So I’ve always been interested in photography, and bought a decent camera about two months ago, so hopefully instead of admiring other peoples photos, I can take some decent ones myself. The prices of cameras are quite crazy and spending 25k wasn’t quite within my camera budget! While reading up on reviews, I got pretty confused as people were getting so technical about cameras and settings and using Photoshop and layers and whatever the hell else.

I’ve always tried to be as simple with things as I can, and I find the world of photography so confusing. There are a lot of great photos out there, but people Photoshop them so hectically that it’s not really the original photo we are left with. I enjoy Photoshop and I’m using a trial of Lightroom 3 as it has all the functions I need. I don’t want to completely change my photos, just switch some to black and white and change them slightly with filters and that sort of thing. Do some touch ups.

Yet as much as camera settings and Photoshop can make photos look good, I’ve always been interested in the basic, unedited photo, as these have always tended to capture the moment the best. When there is a moment in time that really matters, the chances are that you don’t have time to set up a camera and check light setting and place everything perfectly. Moments happen in an instant, and all you need in those moments is a camera that will take that picture.

So while I was researching cameras and all the bullshit that people use to make the simply art of photography ridiculously complicated, I was inspired by a professional photographer called Chase Jarvis. I found out about him while looking at Apple Aperture, then found his blog and eventually ended up ordering his book “The Best Camera Is The One That’s The One That’s With You” on Amazon.com.

Here is a little bit about the book:

At once simple and profound, the newest book by world renowned photographer, Chase Jarvis, The Best Camera Is The One That’s With You™  underscores—even legitimizes—the idea that an image can come from any camera, even a mobile phone. This is the first book of its kind. Inherently, we all know that an image isn’t measured by its resolution, dynamic range, or anything technical about cameras or photos. An image is measured by the simple—sometimes profound, other times absurd or humorous or whimsical—effect that it can have upon us. If you can see an image, it can move you.

His blog contains so much inspiration for just doing things, instead of over analyzing them, and in the end never doing them because of the thought of failure. His latest post is a classic example, well he found it somewhere, but it totally captures the way he thinks:

“The reality is that it’s easier to be inspired than it is to create an original idea and we are hardwired to take the path of least resistance. It’s easier to jump onto a design inspiration gallery site than it is to sit down with a blank sheet of paper and a pencil. It’s easier to follow a pattern than it is to test-drive new options. It’s easier to copy a style or idea that works than try something that might miss the mark or outright fail. Above all, it’s cheaper mentally for us to rally around what’s already been done and emulate it…”

Click here to read the rest.

There is also a great piece on just simply enjoying photography, and not getting caught up in all the complications about gear and cameras:

Seems like the more I listen, the more I hear people talking about the gear, the business of photography, the widgets. Let us not forget the simple love of photography.

I understand why there’s so much rhetoric in our industry about the business of photography and the gear and the gadgets. There is the common stereotype that most creative people aren’t good business people. There is fear. Gear is easier to talk about than vision. Exposures are exact, the camera dials have numbers. There is a ‘right’ answer to many of these questions.

But where is your love of pictures? Where are your actions that back this up?

Can you pick up a book of photographs and get lost in it?
Can you walk around with your iPhone or Android or your point and shoot or whatever and take 100 pictures knowing that they’ll never be for a client or a portfolio?
Do you love hunting for pictures?
Will you stay up late or get up early for pictures?
Do you sometimes ‘see’ life as a photograph?

It’s different for all of us, but when you can take a break from all the chatter, remind yourself–as often as you can–why you love photography.

Click here to read that piece.

And I think this is the important thing when wanting to do anything in the world today, you need to break it down to why you actually want to do it. Forget all the talk of equipment, no matter what industry you are in. Break things down to the basics and life will be a lot simpler and more awesome. We’re so caught up on the technical side of nearly everything…just simplify it.

Chase Jarvis shoots with some of the best equipment in the world, using the latest technology and big teams supporting him…and yet he has released a book with pictures taken on his iPhone. Which is the one I’ve ordered.

Chase Jarvis

He’s also released an iPhone App that allows you to add some awesome effects to your photos. Once you’ve done all of that, you can upload your photo to the website they have created, as well as view other peoples photos. Click here for the Best Camera website, where you will have links to buy the book, as well as to buy the iPhone App as well as view all the photos submitted to the website. It really is quite incredible, and inspiring, knowing that all those photos are being taken on iPhones around the world. This is a really cool photo Chase took on his iPhone, some people will see the gorilla in the picture:

And that, from a simple iPhone, amazing.

Another awesome iPhone App for those of you interested, is Camera+, ‘The Ultimate Photo App’

Click here to check that bad boy out for your iPhone.

So hopefully those links will inspire you, not just if you’re into photography, but hopefully it will inspire you in whatever you’re doing, to just get out and do it. Don’t think about it, over analyze it or be afraid to try it. Just do it.