Gear Talk: A Panasonic Poem

A Panasonic Poem by Ayimaj Nosliw

As the holidays began, rumor websites reported a Panasonic announcement was to be made

They would reveal something major or an announcement for the plans that they have laid

Photographers and filmmakers all speculated, “Oh what could it be?”

One person in the comments stated, “It’s the S1H II, that’ll be the camera for me!”

Another perked up and pondered, “Maybe it’s the S1R II?”

“Yeah!” said another. “60 megapixels please. No less will do!”

Others wanted a new camera, some wanted a new lens

Some just wanted a shiny new toy, to show off to all their friends

Owners of rumor websites smiled, happy for the traffic

Panasonic played the announcement all hush hush and didn’t even release a single graphic

The day would quickly come and the announcement would be made

And Lumix users would recoil in shock, for they realized that they had been played

Fans of the company groaned in unison, sounding like the last wails of a dying giant

One obscure photographer on the web remarked “Man, they ain’t even trying!”

The pitiful Panasonic Lumix G97 and Lumix ZS99

A member of the board at Panasonic could be seen in their office going

Brand loyalists tried to calm the fury of the scorned, pitchfork carrying mob, but to no avail

Ebay, Craigslist, and various forums were flooded with all sorts of shiny Panasonic gear, all of a sudden, for sale

How could they make such a mistake? Where did it all go so wrong?

Some say it was the S9 or waiting to move to full frame. They waited for too long.

A wise, handsome black man sat on a snowy mountain top, giving out advice

“He who buys the Panasonic is a fool. Not a fool of once, but a fool of twice.”

“For he has fooled himself into believing the fanciful, fradulent, and absurd.”

“He believes Panasonic can change or that Lumix is a good word.”

“He believes the S1H successor will restore them to dominance.”

“He ignores the Sony, the Canon, the Nikon. He ignores their prominence.”

“He cares not for lighter weight, good AF, and a vast lens selection.”

“He buys the over priced Leica SL lenses, he cares not for wealth protection.”

“Do not be this man, be better if only.”

“Buy something else. Be it Canon, Sony, or Sony.”

The writer of this poem has no horse in the race as he sold his Panny long ago

If you disagree with his The Fall of Panasonic post, he would just say, “I told you so.”

The End.

Gear Talk: December 12, 2024

Finally back in New York after my trip to Seoul and all I can say is wow. Not even exaggerating when I say, I don’t think anything will ever surpass how surreal and fun it was. More details on that in a separate post.

I’ve decided going forward, gear talk will have its own postings. There’s generally too much to cover, especially technically, for it to fit in the musings category which is meant to be rapid, often non-photography related thoughts I wish to share.

So for all you gear heads, you can read my ramblings on gear in these sorts of posts. There is a technical component to photography which encompasses the tools we use, so simply not talking gear at all wouldn’t be true to the photography experience. But it’s certainly not all it’s about nor what the blog is all about.

Now with that out the way, strap in for a long post. Coffee ready? Let’s go!

The Continued Allure of Medium Format

Not gonna lie, despite my conflicting feelings about medium format, it still has an allure for me. After this most recent trip, I couldn’t help but feel like medium format probably would have been a better choice in some ways. What appeals to me most about the format is three-fold.

Aspect Ratio. Since I shoot Sony, the image is captured in the 2 x 3 aspect ratio. Which is the traditional 35mm film ratio. The rectangular frame. This is fine for most applications, especially if you’re a photographer who values storytelling. The wider frame is great for photojournalism, event work, etc. For portrait work, I find the frame too narrow and prefer more width to the image. Here the 3 x 4 aspect ratio of medium format is my preferred ratio. I much prefer the framing and compositional options at my disposal. The frame doesn’t feel as cramped and feels like I’m shooting the image for print as opposed to viewing on a screen. Of course I could just crop the Sony’s 2 x 3 image to get a 3 x 4(which I do), but this process of cropping post capture, has never seemed to net the same satisfying result versus shooting in 3 x 4 when the image is actually captured.

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Iryna
2 × 3 Full Frame Image

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Iryna
3 × 4 Full Frame Image (Cropped)

I know when I get home and look through the images, I will crop them to 3 x 4, but when I do, it never feels like the way I captured it. There’s a weird disconnect that occurs. A limb is cropped too tight or there’s not enough headroom. And it makes me question how I composed the shot in the first place. “Did I really compose it that bad?!” I think to myself. If shooting 3 x 4 natively, I would be much more aware of this and compose accordingly to avoid certain framing issues. Cropping to the desired ratio in post, while serviceable, still isn’t the ideal solution.

