Ken Rockwell's blog

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TanisHalfElven

Diamond Member
Jun 29, 2001
3,512
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Hi guys.
I've recently gotten into photography. I bought a used canon rebel xt, and a 50mm lens. I've been reading ken Rockwell's blog cuz i remembered it mentioned somewhere on this forum.

But after spending a day reading it, i decided to look at what other people thought of ken rockwell and it seems a lot of people don't particularly ( http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=357406&page=2 ) think much of him. I kind of like him but i don't like doubting my sources. What he says does make a lot of sense, but...

Anyway, what do people here think of him. I don't care about the technical info, more about stuff like framing and composition. Is he a valid resource for something like that ?
 
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TanisHalfElven

Diamond Member
Jun 29, 2001
3,512
0
76
angry hampster said:
Rockwell is very biased toward anything Nikon, but his technical knowledge is solid.

POTN's forums are fantastic and very helpful.
Click to expand...

Sweet. I'm not bothered by the bias. His advice of camera doesn't matter seems more important. I just wanted to make sure the rest is good.
 
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twistedlogic

Senior member
Feb 4, 2008
606
0
0
On his About page:

"This website is my way of giving back to our community. It is a work of fiction, entirely the product of my own imagination. This website is my personal opinion. To use words of Ansel Adams on page 193 of his autobiography, this site is my "aggressive personal opinion," and not a "logical presentation of fact."

I started just like you with KR. Now I have a bunch of over saturated jpegs from when I first started learning.

My advice, stay away from KR until you develop a nice BS detector. There is some useful info on his site.
 
tdawg

tdawg

Platinum Member
May 18, 2001
2,215
6
81
Check out fredmiranda.com. A good forum with a lot of quality photogs. Also consider the photo community on Google+.
 
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TanisHalfElven

Diamond Member
Jun 29, 2001
3,512
0
76
alfa147x said:
One of my favorite websites:
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/
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tdawg said:
Check out fredmiranda.com. A good forum with a lot of quality photogs. Also consider the photo community on Google+.
Click to expand...

twistedlogic said:
On his About page:

"This website is my way of giving back to our community. It is a work of fiction, entirely the product of my own imagination. This website is my personal opinion. To use words of Ansel Adams on page 193 of his autobiography, this site is my "aggressive personal opinion," and not a "logical presentation of fact."

I started just like you with KR. Now I have a bunch of over saturated jpegs from when I first started learning.

My advice, stay away from KR until you develop a nice BS detector. There is some useful info on his site.
Click to expand...

Thanks guys.
The main lesson i've learned so far is not to worry too much cameras and lenses, and that a better photographer is made by taking photos. I'm pretty much going to avoid anymore "theoretical" stuff untill i start taking some photos. The AT photo of the day thread seems like a nice place and i might try to take atleast one good photo every couple of days and put it up there for feedback. I'll also look at the various websites mentioned here.

Thanks so much.
 
blurredvision

blurredvision

Lifer
Oct 19, 2000
17,860
4
81
It's been my experience that people hate Ken Rockwell because he makes a living at what everybody else does for a hobby, so I honestly believe there's a bit of underlying jealously. There's also the fact that he's constantly asking for money on his site, so that turns a lot of people away as well.

My opinion is that it's a fine site but not the only one you should rely on for info.
 
JohnnyRebel

JohnnyRebel

Senior member
Feb 7, 2011
762
0
0
TanisHalfElven said:
Hi guys.
I've recently gotten into photography. I bought a used canon rebel xt, and a 50mm lens. I've been reading ken Rockwell's blog cuz i remembered it mentioned somewhere on this forum.

But after spending a day reading it, i decided to look at what other people thought of ken rockwell and it seems a lot of people don't particularly ( http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=357406&page=2 ) think much of him. I kind of like him but i don't like doubting my sources. What he says does make a lot of sense, but...

Anyway, what do people here think of him. I don't care about the technical info, more about stuff like framing and composition. Is he a valid resource for something like that ?
Click to expand...

I like Ken. For a newer photographer, he'll point you toward making photos instead of becoming a equipment junkie. It's a good thing.

BTW, +1 on his haters being a bit jealous. He is very popular for a good reason. He is not "untrustworthy", but do feel free to disagree with him.

Where he really shines is on his book recommendations, and the very simple and direct way he reviews equipment pointing out what he believes to be important in real photography instead of just technical analysis. This tends to bother the equipment junkies who love to hate him.

As to his Nikon bias, just read his very complementary reviews on Canon, Fuji and Tokina equipment. He likes Nikon ergonomics, but will quickly point out where others are better than Nikon.

