to be nearly perfect. I expect that a review would reveal the near perfection.
That about sums it up – $6,000. =near prtfection. They couldn’t sell them if they were anything less!
Honesty in dealing with customers and the public is a no-brainer. You nailed it. You can’t be “a little bit pregnant.” You either are or you aren’t. The same goes with honesty and integrity. True professionals in the business know this and you are one of them. Despite the competition I have never heard a Nikon or Canon rep make disparaging remarks about competitors (comparisons are not “disparaging remarks”) and good ones will try to steer people to the right products to meet their needs and be honest about whether they do or don’t. Nikon’s Ed Yost (?) years ago knew I was a Canon shooter in need of some big glass and let me know of a reasonably priced used 300 f/2.8L at one of the dealers he knows. When I was considering buying a Canon M1 mirrorless at a great sale price a friend at Canon cautioned me that it would probably not meet my needs. Very professional indeed.
I agree completely!
I’ve been blessed to know you and count you as a friend for many years. Your integrity and morals as a Christian and as a person are unquestioned by anyone who knows you. You have always been honest and straight-forward in your assessments of gear and immensely helpful to everyone around you who came to learn the art and technique of photography and some lessons in life.
My life is better for knowing you and I thank you.
To the person who questioned, I can only say that I pray your ignorance will be corrected.
Thanks Ron, means a lot!
Your honesty and integrity are second to none Bill…Anyone who knows you knows this! I hope that person takes time to get to know you…his/her life will be richer because if it…
Miss seeing you y friend, need another airport meeting!
never even crossed my mind that you wouldn’t tell us the truth about a product. God bless
Bill,
I’m never going to be Fuji guy, my Nikon D850 will be my camera (and now maybe a Z7:-).
That said, I would never believe you to be anything less than a man of faith, integrity, and honesty. I don’t have to agree with your camera choice to know that.
I am fully convinced that one hundred years from now anthropologists will determine the ability to anonymously post on the internet as the downfall of civility.