However, the flexibility of cropping later is nice to have, and worth considering. Sometimes you may crop too tight and wish for a little more space around the image. Shooting 2 x 3 then cropping later gives me somewhat of a backup, but if I crop too tight in the 3 x 4 there’s nothing to do about it.

• Sharpness and tonality. Two prominent features of medium format that I sometimes miss are the sharpness and tonality. I guess sharpness is better described as clarity. There’s a certain crispness and pop to the medium format image when compared to its full-frame counterpart. Like a thin layer of film has been removed and now we can see the actual crispness of the image. I’d say it’s akin to looking through a window (35mm) versus looking through a window frame (medium format). Tonality is another. The way medium format renders highlights and shadows is second to none. Not to mention the tonality of skin, with its almost life-like rendering.

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Kristina
Fuji GFX 50S II + GF 80mm f/1.7 Lens

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Kristina
Sony A7RV + Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 G2 Lens
Sony Native Color

From viewing the two images above, the Sony does hold its own. This is the GFX 50 Megapixel sensor versus the Sony’s 61 megapixel, so keep that in mind. The GFX 100 megapixel sensor would produce a sharper image, but I don’t have an example of the same subject on both cameras, so we’ll use the GFX 50S II for this example. The lens choice in the Sony image(28-75) does have some distortion which gives the image a different feel as well.

However, when I look at the color, sharpness, and tone I prefer the medium format image. It’s subtle but a difference that I notice. When I look at the skin in the GFX image, the skin looks sharp, but supple. In the Sony image, the skin looks sharp but harder. Most probably wouldn’t care and for most the A7RV would be plenty. I use it daily so I value its good points. The image quality is stunning. But that color is bleh.

Oh, speaking of the Sony color, it’s way too saturated in Capture One. To the point the colors tend to smudge together and you get far lass separation. By changing the camera profile in the Base Characteristics Panel to a different camera model (my preferred is GFX 50S II), you get much better, more accurate color with much better separation.

Bad Sony color in Capture One? Change Base Characteristics to Fuji GFX 50S II Generic. I’ve also tried many of Canon’s ICC profiles to great affect as well.

Sony A7RV Native Color in Capture One
A7R M5 Generic

Sony A7RV Adjusted Color in Capture One
Fujifilm GFX 50S II Generic

Now that the color is fixed in the Sony image, it even looks more medium-formatty. I’ve trademarked that word so if you use it I will sue. Kidding. Maybe.

• Post-processing latitude. When working in post the medium format file with its 16-bit nature handles strong post processing techniques with aplomb. I can crush the shadows or pop the highlights to great degrees before a loss of detail occurs. When I’m working on files in Photoshop with lots of layers and changes, the medium format file can take more severe edits. I’ll often have to dial back some of my settings when working on a full-frame equivalent. Adding grain to an image, for example, takes a little finesse with full-frame, but adding the same amount to the medium format image blends well almost as if it was shot that way natively.

With those three things in mind, I’m strongly considering adding medium format back into my kit. There are a couple of hurdles however. Namely cost and options available on the market. I’m not going anywhere near Hasselblad or its options so let’s rule that one out. It’s just too limited for the costs involved. Phase One is impressive, but not mirrorless and also very expensive. That mainly leaves Fuji. Currently they have their GFX 100S II and the flagship GFX 100 II. The latter of which I’ve owned.

The 100 II is an attractive camera, but expensive ($7499) and heavy (2.271 lbs). Only thing that appeals to me is the higher resolution viewfinder with its larger 1.0x magnification. The GFX 100S II on the other hand has many of the same features but a smaller, lower resolution viewfinder and less video related options. No battery grip option either. Besides that, it’s cheaper ($4,999) and lighter (1.9 lbs) compared to its big brother. Then there are also lenses to consider, memory cards, etc. You can see how the cost of the system adds up.

And where does it fit? It would predominantly be used for my studio portrait work. I could use it on location in controlled environments, but probably not on shoots with lots of motion or movement (swimwear, nudes, etc.). It could be used for those things, but I think the speed and size of the Sony would be a better option. But can I really justify spending that much for a system with such limited usage? Depends on how much portrait work I’m doing really.

