Wisdom is all around me. There’s a massive repository of knowledge in literature, art, and nature. I’ve missed lifetimes of learning by not paying attention. But, in my aspiration to keep my mind open, I’ve tried out some pretty shitty advice.

So, here’s a collection of mottos that sounded nice, but were absolute shit. It’s not all-inclusive, and we’ve all had different experiences with these fables. Some sayings mean totally different things depending on your lived-experience - hash it out in the comments.

1. “When The Time Is Right, You’ll Know...”

How the fuck am I supposed to know? Is my gut sentient? Like, actually? I’ve learned there’s no such thing as the perfect conditions. The time’s never right, it’s just now. I’ve created false requisites for so many projects. I’m a procrastinator, and this saying runs through my head whenever I don’t want to do something.

When I started my fitness journey, I had this stupid milestone that once I went up flight of stairs without loosing my breath, then I’d go to the gym. The thought of me being an overweight guy, white-knuckle clutching the bars of a treadmill left me paralyzed. It was a projection of my own body insecurity and unrealistic expectations, but the thought of having a “goal” made me feel comfortable with my paralysis.

Just take the fist step. You’re more resourceful than you think. It’s scary starting something new, but small progressions every day turn into healthy habits, and soon you’ll look back at day-one-you and say “wow I did that”.

2. “Every Experience Can Be A Teaching Moment”

Girly, sometimes things can just be shitty. Getting SAed, I’ve got nothing to learn from that. My recovery, that’s full of awesome lessons that saved my life. You don’t always have to introspect, be the bigger person and have “takeaways”. A balance of experiences; both positive and negative, is part of life. But some experiences fall into extremes, and sometimes the healthiest relationship you can have is a neutral one.

3. “If You Don’t Have Something Nice To Say, Don’t Say It”

Fuck that. Fuck you. I say it. Politeness and racism have a storied past. Every oppressor has tried to police speech; it’s almost like our words have power. Niceness is a crazy concept, because no one is nice. It’s a performative interaction that keeps people feeling good about themselves. I hold the door, I say please and thank you, and close the toilet seat - and I’m a fucking bitch. I’m not advocating that you act blatantly offensive under the guise of authenticity. There are tactful ways to navigate difficult conversations. But be truthful with your words, and if people leave because you were honest, then you were honest.

4. “When You’re Pointing A Finger At Someone Else, Four More Are Pointing Back At You”

Yeah, no. If I agreed with you, then we’d both be wrong. This quote’s about accountably and changing your behavior. In this day and age where blame-shifting and unaccountability seem to make the world go around; yeah I’m skeptical of the person pointing and saying “it’s their all fault”. But, sometimes people are just plain wrong. Blame is the diluted version of accountability. Blame doesn’t inspire healing action, prompt apologies, or restore things. Accountability involves all parties, it starts by recognizing that someone was wronged, and sticking around to clean up the mess. Holding someone accountable for their actions takes courage and time. Blame’s just a quick little jab and a bunch of “wasn’t me”. When I want to break a cycle, I stay away from blame, because blame is a ouroboros.

5. “Create More and Consume Less”

Like all things - in moderation. My creative soul depletes easily. But inspiration recharges me. I try to find inspiration in everything, but TikTok and Instagram just don’t work for me. Exposing myself to high-quality sources, like my local indie film center, the art museum, and nature takes more work. But it’s always worth it. I believe you are what you surround yourself with. And yes, doomscrolling on TikTok is part of my life, but I’m working on that. This quote hurts because I’m both a consumer and creator. I just struggle to be both. I vacillate between to two, and spend long periods of time in one camp or the other. I’m something I’d love to explore further.

Okay, that’s it. These are my least favorite sayings and the reasons behind my dislike for them.

I’d love to be a full-time film photographer. But I’m broke. And I don’t want my creative ventures to bankrupt me. Rather, I’ve been searching for something digital yet analogous to film. I only buy used gear. It’s more affordable and keeps perfectly useable cameras from becoming e-waste. Recently, I found this little gem at my local camera store and I’m rediscovering why I got into photography in the first place.

The Lumix LX100M2 is a wonderful little box. The lens can match my imagination of the scene, the sensor produces easily editable files, and the whole package with little knobs and dials is a pleasantly tactile experience. It’s easy to manipulate the LX100M2 into producing the image I want. The camera has limitations, but it presents them gracefully and working around them is rewarding.

