p.5 #1 · Getting the photo vs the experience of getting the photo
I enjoy using 35mm cameras. I enjoy dials, knobs, and a bit of weight in my hands. I enjoy good engineering. I enjoy glass with character. Even if I'm the only one who ever sees or appreciates the results.
I'm fortunate enough to have a couple different choices. Two different tools for different purposes. It has given me an appreciation for the different ways I can capture an image. That process does something positive in my brain.
Anyway, enjoy yourselves and try new things. Be open. Life gets better when you do.
p.5 #2 · Getting the photo vs the experience of getting the photo
JBPhotog wrote:
For me it's the experience but not uncoupled from getting the shot. It requires the creative process to kick in which opens up new ways of seeing the play of light. The physical process of picking up the camera, looking through the lens and creating an exposure is mechanical which doesn't satisfy the creative process.
Allowing the artistic process to develop helps me visualize the end result and it either scratches that itch or it doesn't. Sometimes there is just nothing there which could be attributable to my mood or lack of sleep, lol, at which point there is nothing achieved by pushing it further. I have often seen the same scene several times and felt there was something there to explore but just didn't connect at the time, but I always go back to allow myself to explore possible views and it often just works out....Show more →
I was thinking of this while out for a long walk today, and I agree that it isn’t one or the other. The process of finding and making sense of subjects in the visual world is rewarding. (I’m still a little leery about the word “fun” here, but that’s just me.)
Just enjoying the search would be fine, but it wouldn’t be photography, nor would it require us to carry cameras. But without the searching and the experimenting, photography wouldn’t be all that interesting either.
p.5 #3 · Getting the photo vs the experience of getting the photo
snapsy wrote:
Most AF lenses don't have the same ergonomics and hepatics as MF lenses, so the choice Jacob was speaking to may not be available on AF lenses. Also, he indicated his preference for being forced to using MF rather than having the option. It can certainly be debated whether relying on an externally-imposed restriction "should" be necessary, but if you live long enough you learn such debates are more about preference than necessity, so it's like arguing whether "blue" is a better color than "red". To each his own.
Some of that is kind of my point. I read from time to time these notions that using restricted technology makes us better photographers. I suppose I have no objection if one chooses to use whatever they regard aas minimal gear, but it bothers me when this is accompanied by a claim (as in the post I replied to) that those who don’t want to work that way are somehow lesser photographers. That’s just silliness, and there’s really nothing to support that as a broad perspective.
p.5 #4 · Getting the photo vs the experience of getting the photo
I find that the added "friction" of some of my manual focus bodies that have minimal automation makes the process more enjoyable. In my case it does not produce better images, but I'm a bit prouder of the good ones I get.
p.5 #5 · Getting the photo vs the experience of getting the photo
My state of mind presently can be summed up in a recent experience. I had pretty good luck with Short-eared Owls about two hours from my home last year. So I went back this February and booked a room at a very nice B&B. Got to the SEO spot at sunrise and stayed till evening with very little luck. The plan was to go back the next morning at sunrise. But when I got to this lovely B&B and the host started talking about the breakfast she'd be preparing the next morning, that all started sounding like a much better idea. The thought of another day sitting in a freezing car staring out at an empty field in the middle of nowhere became less and less appealing. So contrary to everything I've ever done when I go on these trips, I stayed in for breakfast. This was blasphemy for me. I spent over an hour talking to the host over breakfast about the building that was built in the late 1800's. She told me about the surrounding area. We talked about photography. It just felt right.
And then I took a leisurely ride home and looked for roadside shots along the way.
Now some of this is probably just getting older. But I want to think it's also getting wiser and taking opportunities when presented, instead of chasing.
So photography is what brought me to that relaxing, informative morning. Just not in the way I had envisioned.
Gary
p.5 #6 · Getting the photo vs the experience of getting the photo
sum1sgrampa wrote:
My state of mind presently can be summed up in a recent experience. I had pretty good luck with Short-eared Owls about two hours from my home last year. So I went back this February and booked a room at a very nice B&B. Got to the SEO spot at sunrise and stayed till evening with very little luck. The plan was to go back the next morning at sunrise. But when I got to this lovely B&B and the host started talking about the breakfast she'd be preparing the next morning, that all started sounding like a much better idea. The thought of another day sitting in a freezing car staring out at an empty field in the middle of nowhere became less and less appealing. So contrary to everything I've ever done when I go on these trips, I stayed in for breakfast. This was blasphemy for me. I spent over an hour talking to the host over breakfast about the building that was built in the late 1800's. She told me about the surrounding area. We talked about photography. It just felt right.
And then I took a leisurely ride home and looked for roadside shots along the way.