Sigh. I thought breaking things down like this would be helpful, but I still feel undecided. More thought and research needs to be done before I make a decision. Just from gathering images for this blog post, I found myself thinking “The Sony’s image quality is right there. It’s damn close. But I miss the 3 x 4 aspect ratio of the Fuji. Images just seem larger and more awe-inspiring.”

Everyday Carry is Overrated and Thoughts on the Fuji X100VI

Ah yes, the every popular Fuji X100VI. Sold out everywhere. Despite its beautiful styling, I just couldn’t fall in love with it.

Since the introduction of mirrorless cameras and their evolution over the years, there’s been the rise of the fabled “EDC” or everyday carry. You know, a camera and/or kit that can be your “everyday” carry around equipment while doing life stuff. I’ve had quite a few cameras over the years that I felt would fill this void. Can’t take your professional cameras out on the town right? So I’ve tried the Panasonic GX8, Panasonic G9 I and II, Sony A7C and A7CR, Fuji X100V, X-T3, X-T4, X-s20, and most recently the X100VI. No matter how much I try, I hate these cameras for their intended use case. They all have felt limited in some way. Too big(G9) or too small(X-s20). Great image quality, terrible ergonomics(A7C and A7CR). Or just not fun to use (X100VI).

Sony’s A7CR offers way more versatility than the X100VI but is still a hard sell. It’s more expensive, has a lackluster viewfinder, no joystick, and one memory card slot. $3,000. Yeah, no.

I know that last criticism is going to ruffle some feathers, but here me out. While I like the styling and simplicity of Fuji’s X100 series. My main issue is usability. I hate using the thing. There’s always some odd design quirk that annoys me when using it. For example, not being able to lock the focus point in place. If I’m not using the wide focusing mode and instead using  single point, everytime I sit the camera down or return it to my side when wearing a camera strap, the focus point has moved whenever I pick it back up. The joystick will get nudged or touch screen gets swiped somehow and the focus point will be off in a corner somewhere. When there’s a spontaneous moment that happens in front of the camera, I raise it to my eye for the shot and the focus point isn’t in the center, but off to the side being dumb. Hopefully it will lock focus on whatever I’m pointed at in the instant it takes to get the shot. Usually it doesn’t. I have to recenter the focus point get focus then get my shot. This is annoying even when shooting slow moving things like friends sitting across from you at dinner. You raise the camera to your eye and the focus point is in some random place. Other annoyances is Fuji’s archaic menu system that they hardly get criticized for, but Sony on the other hand, gets raked over the coals for their’s every time there’s a product review. The Fuji menus are terrible by comparison.

I say all that to say, everyday carry is overrated. After using all these cameras that should be good for the task, I’ve come to one conclusion. Use the camera you’re most comfortable with. In my case that the Sony A7RV. Is it as small as some of the other cameras? Nope. But it has everything I could possibly need. Great ergonomics, small size, interchangeable lenses, excellent image quality, a great viewfinder, competent video, and it uses all the lenses I already own. Even when carrying a smaller camera, you still may want to carry a camera bag. If I’m going to use a camera bag anyway, then I have more options available in terms of camera size. A relatively larger A7RV isn’t going to be that big of a difference versus the smaller, but ergonomically poor A7CR. And I’m not spending more money for the same camera with less features and worse ergonomics.

Don’t waste money on the fabled everyday carry kit. Use what you have. Weight be damned.

The “It Makes Me Want to Go Out and Take Pictures” Fallacy

I’m sure you’ve heard this one before. Some camera reviewer or another has uttered this phrase at some point. I’m guilty of it myself. And I’m here to tell you, it’s bullshit. Despite cameras being a smaller size, better ergonomics, faster shooting, more film simulations, more dials, more cowbell, more whatever, after the “newness” wears off, you’ll be searching for the next piece of gear to fill the void in your creative soul. The reason for this, if I had to guess, is that your motivation for shooting is based around gear and not the actual things you’re taking photos of. Let that sink in. Gear has become the deciding factor whether you can create or not. Mind you, I just wrote about medium format above, but whether I have it or not, I won’t stop taking portraits. I’m motivated by creating portraits, the equipment is secondary.