Harkening back-to-basics feels right for me. It feels like a massive finger to the relentless pace that technology is moving at. I want to create something that AI could never dream up. I want to create in a way that is uniquely my own. Perhaps I’m chasing legacy. Ultimately if it gives more than it takes and the challenges are worth the rewards, then doing the work is worth it. Hopefully I can answer the questions in my intro, and really find out just what photography means to me.

Until then, here are some samples from tonight’s walk before bed.

I have always invested my limited photographic budget in lenses before camera bodies. Simply: lenses do more for me than camera bodies do. A strategic lens collection can open doors to any subject, which means more opportunities for me. The Canon EOS 5D Mark III uses the Canon EF-mount, which came out in 1987, making the mount older than me. Lens makers have had decades to build out a robust selection of lenses for EF photographers. Today, these lenses are amazing used deals. For instance, when I wanted to try astrophotography; I found a used Rokinon 14mm F2.8 lens for under $70. And, when I wanted to try portrait photography; I was able to purchase an 85mm F1.8 for around $100. The used deals on EF lenses are endless, and being able to try new photographic domains and keep the budget slim is wonderful for the eager beginner.

My favorite aspect EF lenses are their adaptability. I can mount my EF lenses on almost any modern mirrorless camera. When it’s time to upgrade from the Canon 5D, every lens I previously purchased is still useable. This essentially makes lenses a one-time purchase, which is a financial win. Currently, I’m dabbling in video, and nearly every video-only camera I’m interested in is offered in an EF-mount option! In all, investing in an EF mount lens setup is budget friendly and future-proof.

ACTUALLY BUILT TO LAST

The 5D Mark III is built to last. Mine has lasted 12 years and is still running at 100%. It’s fair to say that the camera has withstood the test of time. For the most part, my 5D is like-new. There’s a few scratches here and there, but no degradation of the weather sealing or changes in the magnesium body. Internally, the mirror, shutter, and viewfinder glass are free of scratches, dust, and function to specification. Rumor has it the shutter in the 5D Mark III should keep going to over 300,000 shutter actuations (think of this as a camera’s odometer equivalent). If that’s true; at my usage rate my 5D should last for over 25 years.

The first thing you notice when you pick up the 5D is the sheer weight and density of the camera. I’d reckon you could use the body as a self-defense tool and come out scratch free, but I have no liability warranting this claim. The 5D is rated for use in wet, cold, and dusty environments, and I’ve certainly taken it to extremes and zero issues have arisen from the abuse. The build quality of the 5D is likely never going to cause issues for me, so that’s a huge compliment to this Canon’s longevity.

LEGENDARY IMAGE QUALITY

Twelve year old photo tech shouldn’t be this good. Simply — The 5D Mark III takes very-good to great photos. Compared to newer camera offerings from Sony, Nikon, and Canon themselves; you can visually see the sensor is aging. Comparing samples side-to-side, I’ve noticed dynamic range, color reproduction, and raw file malleability being the largest differentiators. But, in certain conditions the difference is negligible. As in: I can’t tell the difference. Often I’m very pleased with the images this camera makes. The way this camera reproduces colors, the legendary Canon Color science, is truly something to behold. When taking portraits, the graduation in skin-tone reproduction is stunning. Faces are the right amount of vibrant and detailed. Truly, I’d reckon the 5D line is where Canon gained their famous color science reputation.

The 5D Mark III has a SD Card slot and a CF Card slot, the latter is an old standard for card storage and the former card type is more current. The 5D can write both JPG files and CR2 (RAW) files to both cards simultaneously, sort raw to one card and jpeg to the other, or use the second card as an overfill. This dual card setup and writing features are close to what most pro cameras use today. And for professional applications, the twelve year old 5D MK3 still measures up.

I’d only shoot the 5D MK3 in RAW. The CR2 files are actually quite versatile. In recovering highlights and shadows, you can push the files reasonably far. Assuming the image was correctly exposed, I’ve never had a file in post that is uneditable due to RAW limitations. Compared to newer cameras, you can see the limitations of the sensor, but the way the 5D MK3 rolls off the highlights and smooths out shadows, the results are organic and almost film-like.

Another perk of the Mark 3’s sensor is the new HIGH ISO options. For the 3rd generation, Canon opened up ISO 204,500. As expected, the results are noisy, smudgy, and not excellent. But with some processing magic, I am able to create very usable images! I’d rather have the capability and choose not to use it than not have the option in the first place.

VIDEO - YMMV

I almost considered skipping this entirely. But, then I remembered Magic Lantern. The stock Canon 5D’s video quality is 1080p at 30FPS, and is decent for an Instagram thumbnail, but past that it’s not worth mentioning. However, Magic Lantern software can bump that from an F to maybe a B. Magic Lantern is a custom software users can install on their Canon 5D and unlock video features. The software is from a 3rd party and not endorsed by Canon. Magic Lantern lets users choose near 4K resolutions and a bevy video formats. If you want focus peaking, raw video codecs, and zebras then Magic Lantern is a legitimate solution. But, if you’re just starting out with video, perhaps consider a camera that doesn’t require installing custom software to unlock features you’re just starting to work with.

SHOULD YOU BUY IT?

The 5D Mark III remains a formidable 35mm full-frame digital camera. Sure it’s at a disadvantage with its circa-2012 sensor restricting its dynamic range and autofocus performance. But the body is loaded with pro-grade features like a dual card slots, pc sync port, and vertical grip options. The EF lens mount opens a whole range of great lens options to invest in, and take with you into the future. If you’re coming from a smartphone, and are interested in creating professional looking portraits, landscapes, and social media photos, then the 5D will greatly improve the quality of your work. If you want to make professional video, photograph fast-moving subjects, and need a camera that is compact and modern, the 5D Mark III is not going to work.

What kind of person would benefit from a 5D Mark III? Me, I do. But I know exactly what I’m using the camera for. I just want a full-frame camera to make still portraits with. I don’t need WiFi, fast performance, or any video features at all. As an enthusiast, I am satisfied. But for folks seeking something to keep pace with current professional gear, the 5D MK3 is losing its edge to more capable and affordable new cameras.

For people looking for a full-frame digital camera with affordable lens options; yes, the Canon 5D Mark III shouldn’t be overlooked. The still image results are very nice. Just understand that this is aging tech, and at some point this is going to be obsolete. While the 5D Mark III is far from dead, pause and consider how it fits into your long-term photographic strategy before jumping to buy one.

Satisfaction is completing a puzzle. Sprinkle obfuscation between the facts and turn readers into detectives on a mission to uncover the truth. Don’t share the plot, share the story.

REMIX YOUR ADJECTIVES

Whip out a thesaurus, exterminate underpowered descriptors for infectious words. Weak adjectives make weak writers. Swap “lots”, “many”, and “some” with specific adjectives phrases that match the vibe. Describing a very full restaurant? Tell it from a new perspective… “The door groaned in protest as another elbow impatiently forced it ajar. Even the cool evening air wanted a table at Quiznos on 5th Street that opening night.”

DID ANYONE ASK?

Respect your audience. Respect their time. Destroy your first draft; writing succinctly, personably, and coherently takes effort. Write your whole truth, then scrap it, then write it again. True audiences respect your grind, show them how hard you’ve worked for this moment.

SHOW DON’T TELL

“His eyes were tired” is boring. Replace it with “James collapsed to the ground as exhaustion tugged on every fold of his scant frame.” Yes, there are more words and now there is more substance - more story.

KILL YOUR PREACHER

Share enthusiasm. Be evocative and stir emotions in your audience. Dissenting audiences are engaged audiences! I count on people to tell me when I’m wrong; I’ve learned being polite hinders my writing.

YOU’RE TOO HUMBLE - WRITE IT LIKE IT’S FICTION

Write boring? Be boring. Write interesting? Be interesting. My life is unique, but I’ve grown accustomed to it. What exhilarates you may bore me, but that’s something for us to discover together. Often, my ideas don’t resonate. I cherish my failures and interrogate my successes. Being teachable feels compromising when you’re under attack, but remember that introspection is free. Just keep writing, it’s going to be ok.

I’M SORRY + EPILOGUE

My title promised a surefire way to success. I lied to you. It’s taken 300 words to get here. But you’re here, so something worked. There’s no silver bullet to being interesting. There’s only you. Invest in yourself, improve yourself, and love yourself. My best intros have strong opinions, powerful adjectives, personable word choices, and old-fashioned storytelling. Offer your reader a promise and a journey - then deliver.

Written By Adam B.

I am a photographer. I take STILL photos. But I’ve always loved cinema. The color grading, the composition, and the powerful stories moving pictures can tell leave me speechless. Movies and films are captivating and beautiful, and as someone who aims to create emotion with visual arts, I can’t help but want to try making videos.

The video capability of my iPhone 15 is stunning. I began making short TikToks (yes I know they’re not cinema) with my iPhone, and the power of short-form storytelling instantly captured me. An 1/8th of a second clip could convey so much, and when I thoughtfully compose a timeline, you can capture and share an entire evening in less than a minute.

I exercise restraint when purchasing photo equipment. Upgrading my mind before my equipment is a priceless investment that I’ll always choose. That’s why I chose to learn basic video creation skills with my iPhone. And when I felt confident that I was ready for something more, I chose the DJI Osmo Pocket 3.

YouTube is flooded with videos comparing the Osmo 3 to the iPhone 15. Which lead me to wonder if I really upgraded or just bought a similar product. After a month of constant use, I can confidently say the Osmo 3 was the right choice. Here are my five main reasons.

I. Ergonomics

The “pocket” aspect means everything

“The best camera is the one you have on you” is so cliche and so true. The Pocket 3 is minuscule, incognito, and un-intimidating. Holding the Pocket 3 is like holding air (it’s less than 200g). The way it fits into my palm feels like an extension of my body, and my creative mind. For the people around me, the camera largely goes unnoticed. The all-black body attracts zero attention, and the only time I get looks are when I use my body to pan, do pull-back shots, and film myself (mainly because they’re wondering what I’m looking at because it’s so unnoticeable).

There are very few situations where the Pocket 3 doesn’t work. I was surprised how quickly I learned the simple menu structure, and in less than an hour I was creating the shots I had in mind. I love when the camera gets out of the way and gives me the results I want, the Pocket 3 does that without much work.

I purchased my Pocket 3 with “Creator Combo”. It’s an accessory kit that adds a case, wide-angle conversion lens, wireless microphone, mini tripod, extra battery, and a few more items. These additional accessories elevate the Pocket 3 from a winner to a hero, and greatly expand what I can do with the camera.

The wireless mic and the tripod let me set the camera down and film myself while I’m doing an activity. For my crochet tutorials, cooking videos, and simple b-roll, the setup helps me create a clear picture of what I’m saying and doing. The battery grip extends my shooting time so I can film longer time lapses and make better voiced-over segments. I wouldn’t have the Pocket 3 without the creator combo, it turns the camera into a full-production powerhouse.

II. Image Quality

The results are magic, let’s get nerdy

Sensor size matters. It’s just physics; bigger sensors collect more of everything. I shoot full-frame and I can discern crop-sensor footage from a mile away. Fight me. The Pocket 3 has a 1-inch type sensor. That makes the Pocket 3 substantially better than the smaller-sensor iPhone, right? In the case of the Pocket 3; absolutely. DJI did an excellent job mitigating the drawbacks of a larger sensor, while also harnessing the gains a larger sensor brings.

The low-light performance from the Pocket 3 is stunning. The footage is just clean. There are very few high-iso artifacts, false-colors, and intrusive image processing. The end result is nighttime video just looks good. Being able to shoot later into the day helped me find new opportunities to make interesting clips. Low-light is a whole new frontier for me to explore now!

The lens is also very capable! The Pocket 3 has an f2.0 aperture which smoothly separates the subject from the background. Think portrait mode on your phone, but this effect is done through the lens and sensor, not software trickery. The effect is great for showing food without seeing the whole restaurant behind the dish! The Pocket 3 renders subject vs background shots (read bokeh) in a way that felt leagues ahead of my iPhone.

The Pocket 3 makes great video. The camera shoots 4K/120FPS, 10bit D-LOG, and has a host of great settings to extract the maximum quality footage from whatever scene you’re working with. Even if you don’t change the default settings you’ll still get great footage, which is great news for people freshly learning “pro” features.

