ART. all things art/business.

A subscriber asked, "What is the best first camera to get?" -- Part Two.

In the last issue, I started my answer to this question by saying that I'm not great at answering these types of questions because they're subjective. Honestly, I just don't think it matters that much when you're first getting started. Use whatever camera is available to you, or most accessible to buy or borrow, and start making photographs with it. I might suggest that you stick with one lens to start, for a couple of reasons: 1) it allows you to really focus on seeing and framing; and 2) lenses can be pricey, and you may want to try other cameras before investing in a multi-lens kit. Keep it simple at first. Build your understanding of how the gear can help you achieve your image-making goals. Gear can help you make "better" images, but if the person behind the camera doesn't know how or why they're making images in the first place, then even the "best," most expensive gear will not help.

What kind of photographs do you want to make? (hyperlinks will take you to definitions of linked words)

Wildlife photography will require a camera with fast and accurate autofocus, faster buffer speeds (paired with memory cards that have a fast write speed), and more frames-per-second (fps). You'll also want a lens that can get you close enough to make great images without endangering wildlife or yourself by getting too close. Because of this, you may want to consider 1) a crop-sensor camera vs a full frame camera. You'll hear a lot of photographers say that full-frame is the only way to go, and it might be better for some types of photography, but in wildlife photography, a crop-sensor might actually work in your favor. A crop-sensor effectively increases your focal length. And yes, you can crop a full-frame photo in post, but you'll end up with fewer pixels and therefore lower overall image resolution, which is particularly important when it's time to print your work. With a crop-sensor camera, you're already "cropped" in-camera and you won't lose any pixels or resolution (unless you crop more in post). And 2) DSLR cameras are heavy compared to mirrorless cameras. You may want to consider a mirrorless camera if you're going to be hiking, backpacking, or even just walking or standing in one place for a long time. The flip side to this is that you'll eventually probably want a pretty decent sized zoom lens if you're photographing wildlife, and big lenses on the much smaller mirrorless camera bodies are often [even more] awkward to hold. That said, you may likely have your camera on a tripod anyway to avoid camera shake.

I'll continue this discussion next week. Feel free to hit reply and let me know what types of photography you're most interested to have me address with regard to gear needs.

NATURE. all things nature/outdoors.

A subscriber asked, "Have you explored bird-watching?"

I do not own binoculars. But I really love trying to identify individual birds (by sound) in the clamorous chatter of early morning birdsong, or any time we're parked in a wilderness area or nature preserve, where the man-made world doesn't completely usurp the sounds of nature. I use the Merlin Bird ID app on my phone to identify the birds I don't know. And while I don't consider myself a wildlife or bird photographer, I enjoy attempting to photograph my mom's Ruby-throated Hummingbirds when I'm visiting. She has five feeders of sugar water hanging from her front porch. Below is a photo I made yesterday. Just look at those cute little feet!

Speaking of feet, did you know that hummingbirds can't walk on the ground? Their little feet are too weak for walking, but they're great for perching!

DOGS. all things dogs.

"What do you feed your dogs?" -- Part Two.

Raw food. Grain-free food. Limited ingredient food. Freeze-dried food. There are so many options when it comes to what to feed our dogs these days, and each one goes through its popular phases. Raw food is really hyped-up on social media right now, and some of the ads are designed to make you feel like the shittiest dog guardian ever if you're still feeding your dog kibble. My advice? Don't listen. If you have concerns, talk to your veterinarian.

A few years ago when I had Mani (my dog before Japhy & Hazel), grain-free was all the rage. Some of you knew Mani, but for those who didn't, she was lean. By far the leanest dog I've ever had (though Hazel has a similar build), to the point that I struggled to keep weight on her during backpacking season. I often packed way more food than actually was necessary (and different types, too: kibble + dehydrated Honest Kitchen, which she loved, and lots of extra treats), just to ensure that she was getting enough calories. I once encountered a boutique pet store owner who was really trying to sell me on some grain-free food for Mani, and so I asked my veterinarian about it. My vet's response was that Mani, being the extremely lean and active dog that she was, needed the carbs. Grain-free was, therefore, not the best choice for her, despite all of the hype and hard-sell tactics.

[To be continued...]

VAN/LIFE. all things life, including van life.

Until next time, be kind and be well.