Just bought a new Hasselblad 500cm--excited and... nervous?

TortoiseAvenger · Sep 18, 2014

Hello everyone!

I'm new to the forums, and have decided to come to share my most recent conundrum. I've been a photographer for many years now, starting with point and shoots as a youngster, moving to B&W darkroom work in college, and having the occasional affair with digital. I purchased a rolleiflex awhile back, but sold it thinking I was getting out of photography--but alas, it keeps coming back.

Lately I've been refining my "style" and what my preferred content is. I've been working on this for years. I used to think of it as a goal with an endpoint, I'm starting to wonder if it is a never ending search that will haunt me for my entire career. That said, I've got something down that I'm happy with for the moment.

I have a hasselblad 500cm coming to me tomorrow, which will effectively replace the Nikon 35mm I've been using. You'd think I'd be elated. I am--kind of. For the first time, I'll have awesome equipment AND a vision/goal that I have a strong desire to execute. Oddly, instead of being happy, I'm finding myself very nervous.

I have no more excuses. I can't say I don't have the right equipment, or that I'm just not sure what I want to shoot. I have it all figured out, and now I have to actually get out there and work.

Perhaps this wouldn't be so nerve-racking if I didn't, somewhere in my mind, except that because now I have great equipment and a vision that 100% of my photos will be awesome and exhibition worthy. I know this won't be, but for some reason it's hard to shake the idea that even with the best equipment and intentions, I'll be lucky to get a good image per week.

In case you haven't figured out by now, I'm an extremely anxious case--and there's only enough Klonopin in the world.

Have any of you felt this way before? What did you do to get over it?

Any advice or reassuring words would be greatly appreciated

Thanks--

TA

bdial · Sep 18, 2014

It's just a camera, relax and go take pictures.

Load up a roll of film, stick a couple more in your pocket and go exploring. Learn how the controls feel, learn to see in squares instead of rectangles.

TortoiseAvenger · Sep 18, 2014

I tend to be pretty good at the 1:1 aspect ratio. I like it a lot better, actually. I got used to it when I was shooting with the rollei.

erikg · Sep 18, 2014

I would say, Yes... it is a lifelong journey. As you change so will your ideas of "style" and subject. Enjoy the new gear but don't let it push you around. And just because it is a square format doesn't mean you have to make square pictures all the time, that's just another choice.

BrianShaw · Sep 18, 2014

TortoiseAvenger said:
...

I have a hasselblad 500cm coming to me tomorrow, which will effectively replace the Nikon 35mm I've been using. You'd think I'd be elated. I am--kind of. For the first time, I'll have awesome equipment AND a vision/goal that I have a strong desire to execute. Oddly, instead of being happy, I'm finding myself very nervous.

...

As someone else said... relax and enjoy. It might help you to relax if you would understand that the Hassy and your Nikon 35mm are apples and oranges. It is really difficult for one to be consider a replacement for the other. My experience has been that they both have their strengths, weakness, and applications. Use them wisely for what they have to offer, and whatever you do, don't force yourself into making them do jobs they are not well suited for.

Welome to the forum; welcome to MF... now have a great time!

Ken Nadvornick · Sep 18, 2014

TortoiseAvenger said:
Any advice or reassuring words would be greatly appreciated...

Simply think of it as fancy pencil and paper. Then go out and use it to tell a good story.

And don't tell the poor donkey that he must push the cart. Your goal is not to create an exhibition-worthy set of pages upon which your story is written. Or to collect the best set of writing tools available to write it. Or to generate the greatest number of Likes by those reading it. Or to wait yet another day to begin work on it.

Your goal is to tell the story...

"That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse."

"What will your verse be?"

Ken

summicron1 · Sep 18, 2014

you're worried your first roll of film will suck and your desires to be an artist with the camera will be dashed and you'll feel like an idiot.

Relax, be assure: Your first roll of film WILL suck. Probably the second one too. The third maybe, might, possibly, show promise, perhaps.

But keep shooting. That's what being an artist is all about. Sometimes it sucks. OK, often it sucks.

But sometimes it doesn't.

Ahhhhh!

mweintraub · Sep 18, 2014

Your feels mimic my feelings. I don't have a Hasselblad, but I do have many other nice cameras. The cameras I have are fantastic, it's me that sucks. When I try and get a shot, I do usually get shots I'm very proud of. Sometimes, I don't. As said before, go out and enjoy it. Let the camera just be a tool.