Whether you’re a portrait photographer or street photographer, the motivation has to come from the subject matter. If the subject matter inspires you, you’ll go out and shoot. Rain, sleet, hail, or snow. You’ll shoot on days when you’re tired or days when you only have a small amount of free time. Gear can excite you and sometimes motivate you, but I find that’s only in the short term. Newness fades. All the exciting new features become commonplace after you use the gear for a certain period of time. Then something new is announced. And you start thinking how that new feature will improve your work. It will make you want to go out and take pictures, you tell yourself. I say, if gear is the thing that motivates you to go out and shoot, you may need to take a long look in the mirror.

Own or Rent That is the Question

I’m not affiliated with them. They’re just a great company that has reasonable rental rates and have always treated me well.

I used to own a Sony FX3. I sold it and used the funds towards something necessary to grow my business. Since then I’ve considered owning another one from time to time. It’s not super expensive for the value it offers, but I’ll often ask myself, “Why?”. Why buy it when I do very little video related work at this time? If I want to vlog or when traveling, I use my DJI Osmo Pocket 3. It’s more than enough for such a task.

I think we often have this struggle with the idea of renting gear. As if owning it will make it more special. “It’s ours!” we think. In the case of the FX3, that’s almost $4,000. If you’re a dedicated video shooter who gets paid doing video related projects then it’s a no-brainer. If you’re a photographer like me, who dabbles with video, it makes absolutely no sense. And I like to have plenty of dollars to go with my sense. Wasting it on a camera I don’t need is…wasteful.

If one were to rent an FX3, you could get one for $210 for a 4-day rental. That’s not too shabby eh?! Compared to the $3,899 retail cost of the camera. As I spoke about the Fuji GFX 100S II above, it too can be rented for about $233 for a 4-day rental via Lensprotogo. $233 versus $4,999. Add in a couple of lenses and that’s $500 for the rental. But $500 is still only 10% of owning JUST the camera. I know, I know renting isn’t as exciting as owning. Getting the box and opening your new item for the first time is always a treat. But looking at your depleted bank balance, and now having to manage a Ramen Noodle budget for food, isn’t.

When in doubt or on a budget, rent the thing on an as needed basis. Your wallet will thank you. I’ll probably take my own advice and rent the GFX when needed. I’d rather spend that money on production, travel, etc. I could even offset the costs, by buying just the lenses initially on credit (0% financing and all that) and renting the camera till I can afford it. I’m not financial advisor, just throwing ideas out there. Maybe it’ll give you an idea.

Hope you enjoyed this week’s post. Feel free to like or leave a comment below.

Till next time.

Musings: November 22, 2024

Haven’t posted in a while due to traveling and having a loaded schedule after I returned. It’s like all my clients decided to all book on the same week November 11-17. I was shooting every single day last week, but this week I got a breather. Thank God!

I’ll talk more extensively on my travels in another post.

As much as modern photographers talk about gear, I don’t hear enough conversations about the actual process of working as a photographer. The grueling hours, the planning for a project, working with clients, negotiating jobs, the failures, etc. It’s camera, camera, lens, lens, as if that’s the only aspect of what being a photographer is like. It’s a lot of work despite the glamorous appearance of the profession.

I was glad to have a break this week because I’m currently preparing for a trip to Seoul, South Korea on Monday. I’m working on, probably my biggest, personal project yet. Not big in terms of scale, but big in terms of importance to me personally. I’m hoping this one will lead to more trips to Seoul in the future, but I’ll expand on my thoughts about it more in this post. On to the musings!

GEAR TALK

Sony Alpha 1 II. Great specs, but feels like an incremental update. My A7RV is safe.

• Lots of gear announced and released in the past several months. Most recently Sony announced their successor to the flagship Alpha 1, the Alpha 1 II.  I had the Alpha 1 back in 2022 and it was a beast of a camera. I’ve since shifted to the A7RV and couldn’t be more happy with it. Looking at the Alpha 1 II’s specs, it is an impressive camera, but more of an iterative update(same sensor at the original Alpha 1) than a tour de force of new technology. At $6,498, I probably won’t be buying one. There’s no need. I wish they would have had open gate video recording given the sensor, but Sony doesn’t seem all that interested in that. For the price point though, I can have my A7RV and buy an FX3 for only a little more. I’d rather have two cameras instead of one, so it’s a pass for me.

Fuji’s GFX Eterna Cinema Camera. Looks good. How will it perform?

