Like they always say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  There are photographers out there that create work with a very abstract, grainy, mystical feel.  There are others who create work that is clean and sharp as real life would present or even better.

My guess is, you are looking to create images that are sharp and clear.  With that in mind, let’s look at some facts.

1. Photography is 90% photographer and 10% equipment.  Now, let’s be honest here.  You can’t build a home with a set of plastic Tonka tools.  However, some of my best work is with a plastic Holga.  Regardless, without a good understanding of composition and a full understanding of how your tools *your camera* work, you are only working in chance.

2. The camera is a very important tool.  However, when the mirror of your SLR goes up and the shutter opens, there is NOTHING between the back of your lens and the film or sensor except air.  Don’t cut corners on your lenses.  Sure, you can get GREAT photos with an aftermarket lens, but don’t get the 49 dollar special 350mm f8 in the camera shop’s used *junk* bin.

3. A tripod is essential for sharp, clean images if shooting with a slow shutter speed or a long focal length.

4. Using a high quality film is also important.  If you are looking for clean, smooth, sharp images, don’t use the 800asa film in the 5 for 4 boxes.  Get a good 100asa film.  The higher the asa or ISO of the film, the more grain you will have.  It is sort of a trade-off when you think about it.  If you want to shoot in low light, you have to use a higher ISO film.  Well, not necessarily.  Remember tip number 3.  Use a tripod.

5. With print film, what you shoot is not always what you get.  If you are having print film processed by the kind folks a the local department store or drug store, you are taking your carefully crafted images and giving them to a person to process that just last week was working in house wares or ladies apparel.  The processing machine they are using and frequently have to calibrate *YIKES* assesses the image on your negative and makes an educated GUESS on what TWEEKING the image needs.  If you want to know what you are photographing, shoot SLIDE film.  Slide and digital images will present to you the actual image you took based on the programming you set the camera in.  If you took a photograph of a beautiful sunset and wonder why the reds on your photograph are not the reds you saw that day on the beach, you are not alone.  That big auto processor will see the high amounts of red and filter some of it out.  Yep, and then you start trying harder to fix a problem that is not really a problem.  You take it back to the department store and the cycle continues.

6. Next, READ, READ, READ.  To become a better photographer, invest in books that will teach you how to become a better photographer.  Trial and error are costly.  Photography is just math…yep…math.  1/60th of a second at f16 will, in many cases, give you a similar image if taken at 1/125th of a second at f11.  It depends on what you are trying to accomplish and what is CREATIVELY CORRECT.  But, that is a subject for another day.

I hope this guide was helpful and that you have a better understanding of Equipment vs Taking Better Photographs.  If it was helpful, let me know by clicking the “YES” down below.  If you would like to provide your input, I will be happy to add the information to this guide.

Show The World Your World; Share A Photograph.  TM

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