I wonder who else didn’t know…
Today I had one of those experiences where I was truly amazed at how ignorant I was about a very simple but common thing.
I was on a bike ride with a close friend and we started talking about photography. I never thought I was good at taking pictures, I just thought it was an easy thing to do. I actually hated hearing people talking about their “photo taking ability” because I thought it was such a joke.
Until today, I basically thought that all anyone had to do was buy a good brand of a digital camera for about $300 and and then just point and shoot. If it was dark, I used a flash (the light). If it was light, I didn’t. From a distance, many of my pictures looked not too bad so I didn’t realize there was a problem or that I had no idea of what I was doing. I knew they weren’t professional quality but I thought they were good enough and I never bothered to find out what the problem was.
My friend had an older 4.8 Megapixel camera and I had a pretty new Fuji 10.0 Megapixel camera. I thought that I could easily take clearer pictures without even trying because I had the better and more expensive camera. Wow. I was totally wrong. (We both were using the automatic “auto” setting). I thought that the auto setting meant that the camera did all the work for you and the person didn’t need to try.
We were taking “close ups” of the letters on business cards. It sounds like a boring and stupid picture to take but it’s actually quite fun and a great way to test the quality of a camera. A “close up” in camera language means a photo from a very close distance.
We put our photos on a large monitor (computer screen) and looked at them. His photos were WAY better and clearer than mine. I couldn’t figure it out. I didn’t realize that I needed to hold the button down half way and really look at the screen and make sure the letters were in perfect focus. I didn’t know that I needed to keep moving and adjusting the camera very slightly until I saw the letters perfectly.
When you take a photo from far away, it’s hard to see the quality. If you are taking photos of the letters of a magazine or business card, it’s easy. For my friend’s photos, we could “zoom in” on the computer and see the letters so clearly. “Zooming in” means to go really close and make a small part of the photo take up the whole computer screen.
On his photos, you could see each letter in very high detail. We could even see the glue that puts the ink on the card. For example, we could zoom in and see the letter “k” on the entire size of the computer screen. It just looked like a big “k” with little bits of glue. It was shocking.
Then we tried mine and they totally sucked. From a distance, the photo didn’t look too bad. It was just that up close, my picture was just terrible. It means that I didn’t really understand what Megapixels were and I just thought paying more money would make things better with no effort.
The truth is that having good eyes, still hands, and understanding how to use your camera is MUCH more important than the quality or price of the camera.
I don’t know this for a fact, but I believe that over 98% of the people who want to buy a digital camera for around $300 are just clueless. Most people know some of the top brand names and they know that the more expensive cameras are better. People buy cameras and don’t even learn how to use them. It’s weird. We do the same thing with computers too. We get a “good one” and then learn less than 1% about how to use it well. I’ve learned that I need to learn a lot more about the technology I am using if I want to really see the benefits. It’s not just about saving money, it’s about enjoying the benefits and not being a total fool.
I need to know more about cameras anyway because Add and I are working for Pivothead, which is the best mini hands free video camera ever. Click on the link and you’ll see what I mean. It’s really exciting. I love the logo of the guy in the backwards baseball hat too. I wish I could draw…
Anyway, I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences regarding this or a similar story you may have. Who knows, maybe it’s just me who is completely clueless.
Andy
August 6th, 2011 at 5:30 am
hey buddies,
It’s totally true . . .
I’ve already figured that out when I was using my iphone’s camera . . . I looked at my pictures and my friend’s taken by a developed camera and we were super amazed about how there was almost no difference LOOL . . . I am sure you’ll think I’m kind’a crazy, yet it’s the reality . . . as you described it, it’s all about possessing the sense of taking pictures . . . THAT IS IT, ISN’T IT ?
August 6th, 2011 at 9:24 am
It’s absolutely normal I think, then you bought new gadget, you start to learn how it works. After several days you know everything about it, just use it and enjoying.
I felt the same with my nikon first time. Picture ware terrible, but after couple days I understand how do correctly.