III. Gimbal Stabilization

Real moves

What separates the the Pocket 3 from the competition is arguably the camera’s greatest strength. The camera alone performs great, but adding a physical image-stabilization solution makes this cam a champ.

It’s challenging to get stable footage. My iPhone uses lots of tricks to keep the video smooth, it shifts the sensor around inside the phone and uses algorithms to go frame-by-frame to eliminate jitters. But at the end of the day, the iPhone is held by my shaky hands and no amount software can compensate for that.

That’s where the Pocket 3 pulls ahead. Between the camera and the handle (the part you hold) there’s a gimbal. It’s a motorized mechanism that rotates the camera opposite of what my hands are doing. This means the camera remains level regardless of what I’m doing. When I’m walking, running, or skiing the gimbal is always working to smooth out the bumps and jitters. The results make the camera looks as if it’s flying through space and untethered from the ground. It’s wild.

The Pocket 3’s gimbal does more than stabilize footage. My favorite feature is called ActiveTrack, which uses the gimbal to keep the camera pointed at me. If I walk outside the frame, the camera will simply rotate to keep up. It’s like having your own filming assistant to keep you in the middle of the frame! I also like using HyperLapse, a tool for combining time-lapses with panning. HyperLapse helps add gradual movement to the time lapse and makes b-roll pop.

IV. The Sum of The Parts and Unbeatable Value

Moving beyond my iPhone’s video capabilities

Just because the Pocket 3 makes pretty footage and is a full-spectrum content creation powerhouse doesn’t make it the best camera for everyone. Luckily for my needs the Pocket 3 was the perfect purchase. I bought the Pocket 3 because I wanted to improve the quality of the footage I was already making. The quality of my pans, pull-back shots, and walking footage are incredible. And with the features brought by the gimbal, I can now film myself doing complex moves and make excellent b-roll.

My use-case for the Pocket 3 probably aligns with vlogger / influencer needs more than the cinematographer’s needs. I’m most pleased with the Pocket 3 when I’m documenting what it’s like exploring a new city, trying new foods, and making “a day in the life” type videos. That’s not to say that the Pocket 3 can’t produce aesthetic footage; I can absolutely grade the D-LOG 10bit footage into something beautiful.

But if you’re spending money to chase aesthetics, perhaps a used Panasonic GH4, Metabones Speedbooster, and some vintage glass would be a better investment. Or if you’re just trying to film yourself while biking and running, a waterproof and rugged GoPro would serve you better. The Pocket 3 is unique because it incorporates the competition’s best features into one product. The Pocket 3 is small and portable like a GoPro, but it’s a 1-inch sensor outperforms some of its larger-bodied competitors from Sony, Canon, and Panasonic. The Pocket 3 is uniquely positioned because its competition is either larger, more expensive, or less performant. That’s where the Pocket 3’s value shines, the mic is indispensable for the vloggers, the gimbal is a godsend for the action-cam crowd, and f2.0 lens and 1-inch sensor with 10bit LOG footage will keep cinematographers happy. For the price nothing compares to the Pocket 3.

V. The Little Things

USB-C FAST CHARGING

It recharges to 80% in like 15 minutes, that’s great when traveling.

CREATOR COMBO CASE MAKES CARRYING EVERYTHING A CINCH

The cleverly designed case holds all the accessories securely, and makes this a go-anywhere setup.

SIMPLE MENU STRUCTURE

Three taps or less, that's all it takes to find what I'm looking for. DJI's menu layout is easy and fast. There are very few menus with sub-menus, and the icons are well sized for large finger. Compared to my Sony ZV-1F, which has about 80,000,000 menus upon sub-menus, the Pocket 3 is simple.

MAGNETIC FILTER SYSTEM

The first lesson I learned in filmmaking was the 180 degree shutter rule. The Pocket 3 cleverly uses magnets to mount a filter versus the traditional threaded filter ring. This solution is fast and compact and shows that DJI considers what pros want.

NO-FLAP MICROSD SLOT

Another "we listen to our customers" feature: the MicroSD card slot has no cover and getting your card out is a simple thumb-press. Thank you!

PLASTIC IS BETTER THAN METAL

The plastic body is lightweight, scratch resistant, grippy, and helps dissipate heat. I thought plastic equaled cheap, but DJI's build quality is top-notch and probably a better choice for this camera.