'The Three Things You Need'

I was talking to a friend yesterday when the conversation reminded me of something I heard long ago. When I took over at the magazine I used to edit, the previous editor spent several days training me and explaining his vision of the magazine. One of the things he said—I am by necessity paraphrasing, since I can seldom remember exact wordings—"The three things a reader really needs in order to participate fully in the life of this magazine are a spot meter, a densitometer, and a sheet film camera."

Of course, he left out a fourth necessity—"a darkroom"—probably because he was taking that for granted. It was a darkroom magazine, after all.

I'm guessing not many people reading these words would consider those three things to be essential to their photography! (But does anybody?)

Thinking of the same question, I started wondering what three things a reader most needs to fully participate in photography the way I most enjoy it. Without much thought, and I guess somewhat flippantly, I blurted out, "an internet connection, a pigment inkjet printer, and a bookcase." (Leaving out a fourth because I take it for granted—some way to create original photographic images in digitized form, whether that's a digital camera or a film camera and a scanner.) 

Trouble is, it's been 24 hours, and I haven't improved on that list.

So my open-ended question (this is not a quiz, and there will be no test): What three things do you most need to enjoy or participate in photography the way you practice it?

I can stand some few flippant or humorous answers (I'm pretty sure I won't have a choice about that!) but I'm anxious to hear a few serious answers too because I'm actually sincerely curious....

Mike

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Comments

[Craig Norris]

1. Interesting and/or beautiful subject matter

2. Good eyesight

3. An appreciative viewship

[YS]

A working brain, a sense of art and a camera. I suppose a computer is needed as well, but nowadays they're so common it can be taken for granted.

The first two are not as easy to come by as you'd think. Witness your standard photography forum.

Incidentally I remember your parody on Internet Photographers; that was sheer brilliance.

[StephenG]

Lens. Chip. Technique.

[Gary Nylander]

What three things would I need for my photography ?, I guess it would depend on what I am photographing…… for my landscape work, my trusty 4 x 5 view camera , black and white sheet film and a spot meter.

[John Addison]

Film camera, dark room, internet (the latter for the internet film photo club, APUG).

[Dennis Huteson.]

Good health, a Rolls Royce and an Instamatic.

[Rusty]

Time, Place and Attitude

[Rod Graham]

I guess my 3 things would be similar: a computer/internet connection, a good quality printer, and last but not least, an appreciative audience---people who like to see my latest pictures. That last one probably says too much about myself, but I can't imagine working at improving my photography and learning the craft without the feedback I get from those who actually see my printed work...not that my work is all that great, but still...I'm just saying....

Rod G.

[misha]

- My Lumix L1
- google for tutorials
- photoshop/elements

Also, my HP 8750, and my IBM Thinkpad.

[Kent]

OK, first the flippant answer:

* More time than I have.
* More money than I have.
* More talent than I have.

And now the serious answer (I assume we're talking about digital photography):

* A high-quality calibrated display.
* A fast computer with lots of memory and storage.
* Efficient image management and editing software that suits my workflow (in my case, Lightroom and Photoshop).

[Tim Bray]

I hardly ever print, and mostly consume photography online. So my list does not intersect yours:

1. Willingness to go out and walk around or otherwise arrange to be in different places with your eyes open.

2. Willingness to spend time with your computer looking at the pictures you've taken and thinking about which of them move you, and why.

3. A camera that's light & handy enough that it'll be with you while you're in motion.

[SteveB]

Time
Light
A Subject

I guess a camera of some sort helps too, but everything else is optional.

[Stephen Best]

The "spot meter, a densitometer, and a sheet film camera" are only essential if you aspire to the Ansel Adams school of photography ... something I once did, though access to a densitometer was enough for me. Photography is a lot more broad these days (and was in Adams' time).

I quibble with your inclusion of "an internet connection". This mainly works against achieving a significant and individual body of photographic work. Sure it's useful for tips to get you started, downloading bug fixes for software that you shouldn't have upgraded to in the first place ... but otherwise it's just a normalizer of style and gets you hankering after new gear that will set your photography back years. The real photographers are out photographing with whatever gear they've got, blissfully unaware of how the latest widget will change their lives.

Looking at photographs IS important, so agreement on the bookcase ... but supplemented by getting out to view real life prints on the wall in public and private galleries, especially if you want to improve your craft. So is reading about photography as a medium, something this site used to be great for.

The printer isn't important because many will find others to print their work for them.

So what's important? 1. A camera (take your pick). 2. A bookshelf (for monographs, histories, words about photography) supplemented by regular viewing of exhibitions. 3. Strength of character and perseverance to recognize your own individual eye and get out there and use it. (Maybe the last is self admonishment.)

