Freo Graphic

May 2021 FREO GRAPHIC 8 FREO INFO 5. Knowing that what you want to capture will fit onto your film or sensor. With experience, certain exposures work more than others. Soft light works best than midday light, but having experience can help you determine what will work. I guess this is now getting into the technical realm. 8. A camera. Yes, it does matter, but not as much as the other aspects I’ve described. Naturally, it’s an over-simplification to say a camera doesn’t matter, but the point is that it is not the most important element in taking a good picture. It is just a tool and some tools are better than others. Some can hinder than aid, and I’ve found that some cheaper tools hinder less than some expensive tools. I like a camera which doesn’t get in the way. It should be simple to use, and act as an aid or interface between what you see and what you capture. If you’re spending too much time fiddling with it, then it’s a hindrance, not an aid to capturing the moment. 9. I can’t think of any more. So you see. It’s not about the camera. But you do need a camera to capture your ‘vision’. Those that say the camera does matter are missing the point. The camera is the last step. It is something you use to record everything else that came before - being there, recognising a moment, understanding light and composition and determining the right exposure. Only then do you reach for your camera. Bruce Percy (2008) 6. We’re now into the technical realms of photo making. But have you noticed that I’ve not even mentioned a camera yet? That’s because the camera is purely a tool that YOU direct. I’ve taken pictures on a crappy 35mm camera that have been better than images I’ve taken on Large Format. Seven is about exposure. Understanding dynamic range and how to correctly expose the shot to get what you ‘see’. 7. Which is important? Freezing time, or depth of field? Often I find with landscape I want to take long exposures when something is moving fast in the scene. I like to convey movement and the passing of time, but sometimes it’s not appropriate. Knowing when and how.