Category Archives: Essays

Specs Aren’t Everything

As photographers it is good for us to remember that specs aren’t everything when it comes to buying and effectively using camera gear. Like other folks I’ve learned some lessons the hard way. Fortunately those lessons didn’t cost me a huge amount of money. It is critical that each of us buy and use whatever format and brand of camera gear best meets our individual needs.

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Making a Difference

When it comes to making a difference we often think about famous people who are in the news, or individuals who hold positions of power in society. Sometimes making a difference can be negative if the differences that are created are steeped in selfishness, hate, racism, misogyny, or xenophobia. When we truly are making a difference it results in increasing understanding, empathy and love.

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Gear Purchase Decisions

Gear purchase decisions can be complex, and can have significant financial impacts if we don’t take the time to think things through. Taking a longer term view, like 10 year purchase decisions, are actions that we seldom do as photographers. Like many folks I typically had a 3-5 year perspective when buying camera gear. I had fallen into the ‘incrementalism’ trap by thinking that if a sufficient number of incremental improvements in specifications occurred it would make upgrading equipment every 3 to 5 years logical and worthwhile.

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Conjoint Analysis

This article discusses conjoint analysis and how this research technique may have been used by OMDS to determine the features  in the new OM-5 camera. Some folks are up in arms about certain attributes of the OM-5. Like using the same sensor as in the E-M1 Mark III, maintaining the older menu, and using an older USB Micro connector. As is often the case, the wish list that consumers may have for a new product can be totally unrealistic given business realities. It is prudent to remember that no camera is perfect, and that all things photographic come with some kind of trade-off.

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Taking a Breath

Sometimes taking a breath and experiencing the miracle of our bodies in that simple act, can be incredibly life affirming. We’re here for such a short period of time and squander so many of our precious moments with wasteful pursuits and unkind acts. We can fill our minds with a multitude of concerns. Some real. Some imagined. And… most won’t make any difference tomorrow. Next week. Or next year.

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