I gave a camera training. I bought vintage Albanian stamps. I saw an old Kodak sign, and I wore my fancy new shoes. I also spent time making pictures, which is the FIRST real chance I’ve had in quite some times. I made about a dozen usable images so far, perhaps four will make the book. My right heel is killing me. Has been since a run in Boston a few days before we left. Something is wrong and it’s not like I’m going to be walking nonstop for the next eight days or anything. Nah, that’s probably not an issue.
As photographers, we have to adjust. We adjust to place, time, story, weather, mood and assignment if you so happen to be on one. I’m not so total freedom in regard to my own snaps. Just the way I want. The only way, actually. In Albania this means multi-exposures. I’ve gotten much better at them which was a bit of a surprise.
But these pics and this post are about random Tirana. The errands, the logistics, and the preparation. Workshop starts in two hours. Our assignments have been listed. Our locations double checked. Our route through the northern countryside has been mapped. Now, we go.
Comments 4
Love the stamps! Sounds like a great trip. Hope your heel gets better. Hate to ask a camera question. I’m still using my XT2 and XH1. Starting to think about a new one, especially if my new gig pans out longer term. I rarely shoot video, but I still have vague video ambitions. Thinking about the XH2s. But I saw that XT5, and I was curious – what does the person who owns that think of it? I imagine they’ve put it through its paces. Would I like a full frame camera? I would, but I don’t know if I’ve got it in me to learn a different brand.
Scott, don’t let brands be a stumbling block. You can become comfortable enough with a different one in a couple of days. Go full-frame and make your inner guy happier, knowing that a good big one will be kinder to you if you want to push yourself, your files and images. Different camera brands are simply different ways of walking the same path: if you want to enjoy the walk, get the best shoes you can afford.
Unavoidably, photography is always the same deal, the final result being what you bring to the party, not the brand you use as intermediary. If you have ever rented a car, you have overcome greater hurdles than using different camera brands!
Perhaps the only good reason not to swap is if you have grown a large collection of lenses. That will become expensive. On the other hand, such a traumatic moment could become a cathartic one instead: you could make a rational decision concerning which focal lengths you actually use, stay with those and ignore the surplus ones. I faced this very same moment the other day when thinking about Dan’s obsession with a Q: I came to realise that almost all of my past photographic life could have been handled just as well with two very different focal lengths, 35mm and 180mm (on FF). I’d be richer today… which wouldn’t be difficult.
Either way, enjoy your photography.
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I would wait for XPro 4. See what that’s like. There are things I love about the XH and things I don’t love about them. I’m probably going to get a Leica Q at some point.
Great points, Rob!