Really, it isn’t. One thing people sometimes forget is that photography isn’t at all just about the hardware. A good part of it is the software. Mac users usually argue that the stability and consistency of experience they enjoy with their computers, and now things like the iPhone, is the fact that their hardware (designed and made by Apple) works perfectly and seamlessly with their operating system software (programmed by Apple). That way, some Mac users argue, even some very old systems running old processors like the G3 are still very, very usable up to the present.

Just so Microsoft doesn’t think we’re neglecting it, take note also that Microsoft software runs the majority of the computers around the world. Regardless of what people say about the company and its operating systems (can you say “Vista”?), it has been Bill Gates’ company that has provided the world much easier access to information and the digital age. Perhaps one of the best things about Windows is that it will run almost on any hardware. Granted, Vista and Windows 7 have rather stringent requirements, but the still very much around XP runs on such a wide range of hardware configurations that people who own relatively old equipment still use it. Heck, even Mac users need to run it at times because some other software really requires it.

What does this have to do with our main concern which is photography? You see, regardless of your hardware, be it a Canon 1Ds Mark III, a Nikon D3X or Sony A900, it becomes nothing more than a point-and-shoot camera without the right software. Explaining further, especially since these cameras, and all the other digital and even some film cameras, do have very sophisticated software inside them, what we mean here is that the software of sorts inside your head is what really influences the shot. Some have repeatedly pointed out, making it rather cheesy though, that it’s “the Indian and not the pana (bow and arrow). The idea therefore is to make sure that the person shooting is as skilled as he/she needs to be.

Now, one Photoworld feature that has been going on is the set of talks/seminars made available to the public. Please do check out who’s going to be talking. They may give you a completely new perspective on just how to do things. It’s so easy sometimes to just fall into the trap of doing things a certain way just because that how you’ve always done it. It’s good to have someone shake your notions once in a while just to see how other people do things and compare it with your methods.

That way, you can change things where they need to be changed and keep them as the way they are when that’s more appropriate. (They don’t always know more than you, you see.)

One of the speakers this year, Jason Magbanua, a good friend and a professional who has risen to the top simply because of his superior taste in doing videos and being an all-around nice guy (very little yabang which is unusual in this, our line of work) has continued to upgrade himself and try out a good many new things. For example, when he wanted to make sure there was more blur in the background with only his subject (usually a bride) only in focus, he invested in equipment that allowed him to use Canon FD lenses, manual focus beasts that some thought had gone the way of the dinosaur with the prevalence of the excellent Canon EF/USM/L lenses. The system allows these manual focus lenses to attach to this accessory which, in turn, attaches to the lens of a camera like the Sony FX1 or VX2100 or the Canon XH-A1. This is a guy who started out with Digital 8 cameras and is now a favorite person of Canon Marketing Philippines for his use of the HD capabilities of cameras like the 7D. Software? He always kept track of what other people were doing and what suppliers were making available.

In contrast, there are those who brandish their cameras rather than the stuff they actually shot. Reason? Who knows? Maybe the fact that they can buy expensive equipment is all they can brag about.

Upgrading your software:

Going on the cheap

Granted, going to seminars can cost you and your benefit level really depends on just how little you get from the person giving the seminar. There are some stories of how some sessions go on and on with very little but bragging from the resource person. These can happen and it’s up to you to do the research on not only who’s giving seminars but also, and more importantly, who has the most useful information with the least hogwash. Oh, take note of which of them you can really take. Most of the guys giving seminars in the Philippines are pleasant enough blokes but there will be one or two that you may not like for some reason or another. Again, it just happens to be that way.

Since seminars can be expensive sometimes and you may not really care much about the certificates given out, the cheapest way to go is really to get yourself some more books. The good thing about photography is that even some very old books are still pretty useful. Optical principles regarding apertures, shutter speeds, and ISOs haven’t changed and what really has changed is the medium. Though whatever is said about film is still valid, only a handful of people uses film now and what’s more necessary is information about how light and lenses affect a digital sensor.

Do you sense a series coming on? How true. We’ll be talking about books that you may want to look into starting next week.