Speaking Frankly

A Glorious View

The secret to great photography? A great viewfinder.

What’s the most exciting moment in photography? In my book, nothing equals the in stant of shutter release, when you feel, “Got it!” And, for me, one of the prerequisites for obtaining this satisfying moment is a high-quality SLR finder image.

No data sheet or camera test report can tell you with certainty about finder quality. Some viewing systems are bigger, brighter, and/or more informative than others, and the only way to discover the best is to peek at a few of them. In real life.

From The Keppler Files: July, 1990

While every manufacturer is eager to tell you all about the new features, I have never seen a pamphlet or advertisement that lists what features have been removed compared to the preceding model. Often the vanished features may mean little to you, but sometimes you will sorely miss them only when you want to use them and find them gone.

From The Keppler Files: November, 1964

If the very prospect of shooting pictures of strangers gives you a queasy feeling in the bottom of your stomach and weakens your trigger finger, shake hands. We’ve been in the same boat. I can usually think of excuses why I shouldn’t take a picture if the picture involves a stranger who knows I’m pointing the camera in his direction—the light’s wrong, I’ve got the wrong lens on the camera, the scene would  look better with no human in it, etc., etc..

SLR: World-Class Glass: The joys of shooting both wide and close, or from a distance, with Pentax's unique fisheye zoom lenses.

We’ve produced every possible useful interchangeable lens,” the head of a major camera and lens maker told me. “Name one we haven’t.” I immediately countered, “A fisheye zoom.”

He laughed and was joined by a number of the other top executives of the company. Who would want such a lens?

But one executive seemed more thoughtful. “Not a bad idea,” he whispered.

“Too late to be first,” I said. “It’s been done.” Of course, if you’ve had the pleasure of using the little-known 17–28mm f/3.5–4.5 AF Pentax fisheye zoom on a 35mm SLR, you will second that “not a bad idea.”

From The Keppler Files: August, 1994

While I’m always grateful for your many letters telling me how much you’ve learned form my writing, reading my pearls of wisdom is still not the best way to improve your photographs. Taking pictures is. Even after the many years I’ve been shooting, I always look forward to taking more pictures—not just for the results, but for what I can learn that will produce better shots the next time around.

From The Keppler Files: October, 1964

As far as color contrast and composition are concerned, I frankly never think of them. A subject excites me. I move in until my entire frame is filled. I then wait for some instant when the subject is heightened by an interesting expression or movement. (In landscapes, naturally, this seldom happens—you shoot when light, wind, and clouds allow.) Generally, if I think a better shot can be made from another viewpoint or that a better expression is forthcoming, I make an “insurance” shot anyhow. Often, the second chance never occurs. You will then be sad indeed if you haven’t shot the first one when you had the chance.