Just go!

“Just put on the lens and go.” –Miroslav Tichy

I remember when I was a child growing up how much I loved cameras. I am not sure what the reason behind it was. I am not sure if it was the ability to freeze a moment in time, if it was the ability to capture a moment or if it was the anticipation of getting to pick up the film from the store and seeing exactly what the pictures looked like. In reality it must have been a combination of all three items. However I must say that I remember the anticipation of picking up the pictures most. It was the excitement to see if the photos I had taken had turned out, and in some cases I had forgotten what was on the roll of film and I just wanted to see what was there.

With a film camera I had to learn constraint, and to take my time when it came to getting that amazing shot of my friends or of the tiger at the local zoo. I hated that I had no idea if I had gotten the shot, and had to wait to have the film developed, which in some cases was weeks after I had taken a specific shot. What made it even more difficult is that I knew that by the time that I got to see the photo that I would not be able to recreate the shot and the moment would be lost forever if I did not catch it at the moment.

However now with the world of digital cameras all of that has changed. In some cases I think that it is for the better, but I will admit, I do miss the anticipation of picking up the film and seeing if I really did do as well as I thought in that moment.

Digital cameras have opened up a world of change and opportunity. Now you can almost guarantee that you have captured the moment at the same time that you take the photo. If you miss it because the focus is off, in most cases all you have to do is line it up and click again. There is no waiting for the film to develop. You have more of a chance to capture that memory or that moment and make sure that it is right.

I must admit that I love the ability of a digital camera, but I have also noticed that I am just as picky about the shot as I was when I was using a film camera. I still want to take the shot, and shoot it once, and get it all right in camera, the first time. This train of thought is very hard for me to break. I still notice from time to time that I am hesitant to take a shot because I am not sure that I am even going to get the picture that I wanted. Which now with the ability to see the photo real time on the back of my camera is honestly insane. 

I am now learning to take on a new thought process. I read the quote, (the one at the top of this post) and I realized that there was a lot in that one simple statement. This one quote is one that I am trying to take to heart, and I believe will help me to continue to excel in my career as a photographer. I need to "Just put the lens on and go." (Miroslav Tichy)  With the abilities that the world of digital technology has given photographers I need to practice not being so conservative. So what if the shot does not work the way I want it too the first time. All I need to do is realign what I am doing and shoot it again. 

I will say that I am not advocating the "spray and pray" method. I still believe that each and every shot should still be framed up correctly and thought out in order to catch the feel and the magic that is present in that moment. However it is not like the days of film where you are "clicking and praying" and not knowing if the shot was a success or not. There is no longer the cost of production of a photo. Not to mention that a memory card has so much more room then a roll of film ever did! 

Photos are a doorway to the past. They are a reminder of a magical moment, a friend, a time that can not be revisited. I believe that with all of my heart. I want to make sure that not only myself, but my clients have that doorway to the past. With that in mind it is time too "Just put the lens on and go" capture those magical moments!