As photographers we’re trained to always look for the perfect exposure. Dial in your ISO, your shutter speed, get your aperture right where you want and perhaps dial in some neg exposure compensation and voila the perfect image. Not in a million years. Who wrote the “Declaration of Photography” and show me where it says the you all your images must always be perfect to be a great image.
A few moments ago, I was listening to one my favorite wedding photographers, Kevin Mullins (stay to tuned for his upcoming “Rig”) on his recent visit to the Fujifilm headquarters where he gave a presentation on his use of the Fuji X series camera and lenses. If you have not had a listen, then by all means bookmark it and listen attentively.
Kevin was talking about a quote from Don McCullin one the greatest living documentary photographers that says:
Photography for me is not looking, it’s feeling. If you can’t feel what you’re looking at, then you’re never going to get others to feel anything when they look at your pictures.
This is so true folks for documentary photography. Don’t let yourself get caught up with the perfect exposure. That perfect exposure means very little if not backed up with some emotion.
On a technical note, I just upgraded to Lightroom 5 and yes, even Photoshop CS6 and I couldn’t be happier. On a recent twitter exchange, the topic of which RAW developer app was in vogue or did the best job with the Fuji x-trans files was brought. We mentioned a couple of third party apps but for me I believe in Adobe so I’m sticking with the aformentioned apps and I’ll wait and see what’s to come in 2014. In the meantime, I’m quite happy with the results.
Gobble Gobble
All shots with the Fuji XE1 and XF 35mm
Ledesma Photography 
Not only the perfect exposure becomes irrelevant my friend, but also the camera you use. I never heard of that quote by Don (which I really like by the way), but it is certainly how I feel photography has become to me.
Indeed Wouter. That quote really struck deep in my mind and made me reflect on the type of “documentary photography” I want to do. Relating to the cameras, you’re correct as well. My only exception to that is to use something that makes you feel comfortable and let’s you do what you want to do via that viewfinder and for me, I found mine.
Let the moments prevail.
Here here
Me gusta como cuentas esta historia en esta serie de fotos, Jorge. Excelentes encuadres y un magnífico B&W. Gran trabajo !!
Gracias Carlos. Esos B&W es una nueva modalidad que estor y adquiriendo en mi procesamiento. Para el 2014 quiero establecer ese “look” tan individual que tiene que cada fotógrafa y ahora creo que lo he hallado aunque estoy en la fase de experimentación.
Pues me gusta mucho el aspecto ‘clásico’ del B&W que has conseguido. Enhorabuena !!
Gracias mil, creo que para la próxima veras algo nuevo que estoy experimentando ahora mismo. Saludos.