About two weeks ago I lost the lens hood for my 35mm f1.8 lens. The new hood arrived today so the lens now functions as it did before. 🙂
Actually, I want to share my reactions when I discovered it missing, it surprised me. I didn’t get too upset as I knew I could easily replace it. I did backtrack to see if I could find it. Nuttin! What surprised me was my attitude towards that lens: I acted like it was dysfunctional with the hood missing. My first response was to put it back in my bag and use another lens which had a hood. I may have but I was on the road and it was the only lens I brought. So, guess what’s really dysfunctional. For two weeks I’ve been using this lens without a hood and it’s taking pretty darn near perfect images, without a hood. Proving again, it’s the imperfect photographer that screws things up. Think therapy would help me?
7 Comments
Ray Ketcham
Not sure about the therapy thing (probably wouldn’t help as much as a new hood).
I know how you felt though it is those little nagging things that aren’t a problem that seem to take on an importance beyond their reality that trip us up when they shouldn’t. Back of the head stuff that sells a lot of equipment we really don’t need as well.
QPB
Lol–no therapy for you, we like you just the way you are! No such thing as an imperfect photographer–it is the “imperfections” that allow us to see things a little differently, perhaps, and lends itself to us wanting to make our own impression for others to see.
Earl
Monte, I think you’re pretty normal. Using adapter rings I’ve sized most of my lens to use 77mm filters. This allows me to have one set of filters that will work on most of my lens. However, the side effect is that the hoods don’t work on most of those adapted lens. That put me off at first, much as you reacted, but now I seldom think of if. 🙂
drewfulton
I had the same reaction when I first saw sports guys shooting 300 and 400mm lenses without hoods. Amazing though, pictures came out the same.
Anita Jesse
What really concerns me is that I didn’t think there was anything unusual about your thought process! After reading your post, I took a minute to think about some of my all time favorite photographs that I took before I owned any hoods—indeed, before I owned any L lenses, as well. I had a good laugh at myself.
Monte Stevens
@ Anita: Glad you got a laugh at yourself. We need to more often.
@Earl: I’m glad you think I’m normal. Must mean we think along the same lines. 🙂
@Mary Ann: So no therapy needed. Maybe it would be good therapy to shoot more.
@Ray: Your right about the new hood. Suppose I could buy a new lens with a new hood. Been thinking about a 28mm.
Mark
Hmmm, have to say hood therapy is a new one for me. Can’t say I have ever read that anywhere…ever… until now. 🙂