Today I mostly shoot candid portraits and travel. At one time I thought I was a good photographer... but I have come to realize that I am really a "snapshot" taker... it's just that some of my snapshots could be mistaken for post cards. Basically I capture images that I stumble across. My pictures are an attempt to save a moment so that it can be remembered. The best photographers I know do much more: rather than "capturing" an image, they create one using lens, camera, and film, much the same way a paint would use brush, paint, and canvas. Often photographers have a vision that they want to share and are prepared to wait until the lighting is perfect, that the angle is just right, etc. Real photographers can help us see what we didn't know was there. I am just not that creative.
My style puts an emphasis a camera being always available (which means small and light), good quality because I might only get one chance, and easily processing. I switched to being totally digital in 2002 and mostly don't regret this decision. I wrote down a few reasons Why Go Digital and Related Issues. There are a huge number of cameras to choice between... like everyone else I have written out some notes about Choicing a Camera.
In 2008 I starting using Panasonic micro-4/3 cameras for most of my pictures because they provide a good balance between compactness/weight and image quality. I often have the Panasonic GF1 with the 20/1.7 in my bag. I nearly always have a Canon S90 in my pocket just in case there is something I was to record.
I started taking pictures in the 1970s: b&w street, nature, and landscape photography using a Minota Hi-Matic E, Leica M3 & M4 rangefinder, and sometimes used a friend's cool new (in 1974) Olympus OM-1. When I lost the Leicas I picked up a Nikon SLR because I couldn't bring myself to spend the money on new Leicas. I sometimes missed the rangefinder experience so I picked up a Minolta CL which was my light weight alternative when I wanted something smaller and lighter than the SLR. In 2002 I switched to all digital when my favorite E6 lab closed. In 2004 I switched from Nikon to Canon. Why? My Nikon seemed to be buggy and needed to go to the factory several times. I like the Canon ergonomics, Canon makes more lens that match my needs, and Canon seemed like it was the leader in DSLR marketplace thanks to their heavy R&D investment. I didn't expect Nikon would ever catch up to. [I was wrong, by 2007 Nikon had competitive offerings and has the lead in low light performance.]. My favorite lens are the Canon are the 17-40/4L for knocking around, the Canon 24/1.4L for available light, the Canon 85/1.8 for portraits, and the Canon 70-200/4L IS for images which require a longer lens. When traveling I like the compactness of the Canon 70-300/4.5-5.6 DO IS. I recommend Domke bags. I like Gitzo legs and Arca Swiss ballheads.
I have a few pictures posted Quick Links