Now some of this is probably just getting older. But I want to think it's also getting wiser and taking opportunities when presented, instead of chasing.
So photography is what brought me to that relaxing, informative morning. Just not in the way I had envisioned.
Gary...Show more →
That’s a great story and it illustrates a truth about photography that I’m mentioned before, including in this thread: Making photographs isn’t always “fun” or comfortable. In fact, what is necessary to do photography (at least of some genres) is at odds with non-photographic pleasure experiences.
I’m as susceptible as anyone to the lures of a great dinner preceded by cocktail hour, a nice slow breakfast at the B&B, sleeping in and enjoying the accommodations, and so forth. But that’s not compatible with the kinds of photography that I do. So I’m likely to regard things like lodging and food as objective necessities rather than pleasures when out to do photography. If I stay in a motel, it is probably a Motel 6 level establishment — I’m only going to sleep there, not enjoy the facilities. I’m generally a bit of a coffee nut (yes, we have a serious espresso machine at home) but when shooting I rarely do more than grab a cup of quick hotel coffee before heading out, or else I skip the morning coffee entirely. In some cases I forego commercial accommodations entirely, since camping near my subjects gets me into the field more quickly… and sleeping in the back of my 4Runner is the most efficient of all.
Case in point. We recently returned from another photographic visit to Death Valley, the second in a couple of months. This time we stayed in cheap accommodations just outside the park, and we were out the door every morning an hour and a half to two hours before sunrise, driving in the dark to our first morning location. We stayed out all day, pausing midday to set up a little table and a couple of camp chairs for lunch and then napping in the 4Runner. Then we resumed photography, working until the light was gone, and then driving back to our cheap motel well after dark, stopping along the way for a quick meal before the restaurants closed.
Is that “fun?” Not in the conventional sense, and I doubt that many travel agencies would succeed with their customers if they proposed a “fun” trip like that. Is it “rewarding?” Yes, it is!
YMMV.
(On the way home we took a “layover day” along the drive, stayed it better accommodations, and found a nice French restaurant in town for dinner, and slept in the next morning before finishing our drive… :-)
p.5 #7 · Getting the photo vs the experience of getting the photo
gdanmitchell wrote:
That’s a great story and it illustrates a truth about photography that I’m mentioned before, including in this thread: Making photographs isn’t always “fun” or comfortable. In fact, what is necessary to do photography (at least of some genres) is at odds with non-photographic pleasure experiences.
I’m as susceptible as anyone to the lures of a great dinner preceded by cocktail hour, a nice slow breakfast at the B&B, sleeping in and enjoying the accommodations, and so forth. But that’s not compatible with the kinds of photography that I do. So I’m likely to regard things like lodging and food as objective necessities rather than pleasures when out to do photography. If I stay in a motel, it is probably a Motel 6 level establishment — I’m only going to sleep there, not enjoy the facilities. I’m generally a bit of a coffee nut (yes, we have a serious espresso machine at home) but when shooting I rarely do more than grab a cup of quick hotel coffee before heading out, or else I skip the morning coffee entirely. In some cases I forego commercial accommodations entirely, since camping near my subjects gets me into the field more quickly… and sleeping in the back of my 4Runner is the most efficient of all.
Case in point. We recently returned from another photographic visit to Death Valley, the second in a couple of months. This time we stayed in cheap accommodations just outside the park, and we were out the door every morning an hour and a half to two hours before sunrise, driving in the dark to our first morning location. We stayed out all day, pausing midday to set up a little table and a couple of camp chairs for lunch and then napping in the 4Runner. Then we resumed photography, working until the light was gone, and then driving back to our cheap motel well after dark, stopping along the way for a quick meal before the restaurants closed.
Is that “fun?” Not in the conventional sense, and I doubt that many travel agencies would succeed with their customers if they proposed a “fun” trip like that. Is it “rewarding?” Yes, it is!
You mirror my experiences exactly. There's a running joke in my family regarding the motels I've stayed in over the years. Diviest of dives. But I always travelled alone and my logic was why pay for a nice room if I'm getting there after sundown, going to sleep, and leaving before sunrise ? Breakfast was always a cup of coffee from an all night gas station if I drove past one If not, it had to wait.
p.5 #8 · Getting the photo vs the experience of getting the photo
gdanmitchell wrote:
That’s a great story and it illustrates a truth about photography that I’m mentioned before, including in this thread: Making photographs isn’t always “fun” or comfortable. In fact, what is necessary to do photography (at least of some genres) is at odds with non-photographic pleasure experiences.
