(...) USING WHAT YOU HAVE

 If you are not using what you already have, you won't use what you think you need. Many people think they need a better camera to take photos, and it certainly is nice to have a great camera. But the way to get it is by using the one you have now.

I started taking photos on my Dad's old Praktica, and my first book, The Last Frontier, was shot using second hand Widelux cameras that only cost $250. Talk about equipment with limitations - only three shutter speeds and constant breakdowns - but they did the job.  The best understanding of your equipment comes from using it.

The technical aspects of a shot are secondary to capturing the spirit of a moment. Some years ago, at my sister's bidding, I judged a junior school photo competition. Some of the work was good; some was average. But there was one landscape shot which was just awesome. It had been taken at sunset by an 8 year old boy, using a disposable camera through the window of a bus traveling at 60 miles per hour! Against all odds, this shot really worked. It certainly humbled me. (...)