Some Random Dude

This weekend I stumbled upon an article by Ken Rockwell on how to take photographs that surprised me greatly. While I agreed with the basic premise, a few subtopics seemed to be based on oversimplified generalizations. The one that irked me the most was the idea of manual photography being useless “old timer” photography. If you have read any of my photography articles then you probably already knew that.

If you are an individual who is strictly interested in the what rather than the how of photography, then most of Ken Rockwell’s article is spot on for you. Indeed, if simply capturing a scene you either see or compose is your only interest, the nuances of the photographic craft are less important. However, if you are interested in all aspects of the composition of a photograph, I personally advise thinking twice about what Ken suggests. Ken is right, creativity has nothing to do with what camera you have nor does it have anything to do with your technical knowledge of photography. I also agree that the best camera in the world does not guarantee that you will even be a decent photographer. These are obvious truths that have been spoken of about all creative disciplines. Where I begin to disagree with Mr. Rockwell is his notion that automation is not only a good thing, but something to be relied upon. Automation definitely makes life easier. So easy that many come to the conclusion that they never need to learn the fundamentals of photography. Without those “needless” fundamentals, there is going to be a glass ceiling in your ability to execute and diverge from basic use of your tool.

I think much of what this comes down to what one considers to be part of the creative process. To me, being as close to my film as possible is an integral part of taking photos. The less things telling (or suggesting) how I should take a shot, the better. That is why, in my opinion, manual photography brings you closer to the subject as you are not only interacting with the subject, but the subject’s environment as well. Exposure control, depth of field and focus do matter in the creative process of composing a photograph and they all need to be addressed with a manual camera before the shot. I freely admit that for many, this is not an important part of their process. However, to universally suggest that those facets simply are not important in the photographic process is problematic.

Ken says that he many times defaults to the automated settings his camera has set for him. I am not going to criticize him in particular for this as he knows what he is doing. However, for those starting off, to limit yourself to default settings is not only limiting your creative range of possibilities, but it is also limiting your educational experience. It is just as important to experiment with composition, placement and cropping as it is to experiment with focus, exposure and depth of field. Depending on your scene, any of those elements could greatly alter the mood of your photo and how it communicates. Ken is right, automatic cameras do not think for you, think simply make it easier for you not to think.

Intention, in my opinion, is something that separates the good from the mediocre. That does not mean that even the best stumble upon “good mistakes”. Still, there is at least an initial intention with most, if not all, elements of the composition. If many of the compositional executions are performed for you, it limits the creative choices in capturing that image. Personally, I like to know that the exposure, focal point, and depth of field were all set in a specific way for a specific reason. Of course, like everyone else, I get lazy and think less than I should at times. Nonetheless, it is something that I continually push myself to do. That being said, I subconsciously have a completely different frame of mind when shooting with an automatic camera. Things I would normally be meticulous about are ignored. Not surprisingly, it shows in the results. Once again, everyone is going to have a different experience with that, but I know many who feel the same way. Obsolete does not always equate to useless. Yes, manual cameras are technically past their time. However they force the user to slow down and be aware of all aspects of what they are shooting.

All this being said, Ken is obviously a very accomplished photographer and someone worth listening to. However, after listening, I disagree with more than a few of his opinions. I would be curious how others feel about the subject. As for myself, I am going to stick to my process and my manual.