KISS

[Ian]

Everybodys ideas are different and i'm all for individuallity. But, sometimes i do dispair and have to wonder at the thinking of others.

I see, and read about the amount of kit some LF users carry, and wonder why.

Ah, i hear some of you cry. Versatillity, more options, something for all ocasions. Always able to come away with the shot! or do you??

The way i see it is this. Any LF camera and lens with movements has got to be the most versatile camera of all, granted it may not be the easyest to learn with. But we all start somewhere.

The less options we have the less decissions we have to make the more time we have to devote to the most importent part which is seeing the image and creating it on film via the camera.

Take a good hard look into your kit bag and count the number of options you have make befor you take a shot.

To many?

Ok try this for size.

Next time out take:

1 camera body.
1 lens.
1 DDS with 1 sheet of film in it.
1 pre set F stop setting.

This should effectivly leave you with with 2 decisions, where to point the camera and when to fire the shutter. Shutter speed will be determined by your meter reading.

This all may seem excessive but, it will make you more aware and look longer befor you shoot. Time spent looking and watching will rarely be wasted.

Some of you will probably apply some of these ideas already, if you do? let us know.

If you dont, give it a try for a while and see if you improve. Stick to one film type and speed. I suspect if you give it a good try you will learn a considerabe amount about yourself and your equipment.

PS. Dont forget to have fun.

Good luck to all who try.

KISS ( Keep It Simple Stupid ) Wise words.

[jjstafford]

KISS is good. A painter friend of mine shoots 1/2 frame 35mm in the sloppiest manner you can imagine, and has for thirty years. Something, possibly my influence, has provoked him to try LF. To that end I am loaning him a Printex 4x5 rangefindeer camera. If his attention to making pictures does not improve, perhaps he will see the next step necessary - or not and therefore pour concrete around his casual picture making esthetic. It will be interesting.

[Jorge]

hmmmm...so are you saying we should learn to cook a gourmet meal with one pan? While the KISS principle is good, you gotta remember there is always a right tool for every job.

[John Kasaian]

A move up in format size (and wieght and bulk) does a good job of limiting the amount of kit you're inclined to take along. I have to disagree with having one sheet of film in your holder though. If I ever tried that, I'd surely make my exposure on the side thats empty!

[jjstafford]

hmmmm...so are you saying we should learn to cook a gourmet meal with one pan? While the KISS principle is good, you gotta remember there is always a right tool for every job.

It is about New Eyes, I think - as in "Step away from the microwave".

[Eric Rose]

I do that very thing every once in a while. If I seem to be getting to bogged down in all the tech stuff it's a great way to blow the cobwebs out.

I've been having great fun with my beater Speed equipt with an enlarging lens screwed to the lens board.

[Dan Fromm]

Been nearly there, done nearly that, occasionally go out a'shooting with just one lens for the discipline. Can't see limiting myself to just one aperture or two shots in a day, though.

In general it just isn't true that one lens is all that's needed. I've gone crazy in the other direction, carry many too many. I wouldn't recommend that anyone do what I do, but on a long outing I use most of most of my lenses. There are times when using a different focal length seems better than changing position.

[Jorge]

It is about New Eyes, I think - as in "Step away from the microwave".

I thought that was the message intended, but using the cooking metaphor once more, you dont learn to make a great sauce by trying it only once. Learning to "see" and developing a style IMO requires that you shoot more, not less and see what works and what doesnt for you. WHat good is going out, taking one shot and then going back home only to find out you still took one crappy shot?....

[David A. Goldfarb]

I have a lot of lenses, but I don't carry them all with my all the time. Sometimes I'll go with just one or two. Lately I've been using the Technika with a three-lens kit (90/150/360). Sometimes I'll bring six or seven, if I really want a lot of options. If I'm traveling, I might bring five, six, or seven lenses to the destination city, but only carry one, two, or three on most outings, depending on what I'm going to be shooting.

[shyguy]

I think I agree, simpler is better. I would rather the shooter spend more time looking at the image, framing, etc. than contemplating which camera to use or which back or even which film.

Having said all that, I shoot with only one format, one camera, one film size, 2 types of film. I do have a good selection of lenses and filters though.

It's easy to get lost in the gadgetry, and that clearly is not what it's all about.

S.