9 Obsessions Of The Photographer. Do You Identify With Any?

I imagine that all those who develop an artistic activity have a tendency to certain oddities, to certain manias and obsessions that make us a bit strange in the eyes of all those who do not share our tastes and hobbies.

I must admit that photographers and photographers, seen from the outside, are somewhat curious, and the more we specialize in something, the worse. We just have to see each other playing our lives at nightfall jumping over the mountain, willing to be cold all night to get a photo of stars.

Not to mention the anxiety we feel at a photographed scene if we have left the camera at home, how we disconnect from the conversation of our companion when we see an interesting light, or how suddenly we can be seen crawling on the floor or perched to a tree to get a different perspective.

Yes, sometimes we do strange things and, like everyone, we have our particular hobbies, our obsessions and weirdness's. Today I come to share some with you, I do not know if they will be yours or if they ever were, because obsessions, like everything, evolve. Some I had and I cured them, others are new and others, for sure, are coming.

I hope we do an empathic exercise together, that we share weirdness, that places like Blog del Fotógrafo make us feel less alone in our personal chaladuras :-). I’m going there.

Photographer on the river

1. The photographic equipment
Oh, the team! It gives for a book of obsessions by itself, between those of consumerist type and the type of care of the team , we could write several volumes😉

Megapixels: I do not know why but among all the features of a camera, the one that generates more obsession is the number of megapixels 🙂. It is one of these obsessions that we are losing as we learn more about photography and we realize, once and for all, that any camera on the market is very long with the necessary quality we need to work.
The brands: I know there are many purists who enjoy analyzing each of the features, characteristics, who love to compare brands and models and be part of one side or the other of the “ istas “. For me, it’s pure marketing. Today, all brands meet more than enough with what we can expect from them simple mortals.
The latest model: Another classic when we talk about obsessions with photographic equipment is to always crave the latest model of the market without stopping to analyze the differences with the previous one.
Many times these differences are scarce or imperceptible for us when it comes to work and there is usually much difference in price between the new and the previous one. Therefore, it is important to consider if the less new model meets our expectations to save us a good pinch that we can invest in other type of photographic material as it can be a good objective.

Make it new: Especially at the beginning, it is difficult for us to dare with the second-hand market, but it is worth acquainting with it, since sometimes it allows us to achieve objectives or another type of material that would otherwise be impossible to achieve.
More expensive is better: Yes and no. That is to say, a camera of 2,000 Euros will be better than one of 400 Euros on paper. Now, will it be better for you? Have 200,000 buttons that you do not even know how to use? A camera that weighs 3Kg and whose compatible targets are worth a gravy? A camera that generates 40MP files per photo? Seriously?
Zoom lenses with a long range of focal length: I also think that this is overcome after some time in photography. At first we think that having an 18–300mm is the best thing that has happened to us in life, much better than 18–80mm and infinitely better than a fixed focal. But the truth is that the objectives that cover so many range are not the best in terms of quality. They tend to have little light and be of worse material to be competitive in price. Think that a good optics of these characteristics is usually unpayable for simple mortals.

2. The composition
Another obsession that leads many photographers head on is the composition and specifically the rules of composition.

That if you do not have to focus, that if the rule of thirds, that if the law of the horizon, the lines , the visual weight, the negative space , and a lot of concepts more than yes, that you have to know, yes, They have their explanation and yes, you have to know how to apply.

But it is also true that, the moment they become an obsession, we lose spontaneity and can come to condition and pigeonhole our creativity. My advice? That you be yourself, that you use the concepts you learn as a tool, that sometimes you need and sometimes not, and that you never give up your own style by following the rules.

I always say that if all of us followed the rules to the letter art would be all the same, we would not have Picasso, or Pollock, or Miró, or Warhol, or Queen 😉. So learn the language to write for yourself.