• Fuji announces their Fuji GFX Eterna Cinema Camera. This should have been a very exciting announcement that had all the film/video heads excited with glee. But I think it was met with a “meh” from the masses since Fuji’s first foray into an actual cinema camera utilizes the same sensor featured in their GFX 100 II camera. The GFX 100 II is brilliant for photography and the video quality is superb, but there are issues with a massive sensor with such a high megapixel count for video. Namely, very pronounced rolling shutter. It probably would have been better if Fuji’s first cinema camera used a much lower megapixel count, medium format sensor. Imagine the Eterna with a 12-megapixel sensor and dual-native ISO like a medium format FX3? Now we’re talking. Who knows, maybe this one will be a homerun, but I have my reservations.

Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 Lens. Favorite zoom lens ever. Full stop.

• One of the benefits of being in the Sony full-frame ecosystem is the sheer amount of available lenses. One company who I feel is the unsung hero of lenses on E-mount is Tamron. Their zooms are fantastic. I use the Tamron 28-75 lens on all of my portrait shoots and absolutely love that lens. So much so, I rarely use any primes that are covered by its range. I have the Sigma 50mm f/1.2 DG DN lens and hardly use it. I have the Sony 35mm f/1.4 GM lens and hardly use it. For the way I work, the Tamron is much more versatile and delivers a look I love. The extra reach on the end makes it a great portrait lens. And it’s the focal lengths in the middle of the range that really make the difference. 50mm, for example is often too wide for me. But 55-63mm? Perfection! If I want something slightly wider I can stay in the 40-50mm range. It also helps when working with models who move a lot and I’m not trying to lose limbs on the edges of the frame when they go into a spontaneous pose. There are a plethora of 24-70mm lenses on the market and it seems like a new one is announced every year, but the 28-75 range is perfect for my needs, for portraits. It’s versatile, lightweight, focuses fast, super sharp, and cheap. What’s not to love? I’d prefer a little more on the wide end for events, but for my use case it’s perfect. Shout out to Tamron for such an amazing little lens.

• In relation to my last point, I’ve decided to sell both my Sigma 50mm and Sony 35mm lenses. I don’t need them. And I have this new thing for eliminating waste. If I’m not using equipment on a regular, consistent basis, I’m getting rid of it. This has lead me to not purchasing much new equipment in months. There are small things like a memory card here or there, a fresh backdrop, but no major camera or lens purchases. I’m very happy with the equipment at my disposal and it’s been great investing more time and energy into production rather than gear. That’s truly where the difference lies. Gear is fun and exciting sometimes, but it’s great when you think of a project and now you have a budget for it. I would recommend spending 70% on production and only 30% on gear. That seems about right in terms of balance. Or maybe 80/20? You get my drift.

• Repurpose instead of resale. I have a Think Tank Production Manager 30 rolling case that I’ve used for years whenever I go to my client’s location here in New York. It’s served me very well and is still in excellent condition. But it’s big and heavy. Once I changed from AC powered monolights to battery powered lights for location shoots, my kit downsized tremendously. So I switched to a much smaller Tenba rolling case that I’ve also had for years. I pondered selling the Think Tank and I tried, but no takers. Instead of wasting a lot of time only to get a couple hundred bucks, why not use it for something else? This also prevents me from buying a new case, when the old one will do just fine.
  
  In my travels, one constant annoyance has been booking studios and them not having certain lighting equipment available. So I started thinking, “Why not just bring my own lighting equipment?” A eureka moment, ya know? Now I’ve repurposed the Think Tank case to be my case when I travel on a plane whether domestic or abroad. It fits all the lights I need and some grip equipment, all while not going over the 50lb limit. And it’s built like a tank so I’m not worried about anything getting damaged in transit. Why I didn’t think of this before is beyond me? But age brings wisdom they say. What equipment do you have laying around that could be used for something new?

• Backpacks are better than rolling cases in airports. Last trip to Paris I took a Think Tank rolling case. It was nice, but navigating the airport with it along with other bags proved to be a hassle at times. Before I went to Lisbon in October, I decided to switch to a backpack instead and oh man, was that the best decision. Having your hands free to do other things should not be understated. Getting food, chugging water, retrieving your boarding pass, getting on and off the plane, etc, was all considerably easier. A bit heavier of course, lugging equipment on your back. But for the often short stays in airports, it’s more than worth it for the convenience and versatility.

