Snapshot or Proper Photograph?

What’s the difference between a snapshot and a ‘proper’ photograph?

I saw this question on one of the photo forums today and gave a quick response, but I thought the question deserved some more consideration.

I take snaps for my own purposes – to me a snap is a photo I’ve taken purely as a record of something, with no artistic thought given to it. A photo of mates in the pub for example (this was my answer on the forum).

A typical snap is unlikely to be of much interest to a wider audience. That said, they can prove to be important pieces of social documentary – aren’t we all fascinated to look at old snaps that we find in forgotten albums?

Take someone else’s old holiday photos for example, you look at the classic cars you don’t see any more, the fashions people were wearing, places that have since changed so much you can hardly recognise them, or maybe the surprise is they haven’t changed at all!

Snaps originated with the first Kodak box camera, introduced in 1888 – the first camera to use a roll of film rather than individual plates, and used by ordinary people rather than enthusiastic amateurs or professionals.

Kodak’s slogan was “You press the button – we do the rest”. The ability to take quick ‘snaps’ without too much preparation brought photography to the mass market (although still a relatively expensive novelty) http://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_760118

I like to collect old photos, particularly WW1 era images – mostly they are professionally taken photos, rather than snapshots, but I have found some, and they are often more interesting, and rare!

Soldiers going off to war (WW1), which was considered in early stages as a bit of an adventure, would take a small Kodak folding camera, the Vest camera which also became known as the ‘Soldier’s camera’. However, images of the reality of war were not so well received back home and the use of personal cameras was quickly banned. You can read more about ‘the soldier’s camera’ here http://blog.nationalmediamuseum.org.uk/2014/03/13/the-vest-pocket-kodak-was-the-soldiers-camera/

Some photographers have used the ‘snapshot’ style for their work – a contrived snap I guess.

Martin Parr has made the snapshot style is trademark – of course it’s an intentional style of his and he’s rather turned the concept around on itself – http://www.martinparr.com/. So the snapshot style can also be art.

Others who use the snapshot aesthetic include the fashion photographers Terry Richardson & Juergen Teller, who have used inexpensive ‘point & shoot’ type cameras.

The rise in use of camera phones has arguably made the snapshot more prolific than ever. Social media has replaced the wallet of 6X4 prints that people would collect from the chemist after their holiday or party. Nearly everyone has a phone with a camera built in and the majority probably have no idea about photography – they just point and shoot and share, much like those people who bought the first Kodak box cameras.

Sometimes you just get lucky!

I took this photo in Carnaby Street London, famous as the centre of fashion in The Swinging 60’s, but now mostly full of the usual chain shops.

I just missed grabbing a shot of a lady who was kneeling on the ground copying the pose but thought the sign would make an interesting photo on its own, when along comes the guy in the red hat.

Thanks, whoever you are!

Leica SL – a brief review

I don’t intend to blog about every new camera or lens that hits the market, but will post articles about equipment which I use or interests me, or is particularly important.

As a Leica user – amongst others – the launch of a new Leica product is always an event, as they tend not to release new cameras as often as other manufacturers.

The new Leica SL is also a new system for them, one which fits the gap in their range left since the demise of the R series cameras/lenses. The R was a conventional SLR system, manual focus film cameras, although they did make a digital back to fit the last R models.

I had the chance to look at the new SL in the Leica store in Mayfair. The SL is a new Full Frame ‘mirrorless’ system camera with a built in Electronic Viewfinder (EVF) and for now only one lens the 24-90mm f2.8/4 zoom. The SL mount will also accept the Leica T lenses (crop sensor mode) and M and R lenses with adaptors.

One certainty with Leica equipment is that it’s expensive. Very expensive. The SL and kit zoom retail for £8,200 (£5,050 body only).

My first impression – even for someone who uses DSLR – is that the body and zoom lens are big, the lens particularly so. It’s a very hefty lump of metal and glass. I think the ‘thinness’ of the body (compared to a DSLR) actually makes it feel bigger, due to the body/lens balance.

The focus/zoom rings on the lens have a nice weighty and smooth feel to them. Very Leica-like. I do wonder though, why Leica couldn’t make a lens with a constant f2.8 aperture.

The built in grip looks like it might not be so comfortable as a more ergonomically designed body, and some reviews I’ve read noted they have found it uncomfortable in prolonged use.

It’s a pity, IMHO, that Leica didn’t follow some of the design cues of their very ergonomically styled R8/9 models with the new camera. That said, the body is very well made and everything has a nice quality feel about it, as you would expect.

They styling is very minimalist. I quite liked the lack of writing and symbols on the body/buttons, although it does mean that if you pick up the camera for the first time you can’t easily find your way as you can with say a Canon or Nikon.

I was particularly keen to see how the EVF looked. I’m no fan of EVF’s, they have always seemed very laggy and I find it uncomfortable viewing a small TV screen through a small hole! With a compact digital camera I actually prefer the LCD screen on the back of the camera as a viewfinder.

