opinion – Page 5 – Photoni.st

28/10/202425/10/2024

Not everything needs to be monetised

In today’s world, it seems that every passion, hobby, or creative endeavour is often viewed through the lens of monetisation. Social media constantly bombards us with side-hustles, passive income streams, and the pressure to turn any skill into a money-making venture. This trend is particularly visible among millennials and younger generations, who often feel the need to transform everything they do into something “profitable.” But is it possible that something vital has been lost in this pursuit of financial gain? Where has the joy of doing things for the sheer love of them gone?

19/10/202427/10/2024

It’s not the camera, it’s you

If you look at the distribution of subjects of youtube videos, blogs, and articles, an overwhelming amount is about hardware (some are barely disguised ads). While innovations in camera technology have undeniably made photography more accessible and easier, the idea that only the latest and most expensive equipment can produce great photos is nonsense. In fact, for most photographers and shooting conditions, any camera less than 15 years old can produce fantastic results. The real limiting factor in photography isn’t the camera, but the photographer’s ability, creativity, and understanding of the craft.

Two fishermen on the beach in the morning.

17/10/202417/10/2024

The witness complex

For me, photography is about capturing the moment.

Beach seen from the top of the cliff at sunrise, St Cyrus, Scotland.

One of the things that really marked me when I saw Blade Runner when I was a kid was Roy Batty’s speech at the end of the film: “I’ve seen things… You people wouldn’t believe. […] All these moments will be lost in time” (let’s ignore the debate about whether these are real human feelings, that’s not the point here) This is the sentiment I have when I take photos. Even mundane ones.

It doesn’t matter what kind of photos you take, landscapes, portraits, studio, street, even family snaps, it’s always about fixing a moment that will never happen again and that you might be the only human being to witness.

16/10/202417/10/2024

I may be wrong

The way I think about things is that I write down what I think I think about something, then argue with myself over it as I tweak the text, until I agree with myself and I find no more changes to make. I’ve done that since I was in high school, when I discovered I liked writing.