I took this window reflection yesterday in Halifax with my recently purchased Canon D5 Mark II. It is an older camera (from 2009) but is in good condition. Using an unfamiliar camera (and lens) really changes how we see things and how we photograph them.
For the past few years I have been mostly using my phone to take photos. I have gotten used to framing scenes using the screen, held out at arms length. Looking through a viewfinder, and using a 50mm lens, gave me such a sense of joy and freedom. And it seemed that different details caught my eye. There is so much to be learned about perception.
the window of the mind ! brilliant . love this
Thank you, Mark.
I think the same – that with different cameras you come up with different photos. Different seeing. But what surprised me is that you say moving from wide angle phone lens (usually around 28 mm film equivalent or so) to 50 mm lens is for you freedom. Isn’t that an opposite? With 50 mm you see less of the scene. So you are limited to frame smaller part of the word. So what do you mean by that freedom?
Nowadays, more or less for 2 or 3 years I am shooting mainly with phone. As my Olympus mirror-less is broken.
Second question, if you don’t mind :). I remember you used for a while Fuji mirror-less APSC camera. Why you are now stepping back to older technology. Is the decision because of optical viewfinder? Or the feel of the camera?
Thank you for your comment, Pavel. I think the freedom I mean comes with using a fixed lens. All along, I’ve mostly used a zoom (about 28-70) where there is an extra consideration of choosing a focal lens when framing. With the 50 mm fixed lens you just point and shoot and make the best of what the frame has to offer. I think any fixed lens offers this “freedom.” I like using an iphone for the same reason. Also, it reminds me of the old days in Toronto, when I was young and free, taking photos with my Rollei 35 (that has a fixed 40mm lens.)
I used a Lumix mirrorless camera for a time, until it was stolen in Prague. I liked the camera, but found it difficult to focus. I have grown accustomed to the auto focus on the Canon DSLR, so that is what I prefer.