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Petr Nikl photographer, Prague |
Professional photographer Petr Nikl, lives and works in Prague, Czech Republic. He deals with advertising, art and reportage photography. Options studio: · Exterior and interior photography (mobile light park) · Processing of commercial and art photography · Reportage and wedding photography · Nude photos and portraits · Product photography to web site · Work with models · Arranged still lifes · Food styling · Professional editing and retouching photographs |
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Digital Photography. When Bigger Megapixels Doesn't Mean Better. |
| Date Added: April 30, 2010 01:51:01 PM |
| Author: Andy Nickerson |
| Category: Photographers: Advertising |
| Yesturday was a headache. It kicked off with a acute dose of man flu and to be honest I'm surprised I managed to survive at all. The day didn't improve much as I then spent what felt like an endless time driving around Northampton General Hospital hopelessly trying to park so that my son could turn up at his hearing test consultation on time. Still I had at least one element of my day to look forward too, visiting my local universities photography course open day, more distinctly I'd been promised a hands on demonstration by Hasselblad's area sales team of their new saliva inducing digital camera range, the H4D series. And what a seriously astounding piece of kit this camera is, like all cameras brandishing the Hasselblad brand previous, it oozes quality. The Rolls Royce of cameras, the measure that all other brands must chase etc etc etc, but I've no desire to produce a review. The issue that has consistently frustrated me for many years now (and judging by the photographers I met at the event I'm not alone) is this apparent megapixel race we all seem to unwittingly be enthralled in. This insane and down right delusional obsession with the pixel count as a barometer of the caliber of a camera and consequently the photographer. This isn't as an assault on any one individual camera manufacturer, at least Hasselblad focus their cameras at high end professionals whom might at least once in a while use all those 60 megapixels on a billboard poster or something as equally huge, all camera makers are at it! When did you last shoot a 48 or 96 sheet poster? When did you last do a print bigger than say A4? In fact when did you last do a print at all? I've been fortunate enough to shoot for customers that have required billboard posters and exhibited in galleries with sizable prints all whilst shooting under the acute gaze of top London art directors. Since taking a step back from the advertising world but still continuing to work in a commercial setting where pressures are high I have barely ever shot anything that the client needed to be printed greater than A4. As a matter of fact after assessing last years projects I can gather that at least 75% of this commercial work will ever go near a printing press, instead they will stay firmly in the virtual world such as a clients website or email marketing campaign! I have photographed on nearly all camera formats from 35mm SLRs through to large format view cameras but now prefer to principally shoot on a 12 mega pixel camera system unless the brief expressly calls for larger files, and I have never once had a client complain about image quality. Sure I have to utilize many of my abilities and photographic knowledge in capturing files that are of a specific quality but the point I'm seeking to make is that these shots would have been no better if shot on say a 22 mega pixel back, just larger! I often peruse through my trade periodicals and indeed fantasize over owning the latest and greatest camera gadget, but I attempt to forgo the temptation to upgrade purely on the notion of obtaining better picture quality. Picture quality is not dictated by pixel count or more precisely file size, that is a fact. There are many concerns that control the quality of an image from the quality of the idea, the control and quality of light, exposure, post capture production and of course all this depends on the expertise of the geek behind the lense. Imagine the shots that have most inspired you or made you go wow and I can ensure you that many of those images were not captured on cameras of any better physical quality than even a moderate modern day digital camera. Digital cameras have become formidable in the amount of bang you get for your buck and have served as a great leveller in the way that photography is no longer merely a rich mans pastime. Chose your camera system (don't agonize), purchase a few reasonable books and then get out there and use it. Try to ignore those elitist camera geeks you'll find on any online forum and definitely dismiss the greedy camera manufacturers pleas that bigger is better, its not! Brampton Valley Photography, the home of commercial photography Northamptonshire. |
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