[Bill Harvey]

Mike, slightly different angle. A computer (internet connection is fairly easy to presume) with the appropriate software, a camera that you've learned to use as second nature, and at least a little bit of money on order to travel. I can come up with a few projects at home but I've got to get out and about for new subjects and inspiration. It might be a pub walk, a trip in the van, or the occasional international adventure.
I love printed images but the vast majority of photos never get sent to a printer. Bin the bookcase too; there's so much current info online. I enjoy your blog every morning and appreciate your efforts. Thanks, Bill Harvey

[Maarten B.]

1) Leica
2) Lens
3) Light

[GBakovich]

1. A camera/image creating process (you mastered so you can dance tango with it like you would with your lover).

2. An Internet connection.

3. A website (to publish your work to the world under your conditions only).

(Leaving out a fourth because I take it for granted — a non-physical ingredient: a developed personal style and an idea "to die for".)

[Ed Buziak]

14-24mm f/2.8 Nikkor... searching eye... command of rural French to communicate with the folks I've chosen to live amongst!

[Janne]

Shelfspace (for various older cameras), scanner (for getting the film into an online format) and good shoes (for spending lots of time walking around town, camera in hand).

[scott kirkpatrick]

I'll go along with the unstated assumption, plus the bookcase and the internet connection, but I bet I am not alone in not having the space or patience for the fine-art inkjet printer. And if I did, it would quickly get ground down printing the kids'homework assignments, for which our HP Officejet is quite adequate. I subscribe to some of the print offerings, and dream of taking a platinum printing class someday. But in the meantime, I want to know more about good flat panel monitors and more effective means of web display.

scott

[Lynn_B]

Agree with 1 and 2. For 3, I'd substitute "time to think and reflect". Exploring ideas and developing a personal style takes a lot of that, and it's often the thing in shortest supply. The bookcase helps, too.
Lynn

[CDColt]

1. Open mind
2. Sharp eye
3. Beating heart

[Gordon Lewis]

This is easy. I need, in order of priority:

1. The free time it takes to capture and render my photographs. (This is a leisure activity for me, not a full-time profession, and as a husband and father of three young children, free-and-alone-time is scarce.)

2. A reliable computer with a large hard drive and fast Internet connection. (This should require no explanation.)

3. An inkjet printer capable of producing equally high-quality photographs in black-and-white as well as color. (Without such a printer my photographs are too virtual for my tastes. The one I have now is barely adequate. I'm going to have to do something about this.)

[Malcolm Leader]

Vision. No, not eyesight, the ability to compose a scene well. This ability is not inate in most people. It must be learned, so one of the things you need most is some education. It could be actual courses or simply studying well done art. On the internet, IMO, about 5 percent of the displayed photographs show that the poster has actually acquired this need.

[Len Salem]

Actually it may only be two things.
I leave out the computer on the same basis that the darkroom was left out of the original list. That entitles me to leave out the internet which is, nowadays, pretty much integral with the computer. It also entitles me to leave out the bookshelf since the computer enables access to all those online learning resources about digital photographic techniques as well as a whole lot of stuff about the "art" of photography.
All I'm left with is my pigment printer and any digital camera. So just two things and I can take photographs, enjoy the printed results, make books from them, and, occasionally, exhibit the best of them. What more do I want - or need?

[Nicolas]

An eye, a mind, a camera.

Internet connection is of course needed( and how much!), and we could add a display profiling tool, but I'd really take all that for granted.
On the other hand pigment printer may not be that essentail to photography - I couldn't do without mine, but friends do well without, they simply get their printed externally - or enjoy them on screen which I really can't regard as a sin.

[michael martin morgan]

A digital camera, plenty of spare time and Photoshop.

[Eduard de Kam]

I think a very good and well calibrated screen is more important and useful than a printer, unless you're in the bussiness of selling prints as art.

[Paul Amyes]

A calibrated monitor, a computer and a printer. I'm a happy bunny with those things. I haven't bought a new camera since the original 5d came out (and by new I mean new to me). My last major purchases have been a new monitor, a new laptop, and PhotoShop with a couple of plugins.

[JR Cline]

Essentials...hmmmm
1. Access to a computer
2. Open eyes and mind to find the shot
3. Familiarity with the camera

I shoot with a DSLR, a cheap point and shoot, and an iPhone. There are some other items that could be added, like a good backup strategy and spare batteries, but I think the first 3 are the essentials for me.

