Photography itself poses an infinite series of personal challenges, which makes it an exciting activity for those of us who like to explore the outside world, but also the inside.

When I started to be interested in photography, I still didn't really understand the options that the market offered in terms of equipment. Different brands and formats, with different characteristics, but with the same purpose of capturing images. Gradually I began to be more interested in the possibilities offered by mirrorless cameras. Until then I had only focused on the composition of my everyday photos, without paying too much attention to basic things like depth of field and shutter speed. Despite the lack of knowledge, I think that being orphaned with the necessary knowledge to have greater control of the camera, perhaps it turned out to be an advantage to delve deeper into the scene and composition. I used compact cameras without the possibility of having manual control, but semi-automatic. I started to practice with different apertures and better control the exposure. It was then that I realized that I needed to have more control over the camera, as I was taking more and more photos in different situations and environments, and not always getting the results I wanted.

The chosen focal length, and how we use it, plays an important role in the character of the image that we are going to take. The angle from where we take the photograph will also provide one sensation or another when viewing the result. A camera body with a tilting or articulated screen helps us find interesting angles and get different perspectives. In short, knowing the camera we have in our hands in depth helps us to obtain the images we want in a more agile way, getting to the point and focusing on the subject and the elements that we frame.

The camera must be an extension of the photographer, one more part of his body, connected to the mind, as with any other extremity. Those photographs that I am most satisfied with are the ones that I feel have connected the camera with my heart and the moment. That scene that appears in the camera viewfinder and the instant synchronized with a heartbeat when shooting, makes that image unique and unrepeatable. It is useless to know the equipment we use well if we do not open up to the environment and are capable of finding beauty in small details. We build our own style based on becoming aware of each photograph we create and a lot of practice.

For me, the focal length I feel most comfortable with, and the one I use the most for all types of photography, is the full-frame 35mm equivalent. The Olympus M.Zuiko 17mm f/1.8 is a bright, small, lightweight lens with good image quality. It is ideal for any type of situation, although you have to be careful in the rain, as it is not a sealed lens.