Field Guide Kwame Johnson Field Guide Kwame Johnson

The Two Types of Photographers: Embracing the Art of Photographing and Loving Photographs

I recently stumbled upon an interesting concept that really resonated with me, and I wanted to share it with all of you. The idea comes from my favorite photographer, Jay Maisel, who mentioned in a Scott Kelby interview that there are two types of photographers: those who love photographing and those who love photographs. Today, I want to dive deeper into this idea and discuss how our preferences can ebb and flow as we journey through the world of photography.

The Thrill of the Hunt

For some photographers, the excitement lies in the process of capturing images. They enjoy exploring their surroundings with their camera, always on the lookout for the perfect moment. Whether it's a stunning sunrise after an early morning hike or patiently waiting for wildlife to appear, these photographers revel in the act of photographing itself.

Reliving the Moment Through Photographs

On the other hand, there are photographers who find joy in examining, editing, and appreciating their images after they've been captured. These individuals often cherish the memories and emotions associated with each photograph, as well as the effort it took to create them. For them, photography is about capturing a moment in time and reliving it through their images.

My Personal Journey

As I've grown in my photography journey, I've found myself shifting between these two perspectives. Right now, I'm all about the thrill of the hunt. I love going out with my camera and discovering new scenes and moments. It's an exciting adventure where I have no expectations, and I'm okay with that.

However, I've also experienced the satisfaction of immersing myself in the editing process, fine-tuning my images, and extracting every last detail. I've experimented with shooting raw images to get the most data possible and played around with different editing styles as my preferences have evolved over time.

Finding Your Balance

The beauty of photography is that it's not a zero-sum game. We can embrace both aspects or focus on one, depending on our current interests and needs. If you find yourself feeling stuck or frustrated, take a step back and assess what truly brings you joy in photography. It's okay to shift your focus and allow your passions to guide your creative process.

Seeking Inspiration

If you're ever feeling overwhelmed, don't hesitate to explore photography books from famous and not-so-famous photographers. These can be a fantastic source of inspiration, sparking new ideas and motivating you to experiment with your own photography.

Share Your Thoughts

I'd love to hear from you! Which type of photographer are you? Do you prefer the act of photographing, or do you cherish the photographs themselves? Remember, there's no right or wrong answer; it's all about finding what resonates with you.

Thank you for joining me on this exploration of the two types of photographers. If you haven't already, consider subscribing to my monthly newsletter, Focal Point, for photography techniques, tips, and inspiration sent straight to your inbox.

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My 4 Essential Photography Gear of 2022 + 1 Bonus

It’s crazy to think 2022 is coming to a close. Today I wanted to share some of my favorite photography gear I picked up in 2022.

Ricoh GR iiix - https://amzn.to/3P9gjZg

Sony 90mm - https://amzn.to/3CYIgiR

PGYTech OneGo Solo - https://amzn.to/3FEj4it

Cobalt Image - https://www.cobalt-image.com/ Save 20% with coupon code "!Xmas22"

Kindle Scribe - https://amzn.to/3W2KaVN


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Field Guide Kwame Johnson Field Guide Kwame Johnson

What I’ve been up too 🤷🏾‍♂️

Hey, it's been a while. This is a quick update on what I've been up to the last few months. I took a small break from the channel and photography, to clear my head and focus on the next chapter in my life.

My daily photography gear:

Sony A7ii Review: https://youtu.be/jRD3I1UA6iI

Sony A7 ii - https://amzn.to/38OLEdL

Sony 90mm F2.8 - https://amzn.to/35q8fkK

Follow me!

WEBSITE ► www.Kwame.me

FLICKR ► https://flic.kr/ps/3T6yWm

GLASS► https://bit.ly/KJGlass

Newsletter ► http://bit.ly/36ZeUji

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🫵🏾You are a photographer 📸, even if you don't think so! | The Happy Photographer EP. 03

In this episode, we're going to talk about why your pictures matter. This is a podcast champion, the amateur photographer, the photography weekend warriors, the people who are taking pictures for the love of taking pictures. I'm your host, Kwame Johnson.

Show notes:

Be my next guest! I want to hear your story. Why do you take pictures?

Gear I use:

Sony A7ii Review: https://youtu.be/jRD3I1UA6iI
Sony A7 ii - https://amzn.to/38OLEdL
Sony 24mm F2.8 - https://amzn.to/2TO8kWd

Samyang 35 F1.8 - https://amzn.to/2Vz7ocE
Tamron 28-200mm F2.8 - https://amzn.to/3hiPAdo

Viltrox 85mm F1.8 - https://amzn.to/3nqj90e

Battery Grip - https://amzn.to/3fOV8Jo

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Learn From My Vacation Mistakes | Photography Life

In this video I share three lessons I learned from our camping trip.

Gear I use:

2017 iPad Pro 12" 512gb - https://amzn.to/3gnyRDF

Sony A7 ii - https://amzn.to/38OLEdL

Panasonic G9 - https://amzn.to/3ctmKCx

Get Sharpen AI here, it will be on sale ($20 off) through August 7, 2020 - http://topazlabs.refr.cc/kwamejohn2003

Save an additional 15% with code - AMDISC15 - this is not my code, it is a code I've used from another YouTuber.