MUSINGS

Heading to Seoul on November 26th. Can’t wait.

• They say you should never meet your heroes, they’ll surely disappoint as the quote goes. I’ve been fortunate to meet a few of mine in passing, but never had a back and forth conversation with them. Choosing instead to keep my distance, saying the odd hello or tell them I’m a fan. To my surprise, I had the pleasure of meeting one such person recently and they were more than I could have expected. Chill, approachable, and a great sense of humor. More like a regular person and not a celebrity. We chatted on Zoom and it was the most surreal experience. They even agreed to do a shoot with me! Crazy yeah? I know, I know. The little schoolgirl inside of me is going crazy with excitement! Squeeeee! lol. But the professional in me is all, “Focus. You need to make sure you have this and also this, also this. And don’t forget that. And also…” So I’m headed to Seoul next week and I couldn’t be more excited, anxious, ready, unprepared, giddy, nervous, etc. All the feels.
  
  For the past couple of weeks since my return from Europe I’ve been preparing for this shoot. As my Dad says, “Son, always remember the six P’s. Proper planning prevents piss poor performance.” I’ve taken that to heart and have been dotting my T’s and crossing my I’s. Wait… Now, I’m pretty much ready, all there is to show up and execute.
  
  This shoot sort of puts an exclamation point on an already incredible year. I truly don’t think it can get better than this, but we do have one month left. I feel truly blessed and humbled by all the good lately. This year has been utterly fantastic. I’ve gotten to shoot with every single model I’ve wanted to work with, travel to places I’ve been excited about, make some great friends and professional contacts, and cap it off by photographing my favorite celebrity in Korea. Best year both personally and professionally, easily.
  
  Can’t wait to share more about it after the fact. I’ll give you more of a behind-the-scenes look at the entire process. Wish me luck!

Till next time. Fighting!

Being Political (Or Not)

Regardless of where you sit politically, this is one of the greatest Presidential images of all time. Damn, I wish I took this photo.
©Evan Vucci/AP

With all the tension and fallout surrounding the recent US Presidential Election, I thought I would touch briefly on politics and where it comes into play as an artist. For myself and otherwise.

My belief is that your political views are your own and you have the right to have them whether we agree or disagree.

I know, a novel concept in the age of outrage simply because someone sits opposite of the political aisle. My political beliefs as well as my religious beliefs or beliefs about having children, or having a family, or parenting, or paying taxes, or vaccinations, or space travel, are all my own.

Same goes for you. You have the right, as an American, to believe whatever you chose. That’s the beauty of living in a country that gives you those freedoms. Where we have gone wrong as a country is trying to force others to share the same beliefs we have. Or else!

US Vice President, and Presidential hopeful, Kamala Harris.
She didn’t win. But it’s not the end of the world. Calm down folks.

As many actors in Hollywood have meltdowns over the result of the election and continue steering Hollywood into the abyss of irrelevancy, I think about how much time we’ve all wasted bickering over politics. Shunning our friends, family, lovers, etc. Over their own personal views.

How frail as a people have we become?

I also think how we’ve embraced oversharing our personal views as a society. One only has to look at TikTok to see some young Gen-Z girl sitting in her car about to deliver a diatribe(put her foot in her mouth more like) on whatever social/political issue she’s somehow, all of a sudden, an expert on. These people don’t want discussion, no. They want to dictate the conversation. For they are the enlightened. The virtuous even!

Think like them or you are a: {insert liberal word used to both insult but also to avoid debate}.

As an artist, politics and social issues generally don’t factor into my work. Shocking I know. Not only that, but I will never allow myself to be pressured by whatever social movements are the hot trend of the moment. Especially if I don’t agree with them. In other words, I will not work on projects, causes, or with people I don’t particularly care for. It’s a business, not a charity. And an empowering part of being an artist is deciding what you want your art to be about. If I choose to cover a social/political issue, I do so at my own discretion.

If I want my work to simply be about beautiful women in swimsuits(or even without clothing), that’s my prerogative. If you, on the other hand, wish to photograph, say people in poor rural communities, that’s your prerogative. For example, I don’t shoot weddings. Absolutely hate them for work. No one can pressure me into shooting one. And even if they threw a ton of money at me, I can’t be bought. I’ll keep an open mind of course, but I use my own judgement if I’m willing to accept a project or even work with someone. If you’re independent, you too, have this power. It’s different if you work for a company where the pressure comes from the top and you have little choice in the matter. With that in mind, I’d rather be independent any day.

