The Art of Restriction
The Machine vs. The Scalpel
My usual workflow is defined by speed. With the Sony A1, I am a hunter of milliseconds—tracking rugby tackles and birds in flight at 30 frames per second. But for an expedition through the medinas of Rabat and the dunes of the Sahara, I didn't need a machine gun. I needed a scalpel.
I left the flagship at home and packed a kit defined by restriction: The Sony A7CR (61 megapixels in a rangefinder body) and a minimalist prime kit: the 20mm G, the 85mm, and the manual-focus Voigtlander 28mm.
This was a deliberate choice. In street photography, a large lens creates a barrier—a "Professional Intruder" effect. To capture the authentic, quiet soul of Morocco, I needed to be invisible.
Rabat Medina. Sony A7CR + Voigtlander 28mm f/2 Ultron. Manual focus. The compact footprint of the A7CR paired with the tactile mechanics of the Voigtlander forced me to slow down. I wasn't spraying frames; I was anticipating the woman's path, waiting for the moment she stepped into the shadow of the arch. This is "Slow Soul" photography in practice.
61 Megapixels of Freedom
Travel photography is often a battle between "getting the shot" and "being in the moment." The A7CR bridges this gap. It houses the same resolution as the A7R V but fits in a jacket pocket.
From an engineer’s perspective, this density of data (61MP) is a safety net. It allowed me to shoot loosely with the 20mm G lens in tight, chaotic alleyways, knowing I could crop aggressively in post-production to find the "photo within the photo" without losing the ability to print large. It allows for a relaxed capture and a rigorous refinement in the digital darkroom.
Hassan II Mosque, Casablanca. Sony A7CR + FE 20mm f/1.8 G. Processed with Cobalt Leica M9 Emulation. To capture the sheer volume of this space while remaining inconspicuous, the 20mm was essential. The M9 profile adds a specific CCD-like warmth to the sunbeams, preventing the digital sensor from feeling too clinical in such a historic, spiritual environment.
Slowing Down Time
Without the burden of a heavy zoom lens or the pressure of high-speed bursts, photography becomes meditative. The Voigtlander 28mm was the star of this trip. Its manual focus ring reminded me of my roots in the darkroom—connecting my hand, my eye, and the subject in a way an autofocus motor never can.
In sports, I shoot to freeze time. In Morocco, with this compact kit, I shot to savor it. I returned not just with data, but with a collection of moments that felt earned.
See more of my documentary work at www.joengphotography.com
Joe Ng Photography | Vancouver, BC
Bridging the adrenaline of high-performance sports with the timeless beauty of global travel. Whether utilizing the raw power of the Sony A1 or the minimalist precision of the A7CR, I apply a technical mindset to capture the emotional truth of the world.
