Frugal
It's not really a negative word although "frugal" has been used mostly to denote something negative. But to be frugal is something I have decided to become right now.
But first thing's first: I apologize from the bottom of my heart! There hasn't been any new pictures since New Year's Eve, although I wish there were! I haven't had the chance to travel as of late. And perhaps the biggest cause as to why I am "grounded" photography wise: it's too damn cold! I have a camera that can withstand temperatures of up to -10 degrees Celsius, but this photographer cannot, will not, walk around the streets and forest areas of Oslo for many hours when the thermometer dips that low.
But spring is fast approaching now (and the sure sign of its awakening is the impending doctor's appointment I have next week, to start treatment for the up and coming pollen season). Hopefully there will be more pictures then. I know my photography skills need a bit of sharpening.
But back to the topic at hand. So why have I decided to be frugal? Because of choices. I have chosen to make a second life-long investment (the first one being committed to my health and fitness). But this second life-long investment requires money, and lots of it.
I realized since I started to get really serious with my photography I have already changed equipment 4 times in a span of 2 years!
My first DSLR was the Olympus E-620. It had a fancy flip out screen and was relatively compact. I guess it was the size, first and foremost, that attracted me to make this purchase. It was small and light enough to carry almost anywhere. The only downside though was the four thirds sensor (smaller than APS-C) which during that time could not really cope with low light situations. The camera would automatically crank the ISO to 1600 (and ISO 1600 was the maximum!) even during early sunset. And if that wasn't enough the shutter speed would also be reduced. As a result a lot of my late afternoon pictures would end up either blurry or full of noise (another problem with this camera).
Ah, the Pentax K-r, the first camera I had that made me really fall in love with photography. This was the camera I took with me to photography classes. And thanks to those classes (and a lot of independent research) I was able to utilize this camera to the fullest. The built-in image stabilization and amazing ISO capabilities meant that I almost never had a blurry shot. But still I didn't feel that it "completed" me in a way. Back in the days when this camera was still in my possession, I had really big ambitions to go pro, and I felt that I would not be taken seriously as a photographer if this is the equipment I worked with. Looking back, however, had I not sold this camera it would probably still be the one that I would be using, just because of how cool it looks. I really loved the paint job (and Japan residents are "blessed" with even more color combinations and patterns to choose from)!
And now we come to the camera where I actually was able to make some money by taking pictures. Full-frame, 21 megapixel resolution, good ISO capabilities. The Canon EOS 5D Mark II is fully professional, and fully heavy. With this camera my pictures from Stockholm Pride were something one can really be proud of. And this was also the camera I used to capture the dark and tragic days when Oslo was struck by a terrorist attack. But it's biggest drawback: the heft. Coupled with some of the best Canon EF "L" lenses this work horse really becomes one beast of a camera. And that meant that I never really took it out with me on leisurely walks. I would only use it when I had a photography gig to cover, and those gigs are few and far between! Just thinking about lugging this camera on vacation makes my neck hurt!
And of course my current "baby", the amazingly capable Pentax K-5. Tough as nails and able to work in conditions even I wouldn't survive in for longer periods. It has an APS-C sized sensor but the ISO capabilities matches or even supersedes some of the best full-frame cameras in the market. And the size is manageable, too, but being a DSLR means that it's still a bit hefty. And coupled with the DA 16-45mm lens it's still not a camera you would take to social gatherings. I still have not taken this camera with me to press gigs, but I have travelled with it to Spain, resulting in some beautiful HDR photographs. And did you check out my fireworks photos during new years eve? It's the work of this camera.
But being the underdog means that Pentax doesn't have the widest choice of lenses. And the lenses that are available cost quite a bit. I have been dreaming of coupling this with a FA 31mm f1.8 Limited lens, but it's still a bulky and expensive combination.
So I have given it much thought, and decided that I would go for the camera that only the most serious of amateur photographers would ever aspire or acquiring. The reasons why I have decided to finally save up for this camera, first and foremost, is that this would be an investment for life. A camera I will probably not end up replacing. And the second reason is the size, small enough to take with me almost everywhere, and therefore giving me the capability of capturing life's spontaneity. And the last (but definitely not the most insignificant) reason: picture quality. This camera, and its producer, makes some of the finest lenses money can buy, period. The camera, and the lenses, are almost entirely made, checked and rechecked by hand. And if you look at the photographs taken by this camera on flickr and other photography sites, you would agree that this camera is in itself a masterpiece, and capable of making masterpieces.
But first thing's first: I apologize from the bottom of my heart! There hasn't been any new pictures since New Year's Eve, although I wish there were! I haven't had the chance to travel as of late. And perhaps the biggest cause as to why I am "grounded" photography wise: it's too damn cold! I have a camera that can withstand temperatures of up to -10 degrees Celsius, but this photographer cannot, will not, walk around the streets and forest areas of Oslo for many hours when the thermometer dips that low.
