In my time as a wedding photographer I have encountered many different people, many of whom have an interest in photography. Or even just an opinion on the medium. Everyone seems to have a fascination with cameras. And with photography itself to some degree. They like to look at these cameras, impressed with the buttons, esoteric dials and all the other stuff on them. It’s not uncommon to come across an enthusiast who likes to add bells and whistles to his or her camera. A big stupid lens or a superfluous “grip”. Or the picture fanatic with a small little point and shoot where its all about enjoying family moments and stuff like that.
Where gear is concerned, I’m more minimalist myself. A decent body with a wide angle lens with a fast aperture on the front does me fine. I like the wide angle due to the dynamic that it can potentially release.
Generally in conversations a wedding guest may get into a chat and often about cameras. I’m not overly techy. For me, they are just tools. I used them til they wear out and then replace with an upgrade.
For me, it is all about the image and image only. Quite frankly I don’t care about the technical side of camera gear, mainly because I just find it boring. This is not to dismiss anyone’s passion for that side. It’s just not for me. And often I wonder of some put weight behind the gear as opposed to the person using that gear.
This is one such story
Roaming around a drinks reception at one particular wedding, I was eyeing up a scene with two gents who were chatting away. Right away they well aware of my presence. I’m not sure if they had ever come across a wedding photographer working the way that I do. Of course their prime focus was on the cameras I had around each shoulder.
They were both fixed on me when one said “Sur, cameras are so good nowadays they can take pictures all by themselves” said one. “Ah that’s true”, retorted the other. Matter of factly.
So I decided to put this into practice.
“It does indeed take pictures all by itself” I said. “Will we try?” A quick straightening of the tie and a lick of the hair and they both were ready, with a bit of excitement. I sat between the pair of them and we all looked at the camera.
So I let the moment simmer for what must have been about twenty to thirty seconds. The lads hardly moved an inch. Though one did utter something like “Jaysus will you come on…” about 15 seconds in. While the other said, nervously, “I think we’ve broken it!”
Imagine their surprise when nothing happened…. and the bewilderment on their faces. In fairness they saw the funny side, even if in a wry manner. I put it down to the few ales they had.
And from there I moved through the room getting back into the groove….
