Ode To Becoming Grumpy?
I think grumpy comes with the territory. [I for one was rather grumpy following Cindy challenging all of us to actually DO something. But that’s a rant for another day.]
Here’s a subject I’m certain Tobin will have a ready, useful opinion about:
I went on a photography outing last Thursday; not an easy thing. Wanted to go to Lincoln Park Conservatory, and the LPZ light show. So, in the age of COVID any event must have tickets with a narrow time slot, which must be obtained ahead of time, not the day of entry. [BTW, tickets for Botanical Garden are both expensive, and entirely sold out for December, even for someone who has been a member for forty years.] So, I got all my ducks in line. Sweater, heavy jacket, long underwear, two pair of socks. 11:30 train to city. Overheated and sweaty. Buy a bus pass at the station. Searched out bus routes. Decided to eat something at station, (actually, pretty good). But this made it a bit late to walk the half mile to bus stop in order to meet my 2:00 time window at the Conservatory. Big impediment was I was carrying the D7, tripod, and 70-200mm, as I wanted to take some shots of skyline near sunset. I’m just too old for carrying the equipment. So, took a taxi, and made 2:00 easily.
Not only do they do not allow anyone to use a tripod in the Conservatory, they now won’t even let one carry one into the building. [Either never used to be a problem.] No facilities to check anything. No lockers. Nice man said I could leave my $700 tripod leaning against the wall.
Very warm in Conservatory, [Duh! You think?] My coke-bottle glasses worn over COVID mask fogged completely in about fifteen seconds. I was able to make a few photos by blindly pointing cell phone in random directions. [This is the real purpose of this rambling story.]
Was there for about an hour. [I think had to leave after the hour time slot.]
Zoo closed at 3:00 in preparation for evening light show. My Zoo time slot started at 4:00. Sunset at 4:30, so plenty of time to get to the flamingo bridge for skyline photos. So I found a wooden bench to sit on for an hour. [Most benches are now metal.]
At 4:00 got into zoo without problem. Got to bridge. Couldn’t operate tripod latches wearing gloves. Couldn’t move frozen fingers without gloves. Couldn’t see what I was doing with fogged glasses. Skyline photos pretty much a bust.
Walked around lights for about an hour. Nice lights. Not wonderful lights. Took a couple cell phone pictures. OK, but pictures of Christmas lights never too inspiring. Gave up. Found bus easily. Got back to train station, then to Palatine by about 8:30.
So, the point of all this is the cell phone pictures are pretty good. Compared to any results from the big gear, at least today, very good. So, what’s the answer? Should I go with a cell phone as main equipment? Maybe the new Google Pixel 6 Pro. Or is there a better alternative? Very portable. Good auto focus. Maybe a built in zoom. The Sony RX100 VII actually seems kind of ideal compared by portability, auto focus, zoom range. Not the best for low light. No environment seals.
Better alternatives? Could I get some insight attending Tobin’s cell phone class?
A friend composed this account of his photography outing to the Lincoln Park Conservatory and the Lincoln Park Zoo. I related to the story. The language is precise, not a single unnecessary word. Text within the brackets reveals the stream of thought of the writer, what is ordinarily left unsaid. The story is a true description of experience which many of us generalize to be typical of projects involving the wider society.
Years click by as quickly as the sound of steel rail joints sliding by a fast moving commuter train. One notices the dissonances imposed by obtuse bureaucracy such as the proscription of tripods used for photography, or the use of metal benches for outdoor seating in a frigid zone. The reserve of youth, that seeming endless well of energy, called upon to overcome, to render irrelevant, obstacles to reasonable expectations, is no longer available. Thus, those of us past our prime tetter on the edge of perverse irritation. It happens, not unlike the envelopment of winter cold when I am dressed for a mild, cool day…
So, what’s the answer?
I like the question. I think that’s one that we ought to keep asking ourselves. The circle of relevancy extends beyond evaluating the tools which we use, whether a new Google Pixel 6 Pro phone would be best or a Sony RX100 VII camera.
The images captured by Michael are superb. The pivot point of excellence in photography is the eye of the one who holds the camera… Always.