PlayStation 5 videogame, Stellar Blade.
The amount of butthurt this game caused for simply having the audacity to make a sexy main character was crazy. While a small minority feigned outrage online, the game has sold massively raking over 1 million sales in 24 hours of its release. The critics or so called “taste makers” of the industry proved to be irrelevant, yet again. The consumers won.

In the age of DEI, ESG, diversity mandates, social/political pressure from companies, artists have the right to create the art they want to create. External pressure be damned. But so many have caved to this, hence the bland landscape we have in terms of modern entertainment media, particularly in the west. Films used to be unique and interesting, tv shows used to have gripping writing, and literature used to challenge you. But when those in positions of green-lighting this stuff started prioritizing social/political stances over entertaining the public, the art suffered severely as a result. Joker 2 anyone?

In closing, I’ll add a bit of optimisim if you’re someone facing these challenges and find it all frustrating. The world is much bigger than New York or Los Angeles(and the US). There are other markets where you can find people with similar views or at least where your art/ideas will be embraced. Where you can flourish even. If they put up a wall, you go around. And if they don’t like what you do, fuck ‘em.

Till next time.

How Much Time Do You Spend On Your Art?

“If you do the work, you get rewarded. There are no shortcuts in life.”
-Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan by Walter Ioss, Jr.
© Walter Ioss, Jr.

If you too are on the creative journey, be it music, animation, sculpting, photography, painting, dance, acting, etc., I ask you:

How much time do you spend on your art?

Does it keep you up at night? Are you constantly sticking your nose in a book or reading an article or watching a video on the subject? Desperately looking for new nuggets of golden wisdom that will make your skills that much better. Are you investing in yourself? Your education? The production of your art? Are you practicing? Even when you don’t have a project in mind, are you experimenting with new techniques? Or refining your approach?

Actually tally up the time each week and note how many hours goes towards your art. Also, tally up the hours that goes towards other things, not including your day job if you have one. I love the feature on the iPhone that shows your app usage and how much time you’ve spent on certain apps. Unless those apps are aiding your improvement, that time should be much lower than the amount of time spent on your art.

Simply put, the amount of time you spend will show how much passion you have for the art you create. Even if you’re a seasoned pro, you still have to establish a process of improvement. A period where you work diligently and determinedly on refining your craft. Top athletes do this all the time.

All-time great Quarterback Tom Brady studying game film. Remote in hand, replaying clips over and over looking for weaknesses and areas he can improve.

In basketball, they work on their three point or free throw shooting. Spending hours in the gym, taking the same shot over and over and over, making slight adjustments to their approach until it clicks. In football, quarterbacks study film religiously, not only looking for holes in their opponent’s game, but their own method of playing. Maybe they can release the ball faster or be more aware of their teammates positions downfield. The greats continue to refine and sharpen their blade even after they’ve won championships and received accolades for their abilities. Think Michael Jordan or Tom Brady. Athletes who are obsessed with the game and pushing their skills to the absolute limits. Great artists are the same.

Put the time in. Let it become a part of your daily rituals. Take notes. Make adjustments. Refine, refine, refine. And in time, you will get better. If you’re unable to do this on your own, find a teacher or mentor. That act alone puts you ahead of 95% of people who are likely too stubborn or arrogant to seek help from others. Art often comes with a lot of ego. Maybe you need someone else who can hold you accountable for your inaction or lack of effort. Most tend to give themselves a pass when quitting when the work becomes difficult or frustrating. Think people not doing all their reps at the gym when working out alone versus when working with a trainer who pushes them.

An iconic photo of a young, highly touted Rookie Kobe Bryant, getting next to Jordan mid-game and asking for his advice. For such a young star player with all the hype and praise heaped on him, to humble himself and ask his senior for tips, is one of the many reasons he too, would be one of the greatest players of all time. You’re never too good to learn from the masters.

© Vincent Laforet /AFP via Getty Images

In closing, I say again, put the time in. Drop and avoid the distractions. And make no excuses. When you do your time calculation and if other less helpful endeavors are taking up most of your time, work hard to change that. Try to get your “hours spent” numbers much higher in the column for your art versus, say, social media usage. Set goals and observe your improvement week after week, month after month.

Your art will be all the better for it.