But spring is fast approaching now (and the sure sign of its awakening is the impending doctor's appointment I have next week, to start treatment for the up and coming pollen season). Hopefully there will be more pictures then. I know my photography skills need a bit of sharpening.
But back to the topic at hand. So why have I decided to be frugal? Because of choices. I have chosen to make a second life-long investment (the first one being committed to my health and fitness). But this second life-long investment requires money, and lots of it.
I realized since I started to get really serious with my photography I have already changed equipment 4 times in a span of 2 years!
Ah, the Pentax K-r, the first camera I had that made me really fall in love with photography. This was the camera I took with me to photography classes. And thanks to those classes (and a lot of independent research) I was able to utilize this camera to the fullest. The built-in image stabilization and amazing ISO capabilities meant that I almost never had a blurry shot. But still I didn't feel that it "completed" me in a way. Back in the days when this camera was still in my possession, I had really big ambitions to go pro, and I felt that I would not be taken seriously as a photographer if this is the equipment I worked with. Looking back, however, had I not sold this camera it would probably still be the one that I would be using, just because of how cool it looks. I really loved the paint job (and Japan residents are "blessed" with even more color combinations and patterns to choose from)!
And of course my current "baby", the amazingly capable Pentax K-5. Tough as nails and able to work in conditions even I wouldn't survive in for longer periods. It has an APS-C sized sensor but the ISO capabilities matches or even supersedes some of the best full-frame cameras in the market. And the size is manageable, too, but being a DSLR means that it's still a bit hefty. And coupled with the DA 16-45mm lens it's still not a camera you would take to social gatherings. I still have not taken this camera with me to press gigs, but I have travelled with it to Spain, resulting in some beautiful HDR photographs. And did you check out my fireworks photos during new years eve? It's the work of this camera.
But being the underdog means that Pentax doesn't have the widest choice of lenses. And the lenses that are available cost quite a bit. I have been dreaming of coupling this with a FA 31mm f1.8 Limited lens, but it's still a bulky and expensive combination.
So I have given it much thought, and decided that I would go for the camera that only the most serious of amateur photographers would ever aspire or acquiring. The reasons why I have decided to finally save up for this camera, first and foremost, is that this would be an investment for life. A camera I will probably not end up replacing. And the second reason is the size, small enough to take with me almost everywhere, and therefore giving me the capability of capturing life's spontaneity. And the last (but definitely not the most insignificant) reason: picture quality. This camera, and its producer, makes some of the finest lenses money can buy, period. The camera, and the lenses, are almost entirely made, checked and rechecked by hand. And if you look at the photographs taken by this camera on flickr and other photography sites, you would agree that this camera is in itself a masterpiece, and capable of making masterpieces.
If you have read this blog in its entirety you may have noticed that one of the first articles I wrote was about the Leica M9 and how I wished I owned it. I didn't really take it seriously back then as I do now. Now Leica has released the M9-P, a more discrete version of the M9 but still having the same 18 megapixel full-frame sensor, the same exquisite craftsmanship and the same compatibility with the best (and most expensive) lenses one earth. The M9-P does away with the dangerously (steal me!) eye-grabbing red dot logo in the front, and the LCD at the back is now protected by diamond cut sapphire glass making the camera even more durable. And of course it still comes with a price tag to boot: a setup with the cheaper 50mm f2.0 Summicron lens costs a whopping NOK 70.000, roughly PHP 520.000! So this camera is not something one purchases out of whim (unless you are filthy rich which I am not). It's a decision you make for life, like a marriage. You are "marrying" into a system which is stripped of the bells and whistles found in today's DSLRs (no autofocus, no zoom lenses, no complex metering algorithms, no filter effects and no multiple AF points). But what you do get is a craftsmanship that lasts a lifetime, and, with the right photographic skills (which I do believe I possess), uncompromised photographic excellence.
Which again brings me back to being frugal. To be actually able to purchase this camera, hopefully by the end of the year, means that I would have to save. And to save means that I would have to cut back on the things that drain my bank account. So no more snus (which is good), no more eating out at restaurants, no more going out drinking. I will have to cook my own meals, make my own coffee, travel less and travel cheap. It will be difficult but the end result will be worth it. After reading Ken Rockwell's article on how he had to be frugal so he could be able to feed his passion for photography, I have decided to follow his footsteps, but to a lesser degree (I could never really bring myself to agree with all of his arguments, some of which sounded more preachy rather than practical). And he was right: being frugal doesn't mean being a cheapskate. Being frugal means knowing what you want, and doing the necessary economic measures to be able to get what you want.
In the end it will probably come to this: that I will become more and more enamored of this camera by reading about it that saving up and cutting back on expenses becomes second nature and virtually painless, or that the sacrifices become too steep and my plans eventually get scrapped (yet again). But when was the last time I made any big plans about the things I really am passionate about? I cannot afford an apartment, I don't drive a car, and cutting back on tobacco and alcohol will do more good for my health than for my wallet. So looking at it now, it's really a win-win situation.
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