I’m as susceptible as anyone to the lures of a great dinner preceded by cocktail hour, a nice slow breakfast at the B&B, sleeping in and enjoying the accommodations, and so forth. But that’s not compatible with the kinds of photography that I do. So I’m likely to regard things like lodging and food as objective necessities rather than pleasures when out to do photography. If I stay in a motel, it is probably a Motel 6 level establishment — I’m only going to sleep there, not enjoy the facilities. I’m generally a bit of a coffee nut (yes, we have a serious espresso machine at home) but when shooting I rarely do more than grab a cup of quick hotel coffee before heading out, or else I skip the morning coffee entirely. In some cases I forego commercial accommodations entirely, since camping near my subjects gets me into the field more quickly… and sleeping in the back of my 4Runner is the most efficient of all.
Case in point. We recently returned from another photographic visit to Death Valley, the second in a couple of months. This time we stayed in cheap accommodations just outside the park, and we were out the door every morning an hour and a half to two hours before sunrise, driving in the dark to our first morning location. We stayed out all day, pausing midday to set up a little table and a couple of camp chairs for lunch and then napping in the 4Runner. Then we resumed photography, working until the light was gone, and then driving back to our cheap motel well after dark, stopping along the way for a quick meal before the restaurants closed.
Is that “fun?” Not in the conventional sense, and I doubt that many travel agencies would succeed with their customers if they proposed a “fun” trip like that. Is it “rewarding?” Yes, it is!
YMMV.
(On the way home we took a “layover day” along the drive, stayed it better accommodations, and found a nice French restaurant in town for dinner, and slept in the next morning before finishing our drive… :-)...Show more →
All of the virtues that you attribute to staying at a Motel 6 are about choices, not the hotel. And you can make those same kinds of choices with any level of lodging luxury. It is entirely possible to make intentional, engaged photographs while staying at a very comfortable B&B with a great breakfast… and it is entirely possible to not take advantage of those comforts when you think that your objectives will be better met without them.
The implication that a photographer staying at a comfortable B&B is necessarily not “doing the work” is nonsensical and disproven by all of the fine work done by photographers staying at very nice B&B's… and basically every other kind of lodging approach known to the world of photography.
p.5 #9 · Getting the photo vs the experience of getting the photo
Good Stuff,
In the same vein, for most of my life I was an avid fly fisher and in my youth would fish an average of 200 days per year. Even thought about it as a career as a fish guide. Where I grew up, Michigan, winter steelhead fishing is a "thing". You get up before dawn, travel out to the river where they are migrating, gear up, and half the time stand in the river waiting for the rare opportunity. My friend who did become a professional, thought it was the best fun in the world. I did not. I do, however, enjoy getting up in the morning to chase the light. Many of my photography friends are less excited by that opportunity.
The OP's question to me is less about gear or subject matter or whether we are getting up at odd hours or going out in extreme weather; it's about whether we find it rewarding. My feeling after reading all the posts is that those photographers who are truly professionals find it rewarding in a different manner than those for whom photography is an avocation. When I made the decision to not do architectural photography professionally, it was because I did not find it rewarding. I do, on the other hand, do a lot of architectural photography on my own terms and get the greatest satisfaction from it. I could care less what equipment people use or their relationship to it. I do care if they find it meaningful and rewarding.
sum1sgrampa wrote:
You mirror my experiences exactly. There's a running joke in my family regarding the motels I've stayed in over the years. Diviest of dives. But I always travelled alone and my logic was why pay for a nice room if I'm getting there after sundown, going to sleep, and leaving before sunrise ? Breakfast was always a cup of coffee from an all night gas station if I drove past one If not, it had to wait.
p.5 #10 · Getting the photo vs the experience of getting the photo
snapsy wrote:
All of the virtues that you attribute to staying at a Motel 6 are about choices, not the hotel. And you can make those same kinds of choices with any level of lodging luxury. It is entirely possible to make intentional, engaged photographs while staying at a very comfortable B&B with a great breakfast… and it is entirely possible to not take advantage of those comforts when you think that your objectives will be better met without them.
The implication that a photographer staying at a comfortable B&B is necessarily not “doing the work” is nonsensical and disproven by all of the fine work done by photographers staying at very nice B&B's… and basically every other kind of lodging approach known to the world of photography....Show more →
Did you not see the “YMMV” at the end of the post? ;-)
I have no doubt that one can make fine photographs while staying in nice lodgings. My point is that I don’t have the opportunity to enjoy those aspects of travel when I spend my full day from before sunrise until after sunset photographing and looking for subjects… and that I’m OK with that because my goal on these trips is photographic rather than the very real pleasures of a nice breakfast, a cocktail, and a lovely dinner.
