Seems like the more I listen, the more I hear people talking about the gear, the business of photography, the widgets. Let us not forget the simple love of photography.
I understand why there’s so much rhetoric in our industry about the business of photography and the gear and the gadgets. There is the common stereotype that most creative people aren’t good business people. There is fear. Gear is easier to talk about than vision. Exposures are exact, the camera dials have numbers. There is a ‘right’ answer to many of these questions.
But where is your love of pictures? Where are your actions that back this up?
Can you pick up a book of photographs and get lost in it?
Can you walk around with your iPhone or Android or your point and shoot or whatever and take 100 pictures knowing that they’ll never be for a client or a portfolio?
Do you love hunting for pictures?
Will you stay up late or get up early for pictures?
Do you sometimes ‘see’ life as a photograph?
It’s different for all of us, but when you can take a break from all the chatter, remind yourself–as often as you can–why you love photography.
Creativity. Simplicity. Passion. This is exactly what photography is all about. Great post.
I think there is nothing bad in being in love with the gear too. These days we have an access to amazing gear that lets us do things we couldn’t before.
I agree that in many cases people loose their perspective, forget the reasons why they get into photography, and get caught in the game of switching (or better said: blaming) gear and other stuff. It happens mostly because they are not satisfied with results they are getting. Lets face it: not having the right gear is the easiest excuse ever. 🙂
But, being one of the lucky ones (journalist and producer with an acces to loads and loads of photo/video gear), I can tell you that there is no gear that doesn’t have some limitations. Our job as photographers (or videographers) is to work arround those limitations, and not let the limitations affect our creativity, and get the best possible results for us (or our clients).
Photographer needs to know its gear to work its strenghts and avoid their weaknesses.
We are living in a great time. Photo equipment has never been better and more accessible to everyone. Internet is a great resource for learning different techniques, and we have access to many other photographers to share our work and opinions. This is the time to enjoy.
Warm regards,
Boris
To begin w/ I had a 35mm point and shoot canon I wore out, no zoom! I competed in Dallas State Fair againt people using fine equipment. My “gift” caused me to place first in B&W Rural. Because of financial limitations, I buy what I can afford! Once I inquired from a professor about equipment, his response was, “I’ve seen some terrrible images made with fine equipment and some beautiful images made with less expensive equipment”. With this I was inspired! I was in a lab recently and inquired whether the employee could distinguish camera type used per job, she said, “no”! I do it “for the love of photography”, yet love my equipment! When inventory is greater than passion you’ve lost it! Happy Shooting!
Its really good to here that some people in this industry are still humble and true to their roots. Nice one chase.
Usually I like posts about gear and ones with videos but this has just taken the place of “Favorite Post” for me.
wow…. I love taking pictures…..I feel them…..I love to look at them afterwards, hours of looking looking and looking….our memory is something that fails us after years and years of life…. we forget what we did when we were 6 or 14 or 32 or even now at 42…. but a picture can bring you right back there in the second that you look at it…. I cant get enough… I need more and more and more memories….