This site will always be free and free of any advertising. I do this out of passion for street photography. My goal is to inspire people through photography and video from around the world. If you like to support me you can do so via paypal donations. Thank you very much for the support and thank you for watching!

PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/2DawgStudio

Below are a few images from Vega State Park. All images were processed in Lightroom.

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Topaz DeNoise AI and Topaz Sharpen AI Changed My Workflow

Topaz DeNoise and Topaz Sharpen are two Lightroom plugins that have changed the way I edit my pictures. They make sharpening and removing noise such a breeze.

Topaz DeNoise and Topaz Sharpen are two Lightroom plugins that have changed the way I edit my pictures. They make sharpening and removing noise such a breeze.

Edited Deer.jpg

Try them for30 days free here.

Products links:
2017 iPad Pro 12" 512gb - https://amzn.to/3gnyRDF
Apple Pencil - https://amzn.to/3bZ8VdX
Magic Mouse 2 - https://amzn.to/36uSyoq
Brydge Keyboard - https://ebay.to/3d7EWBW
Logitech Keyboard - https://amzn.to/3ekBynv
iPad Stand - https://amzn.to/3d4YXcx
Sd Card Reader - https://amzn.to/2X7xXUl
USB Reader - https://amzn.to/2ZKLrqq

My 2020 Panasonic G9 Review - https://youtu.be/IAYjHSP9IAg
Panasonic G9 - https://amzn.to/3ctmKCx
Battery Grip - https://amzn.to/2YVEp1O
Batteries - https://amzn.to/35TiZ6P
Panasonic 12-60mm F3.5-5.6 - https://amzn.to/3csFVfI
Sigma 25mm F1.7 - https://amzn.to/2WL4DkW
Sigma 60mm F2.8 - https://amzn.to/35TGpJj
Panasonic 45-210mm - https://amzn.to/2yEYsad

My 2020 Sony A7ii Review - https://youtu.be/jRD3I1UA6iI
Sony A7 ii - https://amzn.to/38OLEdL
Sony 24mm F2.8 - https://amzn.to/2TO8kWd
Sony 85mm F1.8 - https://amzn.to/3aLP1Ut

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Smartphone Accessories To Up Your Travel Photography and Video

Battery:

Aukey 30000mAh - https://amzn.to/2XaYqwH

Anker Elite USB Charger - https://amzn.to/2Lrv5fn

Anker car charger - https://amzn.to/2LtDW02

Tripod:

Manfrotto PIXI - https://amzn.to/2RKUVvX

Manfrotto PIXI EVO (adjustable legs) - https://amzn.to/2XGxglK

Jolby 3K - https://amzn.to/2LufYBK

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Zhiyun Smooth 4 - https://amzn.to/2NmeVXb

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Lens:

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Microphone:

Generic Mic - https://amzn.to/2J1bZex

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Saramonic SR-XM1 - https://amzn.to/2No26fa

External Storage:

Samsung T5 Portable SSD - https://amzn.to/2LvMrYv

Silicon Power 1TB Rugged - https://amzn.to/2JdVyKF

SanDisk Wireless Media Drive - https://amzn.to/2Xe62ia

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Bonus:

Peak Design Cuff - https://amzn.to/2LtOY5x

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Field Trip Kwame Johnson Field Trip Kwame Johnson

Field Trip: Colorado Western Slope Road Trip

This past June My wife and I took a mini road trip to Black Canyon of The Gunnison National Park, Mesa Verde National Park, Canyonlands National Park and Arches National Park. We did all in three days.

Our first stop was Black Canyon of The Gunnison National Park. When you first get there you see how deep the Canyon is, I was pleasantly surprised. The roads curve back and forth. There are some spots that the curve comes up on you pretty quick. If you are into panoramic pictures this is the place for it. At each stop it felt as if I was doing a pano. The views are well worth the winding roads and small birds zipping past your head in some places.

When we first entered Mesa Verde National Park it overwhelming to see all the dead burnt trees. From the top of the first couple stops we could see a fire they were monitoring. The dead trees were from a fire in 2002.

The cliff dwelling are something everyone should get to see at least once. It is amazing to see what people did without machines or computers. There are straight lines and 90 degree angles. I was blown away by the architecture. The way they got in and out of the dwellings where by rock climbing.

Canyonlands National Park gets over looked by its neighbor Arches. But it is amazing to see all the canyons that were created over millions of years by water. The landscape looks like being on a movie set about Mars.

Lastly we visited Arches National Park. Again seeing these structures carved from rain and wind over thousands of years was amazing. The crazy part is they are still forming and at some point they will fall down. Knowing that they aren’t permanent makes me really cherish seeing them.

Overall this was a great little get away with my wife. Our little focus got us to every location without any issue. I would highly recommend visiting one or all of these national parks.

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Field Trip: Senegal

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I've been on vacation in Senegal, one of my favorite places in the world. I got back from the trip a few weeks ago with a ton of photos and decided to share them rather then keeping them in my Lightroom library. We also went to The Museum Of Black Civilization, which you can see here.

People

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Animals

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Ocean

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Siki Hotel - Saint-Louis

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