Now use one of two auto mode with flash or without one. That’s it. But in beginning I need to know all function of the photo camera.
I can do just normal picture. No good, no bad. One time I asked stranger to take picture of mine (I was on vacation and have no any friend around). She did awesome picture, same photo camera, same auto mode. I was shocked!
Some people don’t learn how to use camera, computer or mobile telephone because they had too many electronics before. They too fed and don’t have any motivation to learn every gadget.
August 7th, 2011 at 3:18 am
hi, Andy ^^
well, my only camera is my iphone 3gs. hehe
but when i take a picture with it, i usually do the same thing as you;
hold it in front of the subject a while, then my iphone camera catches
the best focus, i guess.
keep having fun with your camera and precious people back home as well~~
August 7th, 2011 at 7:41 am
Yes Dear Andy I totally agree on “we have to learn a lot more about the technology we are using if we want to really see the benefits” and really we know less than 1% about the features and benefits of the new devices that we buy(and it is exactly the same about our new cell phones ). I think there are only one or two features which force us to buy the new ones but we are really ignorant and fool about many other benefits that they can bring to us.
October 3rd, 2011 at 1:10 pm
what’s up, dignified blog on suety loss. this helped.
January 7th, 2012 at 6:54 am
Outstanding post, you have pointed out some good details , I likewise conceive this s a very wonderful website.
January 27th, 2012 at 12:12 pm
Woah! I’m really loving the template/theme of this website. It’s simple, yet effective. A lot of times it’s tough to get that “perfect balance” between superb usability and appearance. I must say that you’ve done a fantastic job with this. Also, the blog loads extremely fast for me on Chrome. Superb Blog!
February 12th, 2012 at 5:42 pm
Thank you an amazing put up, may examine your personal others posts. thanks for your ideas for this, I experienced a bit made an impact to by this text. Thanks again again! You earn a good time. Displays the beauty through excellent report here. I do think that if a greater number of people considered it that way, they’d have a better time period receive the hold ofing the matter.
February 25th, 2012 at 2:25 pm
I’m impressed, I have to admit. Really rarely i come across a post that’s both educative and enjoyable, and let me tell you, you’ve hit the nail on the head. Your idea is top-notch; the issue is something which insufficient people are talking intelligently about. I’m happy that I stumbled across this during my hunt for something in regards to this.
February 27th, 2012 at 1:33 am
I am pleased to obtain your distinguished way of writing the post CHECK THIS
March 19th, 2012 at 6:24 pm
Hmm it seems like your blog ate my first comment (it was extremely long) so I guess I’ll just sum it up what I had written and say, I’m thoroughly enjoying your blog. I too am an aspiring blog writer but I’m still new to the whole thing. Do you have any suggestions for inexperienced blog writers? I’d certainly appreciate it.
March 22nd, 2012 at 12:34 pm
It is the best time to make some plans for the future and it’s time to be happy. I have read this put up and if I could I want to suggest you some attention-grabbing things or tips. Maybe you could write next articles referring to this article. I want to read even more things approximately it!
April 24th, 2012 at 11:33 am
I’m looking forward to reading about the rockabilly girl!
May 3rd, 2012 at 5:03 pm
I enjoy the efforts you have put in this, thankyou for all the great articles .
May 15th, 2012 at 7:01 pm
Its like you learn my mind! You appear to know a lot about this, such as you wrote the guide in it or something. I think that you could do with some percent to power the message home a bit, but instead of that, this is great blog. An excellent read. I’ll certainly be back.
June 13th, 2012 at 8:08 pm
I love this!.!!
July 23rd, 2012 at 5:42 pm
Its like you learn my thoughts! You seem to understand a lot approximately this, such as you wrote the guide in it or something. I think that you just can do with some % to drive the message house a little bit, however other than that, this is excellent blog. A fantastic read. I will certainly be back.
September 12th, 2012 at 11:17 am
I am glad to be a visitant of this sodding website ! , regards for this rare information! .
September 28th, 2012 at 11:29 am
dewitt sanchez