I have read comments from some others that they have found the SL’s EVF so good that it is difficult to tell that it’s not an optical finder. Well, sorry to say, I don’t agree with them!

It still is very much an EVF, albeit the best one yet. It’s big and clear, a huge improvement over any others I’ve seen and tried. When you press the shutter there is a momentary blackout which feels very much like using DSLR. So, the SL is impressive as EVF’s go, but….it’s still an EVF!

Focus on AF seemed comparable to my Canon DLSR’s as far as speed (on single point AF under shop lighting) but it certainly didn’t feel any faster – Leica have claimed that the SL has the fastest AF yet, but I’m not so sure.

No question, the SL is an impressive camera, and it’s great to see Leica produce something truly new and market leading. I wasn’t able to take any photos but from what we’ve seen so far the lens/sensor both perform well.

I can see the appeal of the SL, and it would be fun to try it out properly, but even if the cost weren’t an issue for me, I wouldn’t choose it. For my purposes, I still prefer the DSLR and an optical viewfinder.

I have a film M and some lenses and if I wanted to go digital with those I’d choose a Leica M, for the more compact size and rangefinder focussing.

I don’t think the SL does anything better than a FF Canon or Nikon DSLR, but obviously it offers the versatility of accepting pretty much any lens on one body, which will be a big benefit for some people.

Menace on the streets!

Taken with a Leica M2 and 35mm Voigtlander lens.

Mime artists – street portraits

Big sporting events are a good place to take street portraits – this group were happy to pose for a photo after a rugby match at Twickenham.

I took this with a digital camera, so have the colour file, but the image screams out for B&W!

So you think you need to upgrade?

I want to buy a new camera/lens, what’s a good upgrade to choose?

I get asked this a lot, mostly from people who have been into photography for a year and aren’t getting the kind of photos they want. The reason must be their basic model camera or kit lens, mustn’t it?

Well no, almost certainly not.

The first question is to ask yourself what is it that your current camera/lens is preventing you from doing? If you can’t identify that then you don’t need anything else! If the answer is ‘better pictures’ then it’s not the camera or lens that’s the problem, it’s you!

Friends and family will probably tell you that your photos are brilliant. You want honest and impartial feedback!

Firstly you should consider what your knowledge level is. Do you always have your camera on program mode? Or do you already know about using depth of field and faster or slower shutter speeds to isolate subject or create motion blur/avoid blur?

Buy a good reference book on photo technique – as well as giving you a good grounding in the general areas of exposure, composition, etc., it will serve as a useful reminder when you come up against particular subjects/challenges in the future. I still refer to books I’ve had for 20 years!

Join a photo forum, put some of your photos up and invite comments/criticism, but be prepared to accept negative comments if you do. Some people are just hoping for praise and get very defensive if someone suggests that the photo could have been better by applying a different technique or viewpoint.

The good thing is it’s free and quick/easy to do, and you can judge how good someone else is from the work they’ve posted.

Look at other photographers work – visit exhibitions or buy/borrow some photo books – identify which images you like and ask yourself why. Find out how to achieve the same kind of look or effect.

Other options would include signing up for a course or workshop, or joining a camera club if there are any near you, although camera clubs can be more about cameras than photos!

Sometimes I hear people say they need to buy a much more expensive lens to take photos in low light, but they haven’t considered using a monopod or tripod instead, or buying a powerful flashgun.

Another improvement to consider is your post processing – what you do with the images out of your camera. If you’re just using the jpegs straight from camera then consider purchasing Photoshop (Photoshop Elements, the cheaper version, does most of what you could want). If you take your photos in RAW format you will have more data to play with in post processing too.

So, having considered some of these points, are you certain you really need to spend your money on that new lens or camera now?

 

Advice for beginners No1 – What camera?

Many beginners to photography, or those wanting more than a camera phone or ‘Point & Shoot’ camera ask what’s the best camera to buy.

I can understand that for a newcomer the choices are bewildering (for the purposes of this article we will stick with the assumption that we are only looking at digital cameras). There are advanced fixed lens models, Micro Four Thirds, APS-C, Full Frame, Mirrorless, DSLR….. Indeed where to start.

Many beginners make the common mistake of thinking that spending more money will get them a better camera, and a better camera will give them better results. The truth is that most cameras aimed at the enthusiast market will do everything and more that any beginner or even advanced amateur could want for general photography. When you find yourself held back by the limitations of your equipment, that is the time to look for something ‘better’.

So, what is my advice to someone who wants to ‘get into’ photography, who doesn’t have a specific need in mind but wants a camera that will allow them to explore different subject matter, and find their own preferences?

My advice is this – buy a used older model DSLR and kit lens from a retailer who offers a warranty. A great example would be a Canon 30D or 40D, and Canon 18-55mm lens. You can pick up a camera like this for between £150 and £250.

