Two

[Riaan van Wyk]

Something that I'm trying to change in my way of seeing, is the awfully long winded thought process that I tend to ( mostly) apply to the stuff I shoot. Especially landscapes. Seldomly will I capture something on first visit, as I need to "think" about it, then with all the checkboxes ticked, I feel comfortable to return and set up tripod etc. For a while now, I've been hijacking the sidekick's Superzoom Sony, when she is not looking of course. I have no idea how to set it and leaave it on P or whatever it happens to be set on at the time. In a sense there is a feeling of "liberation" for me to not think about anything while using it, apart from composition, almost like a holiday away from photography, or at least my take on it.

Anyway, doubt I'm making sense. Your thoughts on the photo please?     

[Rob C]

Something that I'm trying to change in my way of seeing, is the awfully long winded thought process that I tend to ( mostly) apply to the stuff I shoot. Especially landscapes. Seldomly will I capture something on first visit, as I need to "think" about it, then with all the checkboxes ticked, I feel comfortable to return and set up tripod etc. For a while now, I've been hijacking the sidekick's Superzoom Sony, when she is not looking of course. I have no idea how to set it and leaave it on P or whatever it happens to be set on at the time. In a sense there is a feeling of "liberation" for me to not think about anything while using it, apart from composition, almost like a holiday away from photography, or at least my take on it.

Anyway, doubt I'm making sense. Your thoughts on the photo please?     

Riaan

I think it's a mistake to do what you did. You don't find liberation, I think you find frustration. Frustration born out of wishing you had taken more time and used equipment you were comfortable using. In this case, I think you blew exposure and lost important highlights; it would have been nicer if the water effect had been more visible, too.

In short, a nice idea spoiled by the wrong choice of tool. That's just my take - you may indeed find other priorities at different times. I find myself drifting dangerously into 'comfort before quality' mindsets too, at times, but probably because I'm not shooting anything professionally now, so imagine it doesn't matter, That's a mistake: I think it really always matters, and thinking otherwise can be bad for one's health!

Rob C

[popnfresh]

A thorough understanding of the camera you're shooting with is always a good thing.

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

… In a sense there is a feeling of "liberation" for me to not think about anything while using it, apart from composition, almost like a holiday away from photography...

Yes, I know that seductive feeling too… otherwise known as the "path of least resistance" We can finally be photographers AND be lazy at the same time… yippee!

However, as Rob pointed out, the moment we do, more often than not, we feel regret that the end result is more a compromise than we are ready to accept.

In case of your picture, it is such a lovely subject to explore with better tools (and more thinking), that the only feeling I would have (had it been my picture) is: remorse.

[tokengirl]

Yes, I know that seductive feeling too… otherwise known as the "path of least resistance" We can finally be photographers AND be lazy at the same time… yippee!

However, as Rob pointed out, the moment we do, more often than not, we feel regret that the end result is more a compromise than we are ready to accept.

In case of your picture, it is such a lovely subject to explore with better tools (and more thinking), that the only feeling I would have (had it been my picture) is: remorse.

+1.  You are more than capable of making a really great photo of this subject, but I think you know it takes a little effort.

[Riaan van Wyk]

You are all right of course. The knowledge of what doesn't work, is just as important as what does. There is more than a bit of frustration going around at the moment- actually for quite some time now- with myself and these things called cameras and it is evident here perhaps, in this photo. Thank you all for commenting.