General Thoughts

Agree with you ! We got to be at the right time at the right place to capture the right moment. I don't have the right hardware to shoot what I would like to shoot (just G1 plus 14-45 lens). But...I try.

 

I think that the forum does exhibit some bias away from landscape photography, that is only based on the smaller number of views and comments made about such work in general. I don't think that the system is more geared to other types of photography, indeed the GF1 with a suitable lens, tripod mounted and composing with the lcd makes an ideal modern "view type" camera, although it is much more portable than an old view type camera.
My own photographic interests these days tend to concentrate on close-up work with insects and the like (not true macro photography) using a G1, landscape and documentary type work, for which the G1 and GF1 are suitable and I feel that the system is well suited to such genres.

Barrie

 

DJ, do you really think it's not suited for landscapes or do you feel that the thrust of many threads here are not towards that venue?

Maybe some of us need to get into the threads more actively and into the galleries, but I know we've got some superb landscape photographers here. I can think of a number who are also professional and do use their m43 cameras, too. Although David AKA soundimageplus is not so active here anymore he certainly does - you can check out his blog, then there's, of course - Vidar's, goldenlight's, bilzmale's, Ron's, angloasturian's, Iansky's, Grant's, Ray's, Locaster's front page thread:https://www.mu-43.com/f92/yosemite-high-country-gf1-9-18mm-pics-4494/ and sparklehorse's https://www.mu-43.com/f54/50-mile-trek-mountains-oregon-5447/, Bernd's (silverbullet) to name but a few - and your own!

I'm definitely with you about making due with whatever one has and going after what interests each of us while we're there. And sometimes the atmosphere isn't what we want but you're so right, it gives us a chance to try out something completely different. Perhaps, all the gear lust threads are getting to you a bit?

I would like to do more landscape/seascape photos and plan to once I'm more mobile, again.

 

I think of the :43: gear as a jack of all trades, and are wonderful tools for a wide variety shooting styles. The landscapes below were taken with the E-PL1 and mZD 14-42mm kit lens. Will they make National Geographic? No, but I like them and that's really all that counts. If they are appreciated by others is a nice bonus....

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Bigger sensors are generally better in the same way medium format film yields better results over 35mm film. So I would agree that the 4/3 format is not the best one for landscapes, or any other type of photography, when compared to larger sensors.

That said agree with the point that the best camera is the one you have with you and I find myself taking my GF1 places I did not take my film cameras. What sold me on the GF1 was this web site: Panasonic Lumix GF1 Field Test — 16 Days in the Himalayas

 

Narnian, great link - thank you!

True about sensors and all the rest, but we each make our choices. Some can have multiple cameras at the ready, while others just sell multiple cameras instead.:tongue: We all do know the truth behind the camera you have with you is the best one.

 

Herman, what kind of hardware you are thinking of?

 

DJ, thank you for adding more of your thoughts.

Here's what I think - damn the critics and full speed ahead with whatever makes you happy! More and more photographers from the full fledged professionals who are out to shoot for work, to those of us who take pictures because we love to, and the whole gamut of others in between and around, are moving towards smaller, lighter cameras.

I think it's time to go on a kind of critic fast.

I'm not trying to belittle your thoughts by writing this at all. There are always going to be challenges in the field, whether one's field is hiking or one's home. I believe that we each need to choose what works best for us and most importantly, remember that the best shot is the one that sings to the photographer who has taken the photo.

 

I guess the only rule this photograph breaks is by having the horizon on the centre line of the frame, but so what, Johnny's words say it all, he likes them and others appreciate them, and that's what counts.
Lets see some examples from the critics, easy to find fault, not so easy to produce the results.

Barrie

 

Done that with a 6x9 view camera AND medium format at the same time. Doesn't leave much room for anything else.

I got caught up in the technical superiority of medium format but lost sight of the composition. I eventually realized I could make technically superior pictures with the medium format but my composition was no better and in the end I had more fun with smaller cameras and was able to play more with composition and, in many cases, took better pictures I believe.

That is one reason I decided to try the GF1. My mind said get a full frame DSLR, my heart asked "which camera did you have the most fun with?". That turned out to be my Minolta CLe which reminds me of the GF1.

And though I am rusty and my compositions are often weak (especially since I never did color), I am having fun.

 

There's that word again, FUN, yippee

Barrie

 

Whaddya mean not enough blue sky, too many clouds, lighting not right!!!
I know what you mean about critiques of photographs. Sometimes it seems folks are looking for technical perfection and not looking to see what the photographer was trying to express, or simply enjoying the picture for what it is. Me, I'm just having fun. Something catches my eye and snap, another picture for my own enjoyment... Kinda the same reason I hang aorund here. It's fun..... and I'm learning a bit as well.....
John

 

DJ,
I will try to not be complicated but only try.
Margaret Bourke White once said,
"No eyes ever will nor ever shall see what I see now".
So to complicate such a simple statement is what I will do but not try to do.
Your have to be aware of your Here and Now. What I mean is, no one ever can or will make a photograph that you make. So critique becomes a benign subject. There is only opinions and we know what body part that is named after.
The quest for each of us is hopefully a journey filled with answers and more questions.
Our images stand to mark our time here on the earth. The attuned shooter sets his own standards to make his images by. It's nice to get acclaim for an image but that can't be the reason for making it. If it is, it fails from the onset.

It's nice to be on forums, groups etc to discuss gear, images etc but it's more important to realize that ones work is exactly that, ones work. You have to find the inner strength to stand and say, This is my image, I made it, I am responsible for it. This image brings me pleasure. If you like it, fine if not, that's fine also.

What I try to do in the Image Quest is to provide a method of finding inner vision with different graphic, conceptual, technical, visual ideas. Most get it and if you look at the work from the start to where we are now, there is a marked improvement in strength and ideas in the galleries from the shooters.
I would suggest you stop looking at your pitfalls and gear and start to really look at your images. Find the ones that you really like and try to define the ideas that are consistent in them. In your images are the answers you are looking for, not in the cameras or software. Find the ideas and play with them and then you will find yourself.
Never be to hard on yourself because that sets you up for failure. Just be patient and LOOK at the work, it's in there, I promise....
your pal.... Don