I’m Holding The Best Camera (D112)

The Best Camera book, that is. According to author Chase Jarvis, I’m also holding the best camera in my hands at least once a day, if not more. Since the best camera is the one that’s with me, I’m always prepared. Sounds like a pretty good deal to me. So why don’t more photographers, amateur, aspiring and professional really embrace that idea and go forth in courage and confidence? What would it take for every inspired and inspiring photographer to take their images and light their world with them?

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I don’t have the answer, but it’s one I’m committed to continuing to explore here at tasramar.com. I want to know what steals the confidence and courage of photographers. I’m determined to uncover the deep, dark secrets that keep photographers from pursuing their passion—whether that be working professionally, publishing their images, or just picking up the camera every day.

So let’s start now. What do you believe to be the ONE thing that keeps you from really going for it in your photography? Time, money, commitment, discipline, knowledge, gear, resources, confidence, _____________ (fill in the blank). I wanna know!

Specs: Nikon D50, 50 mm lens, ISO 400, 1/100 @ f/1.8. Processed in Lightroom with Inside Lightroom Presets: COL Cross Process. Since I already shot a similar image with the lights a few weeks ago, I wanted to process it a bit differently to give it more color. Gotta love those free Lightroom Presets.

Manual: Page 7: Attaching Lens.

Images: Today was a busy day of looking at images. Started online with Zack Arias’ blog and then viewed his family photo shoot by David E Jackson. What a great twist on the family portrait.

Then I picked up Chase Jarvis’ The Best Camera at Barnes and Noble and looked through the entire book. I also picked up David DuChemin’s book, VisionMongers: Making a Life and Living in Photography. My photographer’s heart and mind feel full and inspired.

Filed under Month 4: Dec '09, features, photography, tasra365 challenge · Tagged with , , , , , , Posted by Tasra Dawson on Monday, December 21, 2009 · View Comments 

  • Kacey
    If I'm honest, I don't shoot more and share more of what I do shoot because I too often compare myself to some of my amazing photographer friends who have much more technical know how or fancier equipment or have been shooting longer or seemingly get better gigs than I do and the list goes on and on and on. I am so glad you opened this topic up today because it has been weighing heavily on me going into the new year and I had just made a committment to myself last week that I was not going to shoot for other people nor was I going to be held back by insecurities any longer. I vowed to shoot more, share more and learn more this year so that next year, if you ask the same question, I can answer honestly and say "nothing holds me back" ;-)
  • Time, subject matter, burn out, no one paying attention to me, does anyone care? Depends on the day. Time. Having just moved into a new house, things being done, a 9 to 5 job, etc. It all eats away at you.
  • dijea
    Honestly, it depends on the day. Sometimes its the fact that I only have one lens, sometimes I feel like I don't know Lightroom well enough, sometimes I feel its lack of something new to shoot, when only 1 in 100 shots are interesting and sometimes I'm just plain uninspired.

    Then I take the most amazing shot - and I think maybe, just maybe I can do something.
  • I love your website! I have just started of on a Project 365 challenge at http://prophecyblur.com and still have a long long way to go. Like the title of your page, i have found the best camera is really the one you have with you, and have taken more posts with my compact than my DSLR.

    BTW - This is a stunning shot, that all to easily coluld have looked bland or cliched.
  • Thanks so much! I love your blog too. Your images have great lines and texture to them. Look forward to seeing more of what you shoot and how you evolve in 2010!
  • brianpalmer
    The fear of "making it" I know I know, I shouldn't say this but honestly it's true. I guess it could be a confidence issue, but once you're out there you can't turn back. Having every image scrutinized and critiqued whether you want it or not. But with this 365 project, everyday I'm getting a critique...some silent others loud but all very clear.It's kind of like getting ready for the next step, I'm learning where my strengths are and being forced to break through my weaknesses. In all, I guess everyone has had this fear of 'making it' but the difference between those who do and those who don't is in how you deal with that fear.