Here’s why I suggest an older DSLR.

If you’re a beginner you don’t want to lay out a lot of money on a camera/system that you might find – once you have some experience under your belt – isn’t quite right for you. You might find that you prefer certain subjects like sports or low light photography for example, which will require quite specific solutions.

The used DSLR you buy today will be worth much the same in a years’ time. Buy new and you will take a heavy loss if you want to change cameras down the line.

A DSLR is about as versatile as a camera can get. Buy a major brand such as a Canon or Nikon and you have no shortage of used and new lenses from lots of manufacturers to choose from. All DSLR’s include multi program modes, full manual exposure and will take RAW files as well as print ready jpegs (a RAW is basically a photo with no processing applied to it, like a digital version of a film negative) .

It’s true that many other types of camera may be just as good for YOUR purposes, but it’s very unlikely that you’ll ever find yourself limited by choosing a DSLR. Buy a fixed lens compact and you might very soon be wanting a wider or longer lens than the one fitted. Mirrorless systems mostly have fewer fully compatible lens options and most systems lenses cost more than equivalent lenses for DSLR’s.

A used DSLR and kit lens is a great foundation for a ‘serious’ beginner to start with. It can be set up to be as easy to use as a Point & Shoot camera to start with, but will also allow you to experiment with other metering modes like aperture and shutter priority, or fully manual exposure for difficult lighting or special effects.

It may transpire that a DSLR is more camera than you need. Use it for 6 months or a year and you will know much better what you want from a camera/system. Maybe a small compact zoom is perfect for you after all. You can then make a better decision about what to buy and you’ll get back most of what you paid for that DSLR.

Spot the ball!

Leica’s wrong turn

The Leica T was a big departure for Leica from the usually very traditional style of cameras they produce.

A camera with almost no buttons save for the shutter button and two control wheels. Much of the control is via the large touchscreen/LCD.

The camera was designed by Audi, who have worked with Leica on a previous special edition M body.

The T (for those who don’t know) is an interchangeable lens, AF, APS-C camera with a limited range of 4 dedicated AF lenses. It has the touchscreen LCD and an optional EVF which fits to the hot shoe.

It was a curious choice for Leica to introduce this camera. They dropped the SLR R range citing that Leica could not compete in the crowded and competitive DSLR market, yet have pitched themselves in the middle of a crowded, an notably smaller, market.

The market for APS-C mirrorless ILC’s (Interchangeable Lens Camera) is arguably just as crowded and just as competitive. Not only that but sales of DSLR’s are significantly higher than sales of ILC’s. The global market for cameras is on a decline and both segments are shrinking by about the same rate.

In 2014 DSLR’s produced were 10M approx, compared to 3M ILC’s.

Many photographers use APS-C DSLR’s. Canon in particular offer ‘pro’spec models and whilst full frame models are becoming less expensive there are those who prefer APS-C (for extra reach on zoom lenses, lower cost/lighter weight of APS-C lenses) and those who use them along with FF cameras.

Consider if Leica made an APS-C DSLR instead of the T. They could have designed a ‘pro’ spec body not unlike a baby S camera. An excellent sensor coupled with a dedicated range of Leica lenses with traditional controls (shutter dial, aperture ring) would have offered something unique in the DSLR market. It could also have offered a real alternative for owners of the R lenses, with a much better balance between body and lens.

Leica are a niche player. With the T they have attempted to do just what they said themselves they’re no good at – competing with the mainstream. OK the hand polished body and user interface is different from the others, but do people really care for or want the hand polished body? Is the UI better than others?

Given that mirrorless sales are less than a third of DSLR sales surely a ‘premium’ DSLR from Leica would fare a better chance of success in a larger market, given the unique offering it could provide.

It’s not too late for Leica to turn the idea of the T system around, and avoid it being another ‘cul-de-sac’ such as the Digilux 3 four thirds system proved to be.

My new photography blog

Hello and thanks for looking in!

This is my new photography blog. I have started blogs on specific issues before but have decided to run a general blog instead.

I am interested in all forms of photography, although I’m still mostly a film user I also use digital – I see them as two separate mediums, not better or worse.

I started photography as a young child, fascinated by my fathers cameras. I was given a Polaroid camera for my birthday (when I was about 7) and haven’t stopped since.

I enjoy using a variety of equipment, Leica rangefinders, film and digital SLR’s, medium format cameras, and some quirky vintage gear like old Kodak folding brownies and even a couple of Lomo cameras!

Areas of interest include street photography, travel and portraiture – I take the occasional assignment to cover a wedding or function, and have also undertaken product photography and some general commercial assignments in the past.

The blog will cover photo technique, cameras old and new, some of my personal favourite images, other photographers work and exhibitions and general discussions.

Cheers,

James