Improvements in Gear Often Result in Small Improvements in Your Pictures
For one reason or another, when it comes to trying something new or improving, most amateur photographers will think about buying a new lens or camera.
But most of the time, you don’t need to change your gear.
Indeed, unless you have a very cheap camera or lens, your gear is fine as it is. Most of the time changing for more expensive gear will only improve marginally the quality of your pictures.
A Concrete Example
To convince you that your gear won’t prevent you from creating great photos here is an example:
When you look at this photo, you don’t think, “this lens and camera are bad”.
Yet, the camera, lens, and film used here cost no more than €100 to €150 total (Vivitar V6000 and Vivitar 19mm f/3.8).
What draws your attention to this photo is the scenery, the framing, and the way the photograph is composed.
Sure, a Leica or Nikkor lens might have offered more sharpness, less distortion, contrast or whatever.
My point is, what really makes the image good here is the composition. A budget camera and lens did not prevent me from fulfilling my artistic vision as a photographer.
Why Choosing Skills instead of Gear Changes Everything
Now imagine that instