When a new camera is released, the main question in my mind is always, “Will it make me a more effective photographer?” In other words, will it give me capabilities that make me more valuable to the people who see and use my pictures? Before I replace what I’m currently using, I need to know what it can do. After 10 days with the new Nikon D850, I have the answer.
Getting to the next level is a deep priority for many who want to diversify their skill set and become more visually interesting to those who see their pictures. And really, getting to the next level should be a priority. Because your photography journey is truly endless, and each step you take along that path will get you closer to the photographer you wish to be.
In order to capture the immense scale and curvaceous walls of the Walt Disney Concert Hall, the ideal lens would need to almost wrap around the building’s metal skin to fully show it’s beauty. In addition, the lens would have to be able to properly render the architecture without unwanted distortion or vignetting. And, of course, the lens must be razor sharp.
Brad Smith, the former director of photography at Sports Illustrated, says, “Photo shoot is Latin for “‘problem.’” Problems are relative, of course, but there is something about a photo shoot that seems to generate more than its fair share of hurdles to clear. Overcoming those problems can be one of the most satisfying parts of creating photographs—especially when you’re working with more than 70 of the world’s best athletes at the MLB All-Star Game.
Every introduction of cutting-edge camera technology brings a set of new possibilities—some insanely valuable, some with questionable merit. What really matters to me is, “What will the technology allow me to do that I can’t already do?” If something is just marginally better than what I already have, I’ll likely stick with what I’ve got. But if it will allow me to make pictures that I couldn’t make any other way—or nearly as easily—then the line forms behind me to get my hands on it.
Whether on skis, at the gym, or in the studio, Lindsey Vonn is hard-wired to work at the highest level. She’s an Olympic gold medalist, the women’s record holder for World Cup victories, and she is one of the most naturally beautiful women I’ve ever photographed.
