October. The magical month. It has been a year since my photography took a huge lunge forward, last October. I will love this month forever! and it is all because of two marvelous creatures: the 50mm/f1.4 lens and the 50mm/f2.5 compact macro lens.
I knew I was missing something in my photographs. Something in the way I was able -- or more precisely, not able -- to translate what I was seeing into tangible results. I see details. Little pieces of light or shape or texture that catch my eye and draw me in. but I wasn’t able to convey what I saw.
I saw it in other photographs. In food photography, still life photography, in magazines, on blogs. A serene beauty in having all but the smallest piece of the image softly out of focus. Shapes. Colors. Hints of information. Dreaminess.
If they can do it, why can’t I do it? What IS it?
You see, I used to be a photojournalist, and the pictures I made were all about spreading information. Not that photojournalists’ photos aren't artistic, they certainly can be. But the widest aperture I used as a photojournalist was f2.8.
Having put photography aside for many, many years, I returned with fresh perspective, less of a photojournalist's hat on.
One day, it just clicked. Ohhhhhhhh, I need to use an even wider aperture for even shallower depth of field.
So last October, I bought the 50mm/f1.4. Then in June, I bought the 50mm/f2.5 compact macro. And my photography, and therefore my life, hasn’t been the same since.
Now I use these two lenses almost exclusively. I’m still learning what aperture works well depending on the subject, angle, distance from subject, all that. Sometimes I don’t get the focus point where I want, or don’t have enough depth of field. Sometimes I even remember to bracket. But often, I’m able to show what I see in a way that feels right. Finally! And I love that with both of these lenses, there are often stunningly beautiful surprises in the image that I wasn’t able to see through the viewfinder.
It’s true what they say, that it's not the equipment, it's the photographer. But having the right gear can help a photographer express herself and show the world her unique viewpoint, what and how she sees. And we all know how it feels when we express ourselves just as we intended. Magic.
Image and words courtesy of guest blogger/honorary sister Hillary Sloss of Eyechai.
Friday, June 24, 2011 by 
