Best lens
Thursday, November 7, 2013 at 6:29PM Everyone I know asks me for advice about cameras.
I don't mind--it's a pretty easy question to answer.
Many other people--friends or sometimes friends of friends--ask me about being a professional photographer.
That's a harder query.
I would like to tell you that taking every class you can in photography will make you a fantastic photographer.
But that's not true.
I would like to tell you that if you buy the very best camera and the perfect lenses, you will be a fantastic photographer.
But that's not true either.
I would like to tell you that it's a matter of learning this trick or this program or these AMAZING TOOLS FOR PERFECT PICTURES EVERY TIME, and you will be a fantastic photographer.
But that's never, ever true.
What I tell people (and it's sometimes awkward) is that to be a fantastic photographer, you have to look at everyone with love and compassion. See the people they aspire to be, not necessarily who they are even in that moment. See the best parts of them, the interior, the -ness of their self-ness, and photograph that.
Photograph them like you love them.
Photograph them like you are photographing the people you love most in this world.
Can you do that? Can you look at complete strangers, make small talk, and then photograph them with the same love, compassion, and depth that you photograph your own partner, your own parents, your own friends, your own children?
If yes, then you will be a fantastic photographer. No short cuts, no tricks, no gimmicks. If you let yourself find compassion, love, kindred-ness with every subject in front of your 135mm lens, then you will be a wonderful portraitist. And that's all the advice I can give.