3. The EXIF ​​data
Another curious obsession that I have seen a lot when we are learning is the need to know how it was done with a somewhat exorbitant intensity. Surely if you have not had it, you will have seen many photographers and photographers asking how you made the photo, with what aperture, with what objective, with what speed, ISO or camera …

Sometimes we think that to obtain a photo just like the ones we see, we need to simply copy the parameters, when in the long run you realize that the parameters you are trying to copy do not help you much if you are at a different time, with a different camera, a different light …

They influence millions of things and, although it is well to look at them to, for example, see the relationship between a diaphragm aperture and a blur or a shutter speed and the freezing (or not) of movement, I think they should serve you simply for that.

4. The technique
I suppose that in a certain way it is related to the previous point and I suppose that it is also very related to the personal interests of each one. Because do not get me wrong, it’s fine, very good indeed, to learn techniques to help you have more photographic tools, but the technique should be just one more tool. You must not let him kill your creativity or you create frustration. These are the points where there are usually more obsessions in the photographic technique.

5. The perfect photo
This I fear is an obsession difficult to fight, but that ends up being very harmful if we do not learn to control. If instead of doing photography we are obsessed with making the perfect photo, we miss many opportunities, magical instants, wonderful lights, different frames …

It is good to be demanding with oneself, but not at the expense of turning hobbies into an unattainable challenge. Many times the “imperfect” photos are the ones we like the most, the ones that breathe the most life and the ones that give us the most joy.😉

And remember that there is no worse picture than the one you have not made.

6. Social networks
Social networks are a very powerful double-edged sword . Well used or conceived, they can be wonderful. They allow you to share your work, your hobbies, create community, discover lots of interesting information, etc. You already know them😉

Now, it is easy to give them more importance than they really have , to live hung and pending the likes of people you do not know and who do not even know if they are real, to constantly wait for the approval of others.

Do not obsess, believe in yourself, take comments as what they are, comments, and stay in reality. If you like a photo that does not have half as much as you expected … what happens? Absolutely nothing. Photography is something of yours, it is you who should be proud of what it publishes, of what it does, that no like or no like you should never lose sight of it😉

7. The photos of others
Do not forget that you are you and only you, and that it is good to be inspired, to take ideas, but to constantly compare, copy, or want to “be just as good” at all costs, it will only bring you frustration.

Little by little, with practice and tenacity, you are likely to end up being “as good as” or better, but in your own style, enjoying, and being yourself.

8. The light
This also makes us crazy to the photographers 😉We are talking to someone and suddenly we are abducted by an incredible light, we abandon everything we are doing and we go for it before the stunned face (or laugh or angry, depending on the person) of the person who accompanies us.

This is an obsession of the good but remember that each type of light can reserve a good picture, do not stop taking pictures because it is not the perfect manual light of a sunrise or sunset. You can take pictures 24 hours a day, so do not miss your chance 😉.

9. Obsessions or personal hobbies
These are a few little hobbies or obsessions that I admit I have. I say we all have ours, right?

I can not stand for someone to see my photos before I’ve seen them myself. I can not do it. I know it’s absurd, but it makes me angry, what are we going to do.
I do not like anyone touching my camera without my permission, not even to put it in its place if I left it in an inappropriate place. Not even my own family. I know, crazy.
In composition I love natural frames. I see one and see a photo, I love them, although half the time I do not like the result, but I always look for them 😉.
Flares: Yes, I also love that light filters through my lens. I do not always like the result, but I love seeing the flashes of light here and there in the middle of my image.
I never leave the camera with the strap hanging, I can leave it where it does not touch, but never with the strap hanging. It makes me very nervous not only mine but see it in any other camera.
It costs me infinite to delete photos. But something sickly. And so I have the hard drive, I will not tell you. I think that the selection of photos is the most difficult job for any photographer.
It used to be an if-if-perhaps I take it all and I was loaded like a mule everywhere. This I have been surpassing little by little, and my back is grateful 😉.

And so far today’s obsessions, surely you also have a good amount of them and I hope to see them in the comments 😉But before telling us, could you share this article to reach as many photographers and photographers as possible to make them smile? Thank you very much and see you next time.