JR
 
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actuarial

Platinum Member
Jan 22, 2009
2,814
0
71
JohnnyRebel said:
I like Ken. For a newer photographer, he'll point you toward making photos instead of becoming a equipment junkie. It's a good thing.

BTW, +1 on his haters being a bit jealous. He is very popular for a good reason. He is not "untrustworthy", but do feel free to disagree with him.

Where he really shines is on his book recommendations, and the very simple and direct way he reviews equipment pointing out what he believes to be important in real photography instead of just technical analysis. This tends to bother the equipment junkies who love to hate him.

As to his Nikon bias, just read his very complementary reviews on Canon, Fuji and Tokina equipment. He likes Nikon ergonomics, but will quickly point out where others are better than Nikon.

JR
Click to expand...

+1

I like Ken, and don't find he has that much of a Nikon bias anymore. For a long while his Canon 5D II review was the most glowing on his site, and still is other than his D7000 review (but he's not alone on the net in terms of crowning the D7000 King). He loves the Fuji X100 as well. Lens wise, he always refers to the Canon 70-200 2.8 as the best technical lens made.
 
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bobdole369

Diamond Member
Dec 15, 2004
4,504
2
0
Another source is the "understanding" series by Bryan Peterson. While the oft-praised "understanding exposure" deals mainly with getting the exposure you want, the book goes a great deal into composition as well.
 
M

Munky

Diamond Member
Feb 5, 2005
9,372
0
76
I disagree with the bias accusation. When he recommends Nikon, he gives specific reasons, and guess what - there are several aspects in which Nikon IS better. When I was starting out in photography, I picked a Nikon D40 due to his recommendation, and I'm glad I did, as opposed to some Canon Rebel people usually go for.

I find his blog informative and entertaining. There are parts which I don't agree with or are not meant to be taken seriously, but I agree with the underlying message that it's all about your skill as a photographer, not about your equipment.

Go to DPreview forums and you'll surrounded by fanboys arguing over technical minutia, and how you're not a real photographer unless you're hauling around 50lbs of camera gear and standing behind a tripod for hours.
 
Throckmorton

Throckmorton

Lifer
Aug 23, 2007
16,829
3
0
Munky said:
Go to DPreview forums and you'll surrounded by fanboys arguing over technical minutia, and how you're not a real photographer unless you're hauling around 50lbs of camera gear and standing behind a tripod for hours.
Click to expand...

That sounds like this forum. There's not much discussion about photography techniques here.
 
Gintaras

Gintaras

Golden Member
Dec 28, 2000
1,892
1
71
twistedlogic said:
Here is a video of him.

http://kenrockwell.com/trips/2009-08-nyc/bnh.htm
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Here's some videos:

http://vimeo.com/11336879

http://vimeo.com/33477730

Want to see photos?
Not Nikon, not Canon... From photographer, who doesn't consider himself as a Pro - just a hobbyist, and don't bullshit like a Ken Rockwell:

DSC02880.jpg


DSC02334.jpg


DSC02112.jpg


DSC02039.jpg


DSC01236.jpg


DSC00582.jpg
 
alfa147x

alfa147x

Lifer
Jul 14, 2005
29,307
105
106
JohnnyRebel said:
Will any of the Ken R. haters support their views? Here is a the most current, and very typical, Ken Rockwell article:


5D Mk II versus D7000. Which makes better images?
http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/comparisons/d7000-vs-5d-mk-ii.htm

So how 'bout an analysis from one of the 'serious' photographers on AT as to what is so bad about KR?

JR
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I hate is writing style. He comes off as a huge dick. Plenty of resources on the internet not to have to put up with his crap.
 
Throckmorton

Throckmorton

Lifer
Aug 23, 2007
16,829
3
0
I read one of his articles about composition, because I was trying to give my friend some simple tips for using her new camera... but I didn't send it because his writing style is so bad and he comes off as arrogant.


Also, I think his award winning pic he uses to illustrate composition is terrible.
 
Blackjack200

Blackjack200

Lifer
May 28, 2007
15,995
1,688
126
He does have some really good articles encouraging people to try medium format and large format photography, but his tone is really obnoxious.
 
jhansman

jhansman

Platinum Member
Feb 5, 2004
2,768
29
91
bobdole369 said:
Another source is the "understanding" series by Bryan Peterson. While the oft-praised "understanding exposure" deals mainly with getting the exposure you want, the book goes a great deal into composition as well.
Click to expand...

This. I have gotten more out of Peterson's work than any other author, with the possible exception of Scott Kelby's Lightroom and PS books. FWIW, I find Rockwell somewhat sanctimonious.
 
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