17 Comments
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John's Monochrome Space's avatar

such an inspiring article. love the pictures. thanks for sharing it!

Xavi B.'s avatar

Love all of these photos and the different processes!

Giles Thurston's avatar

Wonderful pictures and words. While I still personally believe getting the shot is preferable to getting no shot at all, I do totally take your point that the right equipment and approach can really escalate a shot to a different level.

Tony Cearns's avatar

Another great article. I particularly liked the point about filling in gaps through imagination. I have a few of these photos on my ‘studio’ wall, as you know. They continue to inspire me.

Andrew Sanderson's avatar

Thank you Tony, your support is greatly appreciated.

Darin's avatar

Excellent series. Thank you.

Glen’s Pictures and Posts's avatar

I would agree that using the right equipment for the job is important, obviously - I take wildlife photographs, when I get the opportunity, and wouldn’t dream of leaving my Nikon DSLR and long lenses behind. Much as I love my Leica Q2, it just isn’t the right tool for this, unless there happens to be a lion in the long grass just next to the vehicle! Having said this, there are times when you just have to use whatever equipment you happen to have with you if you want to get the shot - including your phone. But more important than all of this - and I agree with you here, too - is the emotion and consideration that goes into the shot. The gate can be just a gate, as you show in your two images, or it can be a gateway, an opening, a portal into something more evocative, or mysterious, or symbolic or, yes, emotional.

Thanks for pulling all these different strands together in your article, and for the handy illustrations!

Adrian Cullen's avatar

As ever Andrew beautiful prints (some of which are in my collection) plus some thought provoking ideas. I'm as guilty as it gets regarding excess equipment but when I head out I make a considered choice based on the subject and location. For me magic is more likely to happen when I deliberately limit myself just one or two lenses. It's all too easy to miss the magic because of faffing around changing lenses or filters etc. For me my best images have mostly been made locally to where I live because I can plan what lens/film combination is likely to work when I return at a later date.

Andrew Sanderson's avatar

Thank you Adrian. Good points.

Angela Bettinger's avatar

Thanks Andrew! Your article encourages once again to seek, find and, above all, follow one's own path.

Dan Jandl's avatar

Great images! This makes a lot of sense!