For years, serious photographers were told the same thing:

Use fast primes.
Shoot wide apertures.
Get everything right in camera.

But photography has changed.

Modern editing tools can recover shadows, remove noise, sharpen images, and isolate subjects in ways that simply weren’t possible not long ago. That shift raises an interesting question:

Does chasing fast primes still make sense… or has the humble super zoom become the more honest tool?

In this episode of The Photog Files, Rick explores why lenses like the 28–200mm may actually represent a more practical and authentic approach to modern photography.

Instead of chasing technical perfection, a super zoom allows photographers to stay present in the moment — reacting quickly, composing freely, and capturing scenes without constantly switching lenses.

This episode isn’t about declaring primes obsolete.

It’s about rethinking what really matters today:
the moment, the composition, and the story — not the gear.

If editing tools are more powerful than ever… maybe the lens that lets you see more is the one worth carrying.

📸 Website
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Photography advice is everywhere — YouTube videos, social media, forums, and even conversations at the camera store. But if you’re just starting out, it can sometimes feel like everyone is telling you the “right” way to do photography.

Shoot manual.
Buy expensive gear.
Find epic locations.
Never use flash.
Don’t edit too much.

The problem is… many of these ideas are more myth than truth.

In this episode of The Photog Files, Rick breaks down five common photography myths that beginners often believe — and explains why they don’t tell the whole story.

From the pressure to always shoot manual to the belief that editing is cheating, this episode explores the reality behind these widely repeated photography “rules.”

Because great photography isn’t about following myths — it’s about learning how to see, use light, and develop your own creative voice.

In this episode:

• Why shooting manual doesn’t automatically make better photos
• The truth about expensive camera gear
• Why great photos don’t require epic locations
• The real role of flash in photography
• Why editing has always been part of the photographic process

Whether you’re just starting out or have been photographing for years, these myths are worth revisiting.

Because sometimes the biggest growth happens when we question the “rules.”

The Photog Files is a podcast about photography, creativity, and building a meaningful creative life—one frame at a time.

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/carolinahawkeye⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website & show notes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ricknelson.photography⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ More episodes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ricknelson.photography/the-photog-files

This week’s episode is less about photography — and more about what happens when you’re in the middle of the journey.

After being tempted by a heavily discounted Sony A7V and debating a lens change, Rick found himself asking a deeper question: was this really about gear… or about wanting movement when life feels uncertain?

A reflective, honest conversation about creative restlessness, the pressure of time, and the quiet seasons where nothing is wrong — but something still feels off. Sometimes growth isn’t about upgrading. Sometimes it’s about staying, refining, and trusting the work in front of you.

The Photog Files is a podcast about photography, creativity, and building a meaningful creative life—one frame at a time.

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/carolinahawkeye⁠⁠⁠⁠Website & show notes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ricknelson.photography⁠⁠⁠⁠ More episodes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ricknelson.photography/the-photog-files