Searching for a Perfect Compromise

My Rangefinder and I

Photography is an amazing artform.  It can envoke feelings of sadness, happiness, and inspiration to name a few; the list is simply endless.  Photography can be so much more though, like cancer, it is an excellent teacher of life skills as well.  Photography has easily taught me as many lessons about life as my leukemia.  But probably the best lesson it has ever taught me is;
      
              Nothing in our world is perfect, life is about compromises.

It is no secret that I like to change my cameras often; I am on my 9th different camera.  Don't get me wrong, I do like the aspects of playing with a new toy but that is not the central reason for my constant switching of camera systems.  The true reason is I am in the neverending search for "The Perfect Camera" for me. 

Notice how I said perfect camera for me.  The problem is no camera company is calling me in to make me the perfect camera, instead they make them for the masses.  With this sad reality of no custom cameras how do we find the perfect camera?  Unfortunately we don't. 

Don't let that dissaude you from looking though, there are great compromises.  But in order to find your perfect compromise you first have to know what it is you are looking for.  This step is so often skipped by so many people.  They don't take the time to sit down and actually list out what is the most important aspects that they value.  For me two of the most important factors are size and weight. 

I had almost found the perfect camera in a rangefinder but it lacked great low light performance and was manual focus only.  Now there is an option for low light performance but it is over $7000 for just the camera, which is drastically outside my price range :)  I loved manual operation of this camera, oftentimes turning off all automatic features and using it completely manual.  It was a wonderful camera but just not great for an all around camera so I moved on.  Although one day I shall get another (maybe film, maybe digitial who knows :) )

I have since continued on my journey for my "perfect compromise".  This is not the only place where the perfect compromise rears itself in photography.  It is present almost everytime you press the shutter to take a photograph.  I won't get into the science of exposure (or else this post will grow exponentially in length) but exposing a photograph is more often than not a compromise in attempt to create your personal vision for a photograph.

Again in order to make the decision on the acceptable compromise you first must know what is of utmost importance to you and what you can compromise on. 

This is a concept that is applicable to our everyday lives.  Our lives are filled with compromises that we have to make.  Instead of just making random compromises we should use the lessons from photography and take a moment to take a step back and assess our situation.  What are the things that are absolute must haves, and what are things you can compromise on.  Once you know these two things you can more effectively tackle the compromises in your life.

Stay tuned for more on the Journey for my Perfect Compromise

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