[Charles Lanteigne]

If we're only talking about equipment (ie: not "time" or "inspiration") and if we're leaving out the most obvious parts (eg: camera, lenses), ... that's an interesting question!

On top of my head, I would say I definitely need a good calibrated monitor, Adobe Lightroom/Photoshop, and stuff to listen to while I'm working (music, podcasts, lectures, ...)

(I recommend Brooks Jensen's LensWork podcast, free lectures from www.academicearth.org, TED! Talks, etc.)

[Derby]

Girls, Girls, Girls

[Player]

"The Online Photographer," a great idea, and money.

[Guy]

Perhaps you need to extend your list of fourth items to include a relatively new computer and a good monitor. Personally I can survive without either the printer or the bookcase.

-- Guy

[Richard Man]

A RH Designers Analysis Pro, a good Chinese brush or fountain pen, and boatload of TMY-2

[Kevin Schoenmakers]

I think good post-processing software should make the list too. Since I got lightroom my photos have improved alot, simply because I can give them the look they deserve.

[Daveybot]

I'm almost entirely amateur and do it all because it's fun, so for me...

1.) A pro Flickr account
2.) Spare time
3.) A peer group of critics I respect

...and like every other possible list of only three items, the rest are taken for granted: camera, computer, internet connection, etc etc..

The last one's probably the most important to me. It's far too easy to drown yourself with people who like your photos and only ever say nice things. It's much more important to push yourself, and I can think of no better way than to be part of a group of people who genuinely inspire eachother and aren't afraid of a bit of criticism. It's got to be an open group, though - cliques turn in on themselves!

[Doug Howk]

I'd have to say the original advice you received is spot-on. A very good photographer (Michael Smith) said that he who has only one meter is always sure of his exposure. He who has two is always in doubt. I've settled on a one-degree spot meter. I've only recently acquired a densitometer, but it is proving its worth as I start to do platinum/palladium contact prints. The savings in chemicals has already paid for the densitometer. As for sheet film cameras, 8X10 is my most frequently used format. And the glue that binds these together is the darkroom. Mine may be a makeshift place in the garage, but it enables me to explore my vision.

[James]

A film camera, slide film (I choose Velvia), and a continuing source of processing. I'm worried about the last.

I project my images to about 2 feet by 3 feet onto a canvas and sketch them, then paint with oils. I'm not such a great artist, but I like my results.

[Kurt Holter]

A camera, a computer, and since I do this for a living, a gainfully employed wife.

[Martin]

I need:
time to stroll around with my camera and one lens in the range between 28 to 40 mm, my laptop and a printer - thats all.

[Mike O'Donoghue]

Equipment, transport, processing. Those three and nothing more. Unless you count literature.

[Mark]

Chemicals, a scanner and money for the fun part using film. But I do also practice the digital when the money runs out.

[Wolfgang Kuechle]

I agree on the bookshelf and the inkjet printer (and the fourth of course). The third one is enough time to put the other two (or three)to good use.

[David Mannion]

One thing that's missing from the list is inspiration. Its also been missing around here for almost 12 months. Mike's words a while back about getting out of the house when feeling low, and not forgetting the camera helped. I take the damn thing walking but thats about all the exercise it gets.

[David Boyce]

A sense of wonder

An appreciation of light

The courage to make mistakes, often.

[www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=608037245]

Mike:
what a great (and way difficult) question. For me the 3 things are:
-a camera
my inkjet printer
-open-minded curiosity
But an old friend and mentor maintained that photography came down to two simple rules:
f8 and be there.
Another maintained that there were only two decisions:
where to stand and when to press the button.
Isn't oversimplification grand?

[erlik]

As you take the computer for granted, not even listing it as an accessory to the scanning process...

I need a decent Internet connection plus a decent hosting service, a decent body and a decent short zoom. So I'm good at the moment.

[Timprov]

I don't even know what one of those things is.

I think it's clear that I don't experience photography the same way you do anyway, but your list is somewhat enlightening as to how: I don't own a printer and have no desire to, and while I have many bookcases they are irrelevant to my photography experience so far.

I feel like both camera and computer are obvious enough to leave off my list, which leaves my three things as a trainable eye, a sense of wonder, and good hiking boots.

[n murray]

internet
Photoshop
Hiking Boots

(like you, I leave out the camera as a given).

[Robin P]

Nice B&W photos easy to do with grey ink on my (non pigment) HP C5280 but printing can always be sent out.
3 things I need for photography:-
A camera
B film scanner
C computer

3 things that make photography even more enjoyable
A slide projector
B choice of camera to suit circumstances
C time & opportunity to actually go out and take the photos.

Cheers, Robin