I watch the guys who run over to the kite shops on the shore hurry out to the beach wanting to tear up the sky with their 15 dollar dual line kite. They crash and burn... often break... and I see the frustration mount with every minute they can't get the thing into the air no matter what the wind. I offer them to fly a better designed and more capable kite, because I don't want that spark of interest to die.
In another part of my life I'm a bonsai artist... and I watch new learners look at their $30 mallsai and wonder why it doesn't look like the trees they see in the books... but heck... they are certain if they water it once a week as it sits on top of their TVs that it will one day magically turn itself into a work of art. Which of course then dies a slow and agonizing death... or at least it seems to, because in truth it was likely dead when they bought it at Home Depot.
I educate them on what to start with to get to the level of success they want to achieve in the art. I train them on my trees... so they can know how to develop them... nurturing their interest and exciting their imagination with the possibilities is near and dear to my heart.
With cameras... when you go down the road of investing in gear... and yes... it can take thousands to put it together, and years of patiently saving one's ducats to do so. Having the best glass you can afford is the best way to approach it.
To point out the obvious (that one can't get a tight shot of a kite at any distance with a wide angle lens - light or no light) isn't advocating for photo elitism... but rather an attempt to make sure the shooter is aware of what is required to accomplish the end I would most expect him to want... taking shots of kites in motion. Plus with the lower f stops you get bokeh... which sets apart a nice shot from a great one as often as not. Because the depth of the photo usually generates a stronger reaction in the viewer because the subject is not cluttered by the noise of its enviornment.
To those who shoot... this is preaching to the chior... to those getting into it... it's the thing to aspire to... knowing how to approach your subject with skill and vision to allow the viewer to be as captivated by the subject as you were in that moment.
In the end it is about getting equipped to the best of one's ability and intentions. If you are happy getting perfectly acceptible and nice shots on a P&S... there isn't a thing in the world wrong with that... if you are intrigued by the medium and opportunities in photography, then it would be a disservice to OG not to make sure he understands what to expect. Allowing any one who wishes to learn a hobby or art to labor in ignorance is unacceptible for me. Having knowledge engenders an obligation to share it... a quality which I have found is VERY firmly rooted in the kiting community, much to my deep appreciation, because I have rarely met people so generous and kind with their knowledge and time.
I had no business handling a DSLR and the gear I acquired when I started... it was laughable. I have all those early photos to keep me humble... lol But once I got to know the gear and started learning the nuance of the art... the things I was trying to express were finally able to come out. The learning curve is considerable... the commitment in time and finances also considerable... the rewards... priceless.
(lol now I feel like a Visa commercial...
)
Of course... I will say that there are LOTS of great lenses in the world which don't have to cost an arm and a leg... and buying them used is often a great way to score a deal... just make sure you are cautious, and you'll likely be fine. So you don't have to give up kites to have the gear you need.
I'm no long in the tooth professional. But I am devoted to pursuing excellence because it's worth the pursuit.
I'm caught with envy every day at the things people capture... but it only inspires me to keep at it... and to share my love of it. Passion has a way of being infectious... not that any of us would know a THING about that.
Warmest regards,
V
