Professor Elam

Weekend August 25 2012

Robin Wong  uses an 8 year old Olympus E 520 ( I have a 510) to take these shots. He argues that a 50mm lens is a 50mm lens no matter how much it costs.  It is the light, the angle, the composition that makes teh photograph. 

Hmmm, I taught some intro to the university classes at Southwest Texas aka Texas State University now. Interestingly many of the students in their introductory comments would say something like

Well shucks by golly, I really wanted to go to UT Austin or A & M College Station, but I couldn't make the grade so I settled for SWT. 

Gee, really, let me transport you to University of Texas Permian Basin and then see what you think of SWT. SWT literally has a  river running through it, gorgeous old oak trees lining the walks forming canopies to walk under, a view of the Hill Country, the most gorgeous stand of Pecan Trees perhaps in the entire state, 

and these students are complaining. 

So here we are at TAMUSA, what say you?  Is Robin Wong correct, is it the photographer, or the
equipment (UT Austin) that will make you what you want to be?   Different schools, same textbooks, not really so different professors

( here you might even get to know one)

you tell me

is Robin on to something here?  The photo at right is taken with the kit lens on an eight year old camera, but what makes the shot, the camera or the photographer?

Hint, who will determine your future, the school or the student?