Working With A Camera's Limitations

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EdStEdwards

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Hi All,
First time poster, sometime lurker. I was wondering if anyone has ever used a camera specifically for what it can't do as opposed to what it can. Related question: Do you think you get better images if you have to work around inherent limitations? I think so, but I'm afraid this just might be me being sentimental.
Cheers!
 
Welcome to TP Ed :)

I guess it depends on the limitation and situation you want to use it in.

For example, I used to use my 400D with Sigma 170-500mm at rugby matches. The limitations of a max ISO1600 and f6.3 at 500mm meant during December/January I struggled to get any useable shots after around 25 mins of the first half as on an overcast day there wasn't enough light to get a shutter speed that stopped things getting blurry.

Even trying to shoot players coming at me head on didn't work so I had no real option but to put the camera back in the bag and become a normal spectator.

Admittedly, I could have gone for some stationary shots but even that was tricky once the shutter speed required fell below 1/500.
 
Ah Cheers!
I suppose for example, would you ever take a wide-angle lens out to a game? or shoot an inappropriately slower/faster film for the light situation (still have yet to switch to digital--but that's sort of the reason I'm here...which is a totally separate post so ignore this bit)?
 
I see what you mean Ed...

Yes, definitely, take out just one lens (and not the obvious one!) to force it to make you get creative. Eg as you say, only shoot wide angle at a motorsport event.

Or to use one of those Lomo cameras as you style starting point and see what you can get out of it.

It definitely gets your creative juices flowing - or should do!
 
I think you're confusing limitations with conventions. You can use whatever you want for whatever you want if it gives you the results you want, it's just most areas of photography have something that's considered an ideal result and there's a specific best way of getting that result. It doesn't mean any other way of doing it is wrong, let alone a limitation.

Unless you mean forcing limitations on yourself, in which case only taking a prime out when you usually use a zoom to make yourself think differently or using a very small memory card to limit how many shots you can take are good examples of exercises you can set yourself.
 
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Well maybe :thinking:. But I think as opposed to taking a camera/lens out to get what you want, taking a camera to shoot whatever you can get--which implies an understanding of conventions, but coming at it from an angle of going shooting with no expectations of outcome.
 
If you want a real challenge, get a 64mb memory card out of the bottom of an old drawer / off ebay, put a piece of tape over your camera screen, and go shoot. You must come back with at least ten good images.

Or get a film camera, where each shot costs you money. REALLY slows you down... :)
 
@ dfarrala: that series looks amazing; I'm definitely going to give it a watch when I'm not pretending to be at work.

@itsdavedotnet: I got started in my photography life (and am therefore well indoctrinated into the opinion that every budding photographer should do similarly) on a medium format rollei and when I thought THAT had taught me discipline I gave large format a go. Now 4-5 shots in an outing is what I call slowed down:bang:
 
haha, christ, yeah, large format slows you RIGHT down. Especially now that for film and dev, a single sheet of colour runs you about a fiver!
 
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