The Camera That Rebuilt My Relationship With Photography
Still Thinking About This One
The “desert island camera” is an elusive creation, perhaps even mythical. Anyone that’s considered their relationship with their photographic equipment has at one point asked themselves “what if I could only have one?”. And there’s the paradox; as I grow my understanding of photography, so does my collection of equipment. While I resent my collection of material goods, I can’t help but appreciate the immaterial lessons my gear has taught me. What if I stripped it all away, and relied only on my skill, my creative intention, and reframed limitations as creative assets rather than setbacks? What would my photography become?
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.
