I continue to read Twyla Tharp’s book, The Creative Habit. In one of her chapters, she talks about having too much experience, or not enough inexperience. The premise is that when we are inexperienced, we don’t have as much fear. We don’t have any idea of the limitations. Also, there is not that feeling of been there and done that.
Within the same chapter, she talks about warriors having “No favorite weapon”. That is because they never know where the attack will come from and which weapon they will need to use. Woe to you if you get into a sword fight and pull out your favorite weapon, a knife. It might not bode so well for you.
In thinking of this, I must admit that I do have my favorite weapons, or lenses if you will. My two favorites are the 18-270mm, for it’s convenience, and the 50mm just because I like the sharpness, the large aperture opening, and the field of view. As mentioned in other posts, I rarely use the 11-18mm; however, I think that I should use it a lot more often, as it takes considerable skill to use it and get good pictures out of it. I’m even going to give the much maligned Lensbaby a go for a while. Having a favorite and neglecting other lenses results in laziness and complacency. I can still get the shots, but, there just doesn’t seem to be anything new.
So, I am going to integrate a “clock like” methodology into my photography practice. I’ll practice with one lens for a while, then move on around the clock, practicing with each for a while, let’s say a month. Eventually, I’ll have to come back around to the beginning to start all over again. This could work with subjects, too. Shoot landscapes for while, people for a while, then architecture, macros, etc. It’s almost limitless and keeps you sharp and there is always something new.
I don’t know what the proper interval will be for me. Perhaps a week or two. I think that a month will be too long. We’ll see. I have no idea where I’ll start, though. It will be with the 11-18 or the Lensbaby. So, if you see a lot of LB shots or super wide angle shots in the next couple weeks, you’ll know.
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12 Responses to “Never have a favorite weapon”
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Thought provoking. I certainly have become attached to my 24-105mm. I hadn’t thought about a need to change, but now I am.
What a barbarian scenery – and that’s what a wideangle is for: emphasizing foreground while giving the context. I guess you’ve started your 11-18 trial period already.
Re. that weapon of choice: I think routine makes most of us living along our preferences. This induces in-depth knowledge of the favourite tool (Paul Butzi comes to mind, who probably does 90% of his garden and plant shots with one lens) and helps you achieve perfection. And, not to forget, the majority of great photographs is not done at the extremes of focal lengths.
Otoh having a choice should motivate to exercise with what we’ve got. And especially the wide angle needs skilful handling to achieve good results. In my lens range from 11mm to 300mm it also is the least used lens, but whenever I decide in favour of it, chances of achieving a keeper are higher then average. However I do not attribute this to the lens characteristics but more to the plus of consideration I give to these kind of shots.
So I am not shure if rotating the tools of choice is necessary, however learning the individual possibilities definitely is.
@Markus: After I read the chapter, I began to think about what she was saying. It’s similar to a sculptor, perhaps. She has a box full of chisels. She probably has one that is her favorite to work with because it has the right heft, balance, and that certain intangible feeling that works well for her. She has, also, to learn how to use all of the other chisels in her chest as well. She may still have that favorite, but the others probably get used in rotation, quite frequently. Further, she’ll pick the right tool for the job.
Regarding what you said:
So I am not shure if rotating the tools of choice is necessary, however learning the individual possibilities definitely is.
How else do we discover the possibilities, and pass through our own self-limitations, if we do not use the tool?
My favourite weapon is my brains, but I guess I am not well armed (grin)
I like your idea with the clock approach to lens as you may know I always enjoy challenging my self with different approaches.
Your idea just got me thinking about a variant idea that I will most likely try next motnh when I downtown weather is better and more people out and about.
So I thought I would share this with you.
Only one lens 18-200
Every 10 minutes, or 20 etc. increase the focal length by a set amount
Ie. 20, 40, 60, 100, 150, 200 or any variant you like.
If you like this approach maybe we can both write about this later and share and learn form each other. IT ahs to be before I start SoFoBoMO
Have fun.
Niels Henriksen
Well, look at my answer in the light of that concept of a “tool of choice”: The tool of choice is something that has proven to be suitable to one’s shooting style, so I guess that’s more like a ‘long term favourite’. For me that are focal lengths in the range of 50 to 150, because I love to isolate, emphasize by means of eliminating distracting elements. Nonetheless for subjects that need a wide angle or that need to be seen in context, I do use the appropriate focal lengths, but they are not so much the kind of lens I would take in the first step if I had the choice.
A pro friend of mine nearly exclusively uses her wide angle zoom, even for people photography. I’v tried that, but I never felt comfortable shooting people at arm length’s distance. So despite of interesting results, that did not become my tool of choice.
Regarding the quoted sculptor: In the sequence of his work, very different tools are necessary. As a photographer you do some of the revealing work of the sculptor with your brain and your legs. Therefore you can easier fall for that concept of a ‘tool of choice’.
I definitely have favorites but it really depends on the job at hand. The tool that works best for the situation is the one I will favor at that moment. For just going out for a day of shooting? I have 3 favorites. They are (in order):
28-70mm f2.8
80-200mm f2.8
50mm f1.4
I definitely have favorites but it really depends on the job at hand. The tool that works best for the situation is the one I will favor at that moment. For just going out for a day of shooting? I have 3 favorites. They are (in order):
28-70mm f2.8
80-200mm f2.8
50mm f1.4
I love the perspective on that shot…cool angle and those spikes…yikes!
What a great image here Paul.
I think never having a favorite weapon is a good recipe for a backache in carrying too many lenses.
I think it is a breadth and depth sort of thing. You need to be proficient with all your lenses, but you also need an intimate knowledge of them.
I’m starting to emerge from a year spent almost exclusively with one (prime) lens on the camera. For a while I knew it so well I could see the framing before I brought the camera to my eye.
Compare that to when I use a point and shoot with a long zoom range, often I’ll zoom to compose, rather than walking, with all the thoughts about perspective and field of view that these decisions make or avoid.
Don’t you have to chose between either exploring your “weapons of choice” or exploring the subject per se? At least I would feel rather unsecure trying to do both at the same time. Playing and exploring an unfamiliar lens, filter, camera whatever in order to expand one’s intuitive grasp of them is one thing – but I wouldn’t dare to do that when there’s e.g. a scenery in a fleeting light before me.
Hm.. on second thought: I would dare to do afteri> I explored the scenery with the lens that I find most appealing. Meaning: depending on how unique the photo opportunity is, I might play it safe and chose a two-step approach.
So much for unbalanced brackets. You should install a debugger on your site…
@Thomas: That’s exactly what I didn’t want to do, play it safe. I just wanted to play. But you are right, it is uneasy to do both at the same time. I would prefer to use a new lens on a well-known subject.