A big thank you to Jim M. Goldstein for his annual effort in assembling a collection of links to photographers’ collections of their best work of the year – he just posted this year’s collection at his blog and in a Digital Photography School post. There is a ton of interesting and compelling photography among the many links he has collected.
If you are visiting my site for the first time by way of one of his post, thanks for visiting! I hope you enjoy my photography, and feel free to leave a comment after you view my 2009 favorites. And do come back! I post a new photograph here daily, along with news, commentary, and information related to photography.
This is by no means a complete list, but inspired by seeing one of these oddities in a post earlier today I thought I’d write it up.
“Unboxing videos” of new cameras. Why would someone make a 5 or 10 minute video of the act of opening the box that their new camera came in and then lovingly taking out… the manual, the USB cables, the styrofoam inserts, the warranty card, and on and on and on – often with narration and sometimes even background music. Do people actually watch these?
Spending thousands and thousands of dollars on “the best” camera, lens, etc. when one isn’t really a photographer and doesn’t really make photographs all that much and perhaps only shares the odd jpg or letter size print with friends and family.
Getting caught up in the “brand wars” between manufacturers like Nikon and Canon. They both make really, really fine equipment. Both are used by a lot of excellent photographers. Really wonderful photographs are produced using both systems every day.
Assuming that there is only one best “whatever” in photography. There is no such thing as “The Best… camera, lens, tripod, photographer, memory card, place to shoot, time of day to shoot, filter, brand, store, paper…” First, there are many good versions of each. Second, what is best for one person may not be best for another.
Obsessing over very tiny and insignificant equipment “flaws” or differences. The classic is, of course, choosing a less functional lens over a more functional lens because the less functional lens might measure .001% better resolution at 100% magnification on the test bench. Related are obsessions over very tiny differences in noise in digital cameras, concern about small difference in camera burst rate, worry that your lens might vignette some…
Thinking that you have to “take a position” on zooms versus primes. (Zooms and primes are both great, and you have my permission to use both… ;-)
Secret shooting locations – unless the area is fragile and too much use would damage it, if ten good photographers shoot it you’ll get ten different interpretations.
A number of things needed to fall into place today so that I could arrive at Cathedral Lakes in the Yosemite back-country this evening to meet a group of photographers. Reading the previous sentence you might think that I’m somehow posting from my tent after enjoying a nice backpacker dinner.
Not quite.
I teach. Classes started this week. Today I met my Friday-only class for the first time. My plan was to have everything packed for the weekend last night – check rather late by headlamp – check. To get up at the slightly-later hour and load the car for the trip – check. To leave for the college with enough time to stop for gas, get ready for my class, etc. – oops!
When I went to the car – after loading it, of course – I discovered a flat tire. By this time it was too late to deal with a repair and still make it to the college on time – I didn’t even have time to unload the car – so I simply had to take the other car, teach my class, and then come home to unpack and get the tire repaired. So, I’m not at Cathedral Lake tonight… where I’m sure it is quite beautiful and my friends are now enjoying the post-evening photography conversation.
At least I’m reasonably confident that the Sierra will still be there when I do make it up to Cathedral… soon.
A few weeks ago I posted my favorite photographs of 2008 at this web site. Largely as a result of Jim M Goldstein’s list of similar pages from more than 90 photographers, I’ve been getting quite a few visits to that page. Today I decided to go back to the page and add commentary on each of the photographs. I hope you find the comments interesting and useful – and let me know if you have any questions or comments concerning the photographs.
Photographer and visual opportunist. Daily photos since 2005, plus articles, reviews, news, and ideas.
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