The Professional, the amateur and the pursuit for happiness

Lets pretend for awhile that your a famous photographer. you make thousands of dollars a day shooting campaigns for Nike or Rolling stone. You have the latest software and top of the line gear. Your schedule is booked for the next year and half, and your winning new big name clients every week. This is what we want as photographers right? when we say that we want to make it big time this is pretty much what we have in mind. Do you think that the “pro” fotog is happier then the Amateur? One would think so, but if we take a closer look and define what makes a “pro”photog over an amateur.

I know what your thinking, the more money that you make the more professional you are and the les money you make if any at all the more amateur you are. This thinking could not be further from the truth, to be frank with you i know “professional” photographers that make money and have the latest camera and lens but take shitty pictures simply because they don’t understand photography. I also know people who have old crop sensor cameras and make beautiful images and yet don’t get paid for it.

For one whole year i shot with only One speed light, i had access to several but i wanted to see how far i could push the limits with using a on light set up. Am i a master at one light? no, not at all but i do know what i can do with what i have. Just this weekend i had to use the knowledge of using only one speed light at a concert because i had only brought one. keep in mind this was a small venue and most large venues used for concerts dont allow flash. I could not get anything close to a proper exposure at ISO 6400, 1/30, F2.8 (i would never shoot a concert at 1/30 it was just to see how far off it was) I knew that i had to light that shit up or it would all be shit. all the photos above where shoot with one speedlight. I didnt want to blind the band so i kept the flash to 1/16 power and compensated with ISO. Use and learn with what you have before you buy new gear.

Here are a list of photographers that used what they had and became while known.

At the age of 17 Joey L. began shooting for rolling stone, hes 22 years old today. All he used was one worker clamp light, his dads camera and his toy dinosaurs. He now shoots big name clients. Even in his work to day he shoots with one light. you can see his  work at http://www.joeyl.com/

Joel grimes became well known in his late thirties only 5 years after picking up a camera because of his unique two light set up. He uses those techniques today. http://joelgrimes.com/

Zach arias shoots a fuji x100t and other crop sensor cameras from fuji and also uses a one light set up. http://www.zackarias.com

whats the point to all this? Your gear wont make you happy or famous, well maybe….. who doesn’t like new toys? Knowing how to use you gear and knowing that you got something freakin awesome because you knew how you use what you had.

all gear has limitations, regardless how much you pay for it.

keep shooting and most of all stay inspired.