nikon p80 catch and release

The Nikon P80, Olympus E420, Nikon D700, Canon S5-IS, even the ancient Kodak Brownie pinhole camera all share a commonality with many of today’s sport fishermen: catch and release is the name of the game.

The obvious difference is that the cameras have less environmental impact than the fishermen. Notice I said the “cameras” not the “photographers.” We’re not always so easy on Mother Nature, even when we want to be.

Here’s my point…

Whatever collection of glass, plastic, magnesium and/or brass you shoot with, your intention is to capture the light you see, then release it later for others to admire, too. While you might occasionally “process” that light to modify its visual impact, how you view it in the first place usually determines whether it’ll make a great photograph.

Andy Paradies offers some thoughtful tips on how to make great photos, beginning with the way you approach the light that’s given you. “Light can be seen from several perspectives,” he writes. One such perspective is that light is a tool, to be shaped, controlled, and manipulated….”

Andy’s short but intriguing article is called “Looking at Light.” It’s good stuff. You can read it at his Hyperphocal blog.