What a lot of talk about equipment and technique! I think that if Natilie had been as focused on technique as has been suggested is necessary, she would never have achieved so much success in her field. If she were selling herself as a studio photography specialist or a documentary photographer there may be a case to focus so specifically on technical issues, however she has developed so far and so fast because of her spontaneity, her fresh approach, her willingness to make mistakes and learn from them. Natilie has only been doing this for three years (correct me if I am wrong) she has no formal training, thank god because if she was bogged down by the restraints of getting everything so technically perfect we would not be blessed with a proliferation of her inspiring work.

I am sure that in another few years her techniques will be much more acceptable to the pedantic.

have very much enjoyed the results of your collaboration and hope you get the opportunity to repeat it some time,
whatever equipment you chose to employ…

Better equipment doesn’t equal better photography? Good grief, I didn’t know that! Thank god there are people like you to tell me…

As for the penis cartoon, when half of your ‘critique’ of my work is based on facetious references to my tits, I don’t think you have room to speak.

…farewell!

To be frank, sometimes you can be irritating – your long commentary is kind of like spam, but spam that strangely makes sense… delivered in a manner which makes me want to listen.

I think your last comment was really well put, and I agree with much of it.

I am much more accustomed to using my 40D now, and using it has weaned me off Auto settings (whether I liked it or not – shooting Auto on the 40D invariably pops the unwanted flash and also disables RAW). As for the medium format camera, it took some getting used to, like using any new equipment, and 2 weeks isn’t a long time. However, I found it much simpler to operate than the Canon 1DS M3. The guy from Phase One who came round to lend me the camera very fittingly said ‘look, don’t be scared of it. Use it. It’s just a camera’. Comparing it to a Space Shuttle mission becomes a bit too hyperbolic, I certainly didn’t use the thing to its full potential, within the time I had, but whether or not I focused the lens correctly on one occasion is a little off-point.
Having said all that, I did a 2-day commissioned shoot with the P40+ and the person who I photographed is over the moon with her pics – pics that are in focus. Thankfully. I’d like to share some on Flickr soon…

In response to your other comments about lights: I’m about to start using the flashguns, umbrellas & stands I received for my recent birthday…:)

I do like the black and white version of the Phallacy. It occurred to me what made that presentation powerful. It was the play on words and the visual image together that made it click. The picture by itself would be considered mundane, but to inject sexuality into the words of the title made it meaningful and creepy (not to mention that big sharp butcher knife in Nats hand).

One more final word on the usage of equipment. I know I will bore and put to sleep people who are reading this, but I can’t resist. The Phase One P 40+ camera is Rolls Royce or Leer Jet of cameras.

The reason why I bring this up is because Arty made reference to Natalie not knowing how to use the Phase one P40+. It recalls from my memory from a long, long time ago a posting she did on Flickr about being frustrated on not being able to operate a camera called the Canon 40D DSLR she received as a present. I tried to console her and I told her that the learning curve on mastering (let alone being able to be efficient at it) a DSLR is very steep. We can all be grateful that she chooses to give us EXIF information because I’m an equipment junkie who loves to see statistics and “what’s in the bag” :))

Well, to make a long story short, Natalie all of a sudden started working with a Canon 1D Mark III camera. Now, to use an analogy here … that’s like going from a bicycle with training wheels (her point and shoot cam Sony R1 that she did most of her great art work) to a Porsche (Canon 40D) to flying a Leer Jet or an F-14 Tomcat (Canon 1D Mark III) and then to flying a Space Shuttle mission (Phase One P 40+). What leaps and bounds for someone who has yet to take off her training wheels.

I know I might catch some flack and ape offense to what I just said, but my intent here is not to be sarcastic or negative. I’m just saying that she is using way too much camera. Once she learns how to use the DSLR she can then graduate to Medium Format. I will say this about her finding and using the best equipment out there in the world … it really shows the devotion, commitment, and never ending goal of improvement by seeking the best there is. If she ever gets a lighting kit–look out world!!

One final note. I think I wrote to her on her photostream that it’s best to find somebody (professor, teacher, student, or another Flickr friend) to show her how to use the DSLR. I truly believe there are two ways to learn how to use this tricky and difficult instrument. One is to go out and practise by trial and error and the other (this is the best way) is to find someone who can teach it to you on a “hands on” basis.

The worst way to learn DSLR is to read a book about it. First, it’s going to be dry and boring. Second, you really can’t apply many of the things they teach because every situation is unique and different. Lastly, you will learn a few things, but is it worth your time to waste hours upon hours just to gain a bit of knowledge?

Thanks for listening and I’ll try and be more active on your photostream. I would like to write about what I said in regards to which is more difficult: painting vs. photography. My explanation is a bit personal and I was wrong on what I said before, but I really appreciated your reply. I just read that whole thing just recently. Very interesting.

Have a great day and best wishes.