Where is photography headed?

October 21, 2021 in journal

As new cameras are announced, I can’t help but to feel like digital cameras have peaked, when it comes to photography at least. Most of the innovations of the last few years have been about video. We do get more megapixels and better AF with each iteration, but they are minor iterations.

That’s not bad, though. Today, pretty much any camera in the market is capable of producing amazing photographs. It’s a good time to be a photographer.

But I wonder, where is photography headed from here? Surely, computational photography will play a big role in the short-term. In my opinion, smartphones are not the future of photography, but they are hinting at where standalone, interchangeable lens cameras have to go in the next few years. I can’t wait to see what’s coming next.

After that? Who knows. And who cares, really. Instead of longing for a future better camera, let’s enjoy the features we do have today that we were longing for just a few years ago.

Remove friction

November 30, 2020 in journal

To remove bad habits, we need to create friction. Do you eat unhealthy snacks every time you pass by the kitchen? Hide them away or, better yet, don't buy them.

To build good habits, we need to remove friction. Want to start running? Try by leaving your running shoes by the door.

The same applies to photography: we should remove as much friction as possible.

Something catches our eye. A possible image, we think. But then we realize about everything we need to do to take the photograph: take our backpack off, get the camera out, mount the lens, filter, extend the tripod, place it on ground, work through the settings... every single step is friction between us and the image. The likelihood of us trying our luck with that scene is very low. We will never know if that image would have worked.

Remove friction: have your camera out and ready, use P or A mode, shoot handheld. Consider using compact cameras. The simpler, the better.

APS-C lenses on Full Frame bodies: best of both worlds?

August 26, 2020 in journal

In this video, I'll try to show you why using APS-C lenses on a Full Frame body not only might make sense, but it can also be a great way to achieve performance that'd be very hard to get otherwise.

I used a Sony a7rii and the following APS-C lenses: Rokinon 12mm f/2, Sigma 16mm f/1.4, Sigma 30mm f/1.4, Sigma 56mm f/1.4, Sony Zeiss 16-70mm f/4, Sony 70-350mm f/4.5-6.3. Check out some of the examples in this gallery:

Why I bought a 5-year old Full Frame camera (A7Rii in 2020)

July 29, 2020 in journal

I bought a new camera.

Actually, I bought it 3 months ago. I didn't mention it here or anywhere because the last thing I want is anyone thinking they need a new camera -or even worse, the camera I bought- to create good images.

But a few people have spotted it in my videos and asked about it. I also want to be as transparent as possible when it comes to what I use to make my images, so here we go.

Why you should keep your camera gear in a bag

March 28, 2020 in journal

As someone with a semi-nomadic lifestyle, I've gotten used to live off a suitcase.

Instead of organizing my gear on shelves and drawers, I keep all my cameras, lenses and accessories in my bag. Having a limited space to store my stuff makes be very selective about what I buy: a new item usually means another one has to go.

But the reason why I always keep my gear in my bag is because that way I'm always ready to go. If I see fog in the morning, I grab my bag and get out. If the Spanish government establishes a mandatory quarantine, I grab my bag and go to my parents' farm to spend the lockdown there.

I know I won't be forgetting anything because all the gear I'd ever need is there, and ready.

What your camera says about you as a photographer

February 25, 2020 in journal

We've talked about how talent and skills are not enough to make a photographer stand out above the crowds nowadays. While I believe patience and persistence are the best way to deal with this, there are other ways a photographer might try to be different -sometimes even unconsciously.

An obvious one is camera gear. Indeed, today a photographer's camera is not so much about image quality but about signaling who you are as a photographer. These are some examples; they are generalizations and they won't fit everyone, but they might sound familiar to you. I definitely can see myself in 2 of these.