This is supposed to be a fun blog post, but it will only be fun if people participate. I sometimes come across blog posts that aim to teach bloggers to gather more followers, and one common suggestion is “posting something controversial”. That got me thinking, what would be an interesting controversial topic in photography? Lately in forums and groups, I have encountered those below, but quite frankly, I do not feel passionate about any of them:
- Film versus digital;
- Black and white versus color;
- Post-process or not;
- Single photo versus series or projects;
- Smartphone versus digital camera.
Is there any issue in photography, not mentioned above, that you would be willing to argue about (to the point that your blood pressure would be elevated)?
The featured photo depicts two mustang stations fighting at the Onaqui Mountains, Utah, Spring of 2020. f/5.6, 1/1250s, ISO 220.
It is all about the light 
I don’t think any of those topics listed are worth fighting about as there is a clear role for both sides of the argument 🙂
Now Nikon vs Canon….that’s a totally different story lol. Actually, I’m only kidding about that but not about Mac vs PC 🙂
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It’s worth a try if we add Sony to that! 😉
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Pc versus Mac is a good topic…
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From the seemingly endless and never aging content of the “bag of fights” (over principles and purity) in photography, we could add zoom lenses vs primes! But that’s of course also something not worth arguing about. 😜
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Thanks for the reminder. I’d forgotten about this important, worth fighting about, topic. 😉
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My wife just added “raw vs JPEG” to the list! How did that not make the list in the first place? 😅
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Oh yes, should have been on top 😅.
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I don’t think there is anything to fight about in photography. It’s such a personal and subjective medium. I think the more opinions the better. I love the fighting mustangs in silhouette.
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Interesting to read.
Philosophically thinking Controversial topics are a negative way to attract attention with plenty of heartburn.
Ooo
I would like to mention canon vs nickon controversial discussions.
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I also recall a recent fight over ICM photography on a facebook forum. It ended up bad, the entire group split. Some photographers defended that “ICM photographs” can only contain camera movement, whereas others defended that it was ok to incorporate double exposure in layers.
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I think photographers should do whatever works for them. The resulting pictures are what matters.
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That gives me one more item for my list. “Purists versus whatever works for you. 😉
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By their fruits ye shall know them.
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I’m a little late to this, but this evening I’ve been literally reading (‘literally reading’ is supposed to be funny here because… well, just because) all your posts, some for the second time, and just got to this one.
These sort of arguments – and I’m guilty in having participated in my share of them – remind me of what a friend used to say about opinions being like a**-holes: that everyone has one and they mostly stink.
To me, they are the provenance of enthusiasts rather than practitioners: enthusiasts prefer one thing over another; practitioners will tend to regard a variety of things as acceptable tools to create (film vs digital; oils vs water colour; pen vs pencil; typewriter vs laptop, etc).
At one time or another I’ve been in conflict with myself over each of the arguments listed above (except the Canon vs Nikon, although I overheard a heated discussion in the break room once) – I’ve sometimes looked at one of my pictures thinking, ‘well that came out nice’ then saying, ‘yeah, but you post-processed the hell out of it!’ At such times I remember what my cat says: meow! And, you know, he’s right.
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You may be right about the enthusiasts versus practitioners. On the subject of cameras, a self proclaimed photographer who used to go out with the same phot club as I, would jump at anyone carrying a Sony to criticize. It was funny to see him approach newcomers in the group to let them know that Sony cameras are a piece if sh@t. Sony cameras are actually very nice. 😎
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I forgot: I have a Sony! I got it with reward points about four years ago. Not my favourite camera, but I wouldn’t kick it out of my camera back for taking pictures of crackers. I haven’t used in a long while, but it’s simple to use and takes decent pictures: something to throw in a backpack.
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