    Great post Tasra! I'm going to get Vision Mongers this weekend.
  • cindy
    I think the anchor around my feet is feeling like success is at the top of this huge wall, and I'm at the bottom. Every day I see more stuff I need to have just to climb the wall (more knowledge, better business skills, gear, a better website, constant marketing and self promotion.....), and the more I grab the more it weighs me down. So I keep slipping to the bottom, watching everyone around me climb higher and higher. I don't know if that makes sense, but right now that is how I feel.
  • What a descriptive metaphor of the anchor around your feet. I can almost see it pulling down and keeping you from reaching where you long to go. I do know what you mean though about seeing more every day. It's almost like kids are when they're young - they don't know what they don't know. That's like us when we first fall in love with photography - we just love it and don't know what we're doing right or wrong so it doesn't matter. Then as we progress we start to realize that there are "rules" and "experts" and we begin to mold and shape our beliefs about photography around the acceptable standards of the day.

    I can tell you one thing that I constantly remind myself is that the it was often the non-experts, the amateurs, the beginners who turned photography on its head. It was the visual artists with a unique vision that changed the standards of what was acceptable. So, learn what you can when you can, but do not let yourself get bogged down with what you think you have to do... it will only distract you from hearing and developing your own photographic vision and voice. That's what this world needs!
  • Mandy
    I get scared that people will not like my photos. Not sure why I think that cuz that only one that I have to please is myself but I like to make people happy! Oh bother.....LOL. Plus I am a single woman with no children, sometimes I think, wow, what a boring pic that would be!
  • Isn't it funny how we let ourselves get worked up or care so much about what other people think, but then when we really sit down and evaluate it, we realize it doesn't matter. I think it's why being intentional about filling your own creative bucket and valuing yourself and your individual growth is so key to success.

    Single woman with no children...so funny that you think that would be boring and Lynn (above) is thinking that people will start to get bored with pics of her kids. Same "problem," opposite situation, which must mean that it's not really a problem! Single girl - you gotta make the most of this time... think of all the images you can capture that others can't. You can take that camera and let all the married women with children vicariously live and enjoy their singleness again through your images! I'd look at those. :-)
  • For me, it's confidence. I'm not letting that stop me though! Whenever the "who-do-you-think-you-are" or "what-makes-you-think-you-can-do-that" questions pop into my head, I go right out and just take more pictures!

    I remember seeing Zack Arias' family portrait a few weeks ago, and thinking, "I'm totally going to get one of my family like that!"
  • That confidence or lack thereof can make or break your photography, that's for sure. I'm so impressed with your strategy of basically doing the opposite of what the critic in your head is telling you. That is definitely one way to overcome any fears!
  • karenjohnson
    I think for me it's confidence. I tend to think I'm not very good at this photography stuff.
  • Good as defined by whom? Whose voice are you listening to in your head that says you're not very good at this photography stuff? I'm serious.

    Next time you hear it, sit back and listen, find out who it is, then kindly ask them to leave. If they won't, kick 'em out! Replace that voice with the voice of a kind and wise mentor who sees you as their apprentice, a diamond in the rough. That's the voice to listen to, that will challenge and spur you on to greater things, and will never kick you while you're down.
  • One thing that prevents me from carrying my SLR everywhere is when people see it, I think they expect more from my shots. So I guess the fear of not being able to deliver.
  • Such a great honest answer. I can definitely relate. For the first couple years I went to photography conventions I would hide my camera in my bag so that other photographers wouldn't think I was pretending to be one of them. I was even embarrassed because I didn't think my camera was good enough.

    But the truth is that it's not about our gear and we all take crappy pictures sometimes. In fact, Chase Jarvis even said so in his book I mentioned today. Soooo... carry that camera with pride and if anyone asks, just tell them Chase Jarvis admits to taking crappy pictures sometimes, so you get a pass. :-)
  • karenjohnson
    Great response Ms. Tasra! Words that I can glean from too. Thanks for your honesty, Kevin!
  • My challenge: Lack of "interesting" subject matter. Most people get bored of my children day after day!
  • But do you get tired of shooting your children every day? Because if you don't get tired of it, who cares about everyone else. Seriously, even if you don't post images of them every day you could do a 365 project of your kids - one image of each of them every single day.

    Imagine how much that would stretch your creativity to try to do something different all the time. Get them involved too if you can... let their imaginations run wild as they think of new ways to be captured by the camera... close-ups, details of who they are, what they love, expressions, favorite things, bad moods, time out, you get the idea. You could totally run with it and then create a photo book next year at this time for you to remember your amazing year! Just a thought. :-)
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