Noisegate · Sep 18, 2014

Hi TA,

I went through the same thing....after years of lusting, I finally bought my RZ 67. Then came the pressure...in my mind, every picture had to be worthy and so the camera sat for 6 months. I felt petty stupid. Then one day, I picked it up and started taking pictures and have not looked back. Although not every picture was brilliant (or even good for that matter), as it turns out, just the pleasure of knowing the potential is there (equipment wise) pushes me forward. For me, the trick was to get over myself and allow mistakes to happen. No one is born with perfect skills so give yourself and break, let go and have fun.

Noisegate

gone · Sep 18, 2014

Trust me, no matter how good the camera is, 100% of your shots will not be exhibition worthy. It's the photographer not the camera, and speaking only from my personal experience, I'm elated if I get one out of a couple of thousand that are that quality. Hey, if it were that easy then everyone would be doing it (don't tell this to the M9 shooters). The 'blad is a good camera, but it won't change a thing. Keep the Nikon too, as you'll certainly need it if anything is moving :]

Slixtiesix · Sep 18, 2014

And always make sure the camera is cocked before taking off the lens or re-mounting it. Same goes for the lens!

snapguy · Sep 18, 2014

It ain't the box

I have a photograph I took in 1947 with a Kodak Brownie Reflex that is better than anything I ever took with Hasselblad and I used a Hassey professionally for two years.

Alan Gales · Sep 18, 2014

One day when I was in art school doing figure drawing my instructor told us that our next drawings would be on the expensive "good" paper. I felt intimidated before I put my pencil to the paper because I was using the "good" paper. I guess I thought I had to draw a masterpiece then! After I started drawing I loved the new paper and quickly got over my intimidation.

I owned a 500/cm. Yes, it's the "good" paper. After you shoot a roll or two you will realize that it's just a camera and a camera is just a tool just like your Nikon.

Enjoy!

snapguy · Sep 18, 2014

forgot

I forgot to mention the 'Blad is a great camera. Good luck and have a great time on a new adventure.

MattKing · Sep 18, 2014

Before you do anything else, start having fun shooting your new camera.

All the rest will follow naturally.

It is remarkably like dating.

jerrybro · Sep 19, 2014

It took me a little while to get used to mine, as it handles differently than my Nikons and differently than my first MF, a Rolleicord. With the Blad follow through on the shutter button is very important, the rear shutter stay open when the button is depressed, if you release too soon on a long exposure you close the rear curtain while the lens shutter is still open. I find it a really adaptable system. I use the WLF and a tripod when doing portraits or landscape type work, but when at an event I use the grip with a prism to make it a bit faster handling. It is not a fast handling system, and when the the camera fires everyone will know. I practice by chasing my dog and grandkid around the yard. They are usually gone before I am focused and ready, but sometimes I catch 'em.

Hatchetman · Sep 19, 2014

Reading about the different backs and everything....I got so nervous I just bought a Pentax 6x7 instead.

k.hendrik · Sep 19, 2014

MattKing said:
Before you do anything else, start having fun shooting your new camera.

All the rest will follow naturally.

It is remarkably like dating.

And, if you dated her for 43 years and still having fun(as I did); you made the right choise

frank · Sep 19, 2014

She may be awkward at first, but think long term and stick with it.

Sirius Glass · Sep 20, 2014

Welcome to APUG

You are a very wise man.

I also moved from 35mm Nikon slrs to Hasselblad. It is wonderful different world and your photographs will improve. The larger screen allows you to spot previously hidden gotcha and it is much easier to compose on than the tiny 35 mm frame. Also now you can change from color to black & white mid roll!

Enjoy.

PKM-25 · Sep 20, 2014

Best..
Camera...
System....
Ever.....

Sirius Glass · Sep 21, 2014

PKM-25 said:
Best..
Camera...
System....
Ever.....

+1000

k.hendrik · Sep 21, 2014

Ich möchte deinen sorgen haben

Henry Alive · Sep 22, 2014

I want to congratulate you because you have bought a very good camera. However, in my modest opinion, you will need a tripod too. I think Hasselblad Cameras are for no movement pictures, like landscapes or portraits. So I recommend two things: buy a good tripod and keep your Nikon for those moments when you need to work fast.
Henry.

Sirius Glass · Sep 22, 2014

Henry Alive said:
I want to congratulate you because you have bought a very good camera. However, in my modest opinion, you will need a tripod too. I think Hasselblad Cameras are for no movement pictures, like landscapes or portraits. So I recommend two things: buy a good tripod and keep your Nikon for those moments when you need to work fast.
Henry.

Actually Hasselblad are great for sports and wildlife photography including birds without a tripod. I have done it. What are you basing your opinion on?

Just bought a new Hasselblad 500cm--excited and... nervous?

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