I've now completed my first full day of the One Camera, One Lens (OCOL) challenge and, so far, it's been good. I'm pretty certain I'll come out of it as a better photographer. It's taken me back to my early steps in photography, first with a Zenit EM, a present from my Dad who had a Zenit E, and then, when I was at uni, when I splashed out on a Practica.
(In case there are some young souls out there wondering why I've started to talk in a foreign language, these were (are) various communist bloc 35mm SLR cameras. The Zenits were Russian and had all the sophistication of a T34 tank (and were about the same weight) whilst the Practica's were slightly more sophisticated East German ones (they did at least have a camera heritage to build on). I'd have loved to have an Olympus or a Pentax ME but I was broke so I had to just dream).
I digress. The reason I started with this reminiscence is I've found myself framing a shot and then cursing that I didn't choose something more wide-angle than the 25mm prime I'm now working exclusively with.
But then I thought about it.
Back in those dimly remembered days of the Zenit and the Practica I only ever had one lens - a 50mm manual focus prime. I didn't curse then if I couldn't frame things right or I was too close or too far away to make the shot effective. What was the point, I had no choice. The only option I had was to use the other bits of kit I had, my brain and my legs to think out the best way of using the kit and equipment I had to improve the shot.
I'm now having to think and having to move. Realisation has hit me: all that gear I have has made me a lazy photographer.
Then, reading an article on colour bubble photography, I realised I didn't have a polarizing filter of the correct diameter for my lens. Not a problem; straight onto eBay. Then the second flash of realisation hit me; I can get a whole set of circular filters and reversing adapters (for macro work) for the one lens I have and never again have that perennial problem of never having the right size for the gear I have with me! For someone who is as disorganised as me that is like a cold beer in a heatwave - bloody welcome!
(Yes, I know there are universal kits - I have one. I usually forget to take the right adapter).
Life is simple - awkward, but simple.
I think I'm enjoying it. So far.
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