Back to the blog! I think I will update it once weekly, on a weekend from this point on. To those who subscribed, I thank you! I am new to blogging, so I am hoping my posts will improve over time. Much like my photography has slowly improved over 12 years time.

Over the years I have owned so many DSLR’s and digital cameras as I have an addiction for these things, but I really do not know why! I have no clue why I spent so much money on them, buying and selling, because I learned a true fact long ago...

FACT: a new camera does not make you a better photographer.

I used to think that it did, but over the years I realized that all of my photos had the same style and look. They looked like MY photos. Imagine that!

No matter what camera I used, I was able to get decent shots and even when I stepped up to an $8000 camera (the original Canon 1ds) my images did not improve, and in some case, they got worse!

FACT: A camera is just a tool and your eye and mind will create the ART.

This is true. If someone takes crap pictures with a $90 point and shoot they will take probably even crappier pictures with a $5000 Digital SLR. Why? It’s simple!

A cheap point and shoot is designed to give you punchy color, and pretty much a spot on, well exposed image right out of the camera. A DSLR (Digital SLR) file will need tweaking and enhancements in Photoshop 90% of the time. It is meant for photographers who know the basics.

True, some DSLR’s today are made for people just getting into photography and they provide KILLER results out of the box. One example of this is the Nikon D40 or D50 cameras. They give great bright colors out of the camera and the size is pretty small. These would be cameras I would recommend for the beginning photographer as it provides the canvas for you to create amazing images.

The canvas? Let me explain. In my eyes, the Canvas of a digital SLR is the sensor. A sensor in a DSLR is much larger than the small size sensors in point and shoot cameras, therefore, you will get a much cleaner image with better color saturation, and better results in low light. It will give you the opportunity to take true, pro quality images and it won’t break the bank.

BUT DIDNT I SAY A CAMERA WILL NOT IMPROVE YOUR IMAGES? Yes! But I meant the actual image, not the QUALITY of the file. There are many powerful images out there that were taken with cheap noisy cameras, BUT the photographer shooting them knew what they were doing. They had “the vision”... “the eye”. They also knew how to exploit the strengths of their camera.

It takes some time to train your eye to take more creative images, and it takes learning the basics to know what you are doing.

I remember taking a roll of film from my Leica M7 to the drug store for processing. The kid behind the counter said “WHOA! You must have a nice camera” - It was odd because I thought the shots sucked! I was used to my digital shots that were enhanced in the “Digital Darkroom” and these film prints seemed a bit dull to me, especially since they processed them horribly! Never take your good film to a drug store for processing if you can help it.

I told the kid the camera was indeed a good one, and he said “I’d like to have a camera like that so I could take these kind of pictures”. I said thanks, and walked away. He was used to processing snapshots all day and my images were a bit different, so he thought they were cool and assumed if he had my camera that he could take photos like me!

How wrong. There are so many excellent photographers in the world today and I am not even a pimple on the rear of many of them as far as talent goes. Give one of these greats a box with a hole in it and they could produce some amazing images that would make your jaw drop.

Others like me are photography nuts who have a great passion for it, but will never be one of the greats.

I have been shooting for about 12 years and have noticed improvements in my images since the first year. I now know how to find shots and not just fire off snaps. I learned more about Photoshop so I can edit my images for better impact. I have read, and read, and read and have had 12 years of real word experience shooting portraits, weddings, nudes and some landscape.

When I was only a few years in to shooting and bought myself that $8000 1ds, the pictures from it were not so hot. I had one image that won a contest at the time, but I realize now I was just not experienced enough to own that luxury camera.

If you are just getting into photography, and want a great DSLR to start with, check out the Nikon D40, D50 or D90. These can give you excellent results while you learn. Do not feel the need to spend $4000 on a starter camera thinking your images with it will be incredible just because it is a $4000 camera!

I learned from my mistakes, so do not do what I did! I wasted a lot of cash on buying and selling cameras, looking for that next best thing to help me with my journey. Shoot with what you have and find your vision. It will come!

Today I shoot mainly with my Leica M8. I love this camera to death and it is one of the only cameras I have really connected with. It is expensive, yes, but it is not the best quality camera out there today. I love it due to the emotional bond I have with it, in its feel, operation and simplicity.

Today I will go out and shoot with my wife's D-Lux 4, which is the best compact on the market today (03/09) in my opinion,  and at the end of the day, the images will still look like my images. They will not be any better or worse than the ones I shot with my M8. There may be limitations with the focal lengths or lens speed, but almost any camera these days can be used to create some powerful images.

The moral of this story is, go out and shoot! Enjoy what you have and don’t worry so much about that fancy camera you see online. Think to yourself, “how will this new camera improve my shots?” Chances are, it will not.

Lenses on the other hand..well, thats for another post. :)