For those prone to (intentional?) misinterpretation, I’m not saying that staying in a funky Motel 6 (or sleeping in the back of your car, or camping) makes you a better photographer. I’m saying that for some types of photography that I do, the necessities of the photography don’t align with the objective of enjoying slow mornings at the lodge. ;-)
And, yes, your adaptation of my earlier post is… amusing.
In my own travels, there are some situations in which I can enjoy both the photography and the accommodations. There was a lovely place in Venice…
p.5 #11 · Getting the photo vs the experience of getting the photo
snapsy wrote:
All of the virtues that you attribute to staying at a Motel 6 are about choices, not the hotel. And you can make those same kinds of choices with any level of lodging luxury. It is entirely possible to make intentional, engaged photographs while staying at a very comfortable B&B with a great breakfast… and it is entirely possible to not take advantage of those comforts when you think that your objectives will be better met without them.
The implication that a photographer staying at a comfortable B&B is necessarily not “doing the work” is nonsensical and disproven by all of the fine work done by photographers staying at very nice B&B's… and basically every other kind of lodging approach known to the world of photography....Show more →
Truly boggles me that someone equates taking better photos with the accommodations one stays in. The two have exactly zero relationships with each other. Some of my best photos came from Kauai where I stayed at a nice condo with swimming pool, but still dragged myself out of bed at 3:00 am to drive to a trailhead before hiking through quite treacherous terrain in order to be at my pre scouted location to capture the sunrise. Would my photo been any better if I camped along a beach…nope.
p.5 #12 · Getting the photo vs the experience of getting the photo
snapsy wrote:
All of the virtues that you attribute to staying at a Motel 6 are about choices, not the hotel. And you can make those same kinds of choices with any level of lodging luxury. It is entirely possible to make intentional, engaged photographs while staying at a very comfortable B&B with a great breakfast… and it is entirely possible to not take advantage of those comforts when you think that your objectives will be better met without them.
The implication that a photographer staying at a comfortable B&B is necessarily not “doing the work” is nonsensical and disproven by all of the fine work done by photographers staying at very nice B&B's… and basically every other kind of lodging approach known to the world of photography....Show more →
p.5 #13 · Getting the photo vs the experience of getting the photo
Ross Martin wrote:
I see what you did there, well played
It's all in good fun and just meant to highlight how each of us have our own peculiarities when it comes to photography. Whatever each of us feel is necessary to get to that creative zone and do our best work - there is no right or wrong. Many times our quirks are as enjoyable as any other aspect of the process.
p.5 #14 · Getting the photo vs the experience of getting the photo
snapsy wrote:
All of the virtues that you attribute to staying at a Motel 6 are about choices, not the hotel. And you can make those same kinds of choices with any level of lodging luxury. It is entirely possible to make intentional, engaged photographs while staying at a very comfortable B&B with a great breakfast… and it is entirely possible to not take advantage of those comforts when you think that your objectives will be better met without them.
The implication that a photographer staying at a comfortable B&B is necessarily not “doing the work” is nonsensical and disproven by all of the fine work done by photographers staying at very nice B&B's… and basically every other kind of lodging approach known to the world of photography....Show more →
Maybe I read it wrong but I didn't get that from Dan's post at all.
p.5 #15 · Getting the photo vs the experience of getting the photo
chez wrote:
Truly boggles me that someone equates taking better photos with the accommodations one stays in. The two have exactly zero relationships with each other. Some of my best photos came from Kauai where I stayed at a nice condo with swimming pool, but still dragged myself out of bed at 3:00 am to drive to a trailhead before hiking through quite treacherous terrain in order to be at my pre scouted location to capture the sunrise. Would my photo been any better if I camped along a beach…nope.
Stuff sure gets twisted into nonsensical knots really quick around here. Reminds me of why I haven't entered into a conversation in probably over a year Think I'll take another year off.
p.5 #18 · Getting the photo vs the experience of getting the photo
Am I the only one here who has more fun shooting a street festival or parade at high speed than when slowly pondering composition of a landscape at sunrise?
Seems for some here the act of photographing is like meditation. I often prefer stuff happening.
p.5 #19 · Getting the photo vs the experience of getting the photo
Steve Spencer wrote:
It was satire of Dan's style of posting and really good satire in my opinion.
"People who live in glass houses..." ;-)
Mar 07, 2026 at 12:05 PM
Steve Spencer Online • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: On
p.5 #20 · Getting the photo vs the experience of getting the photo
gdanmitchell wrote:
"People who live in glass houses..." ;-)
Of I love good satire and I actually love it when people satirize me. I would hope you would see it as all in good fun. If we can't laugh at ourselves who can we laugh at.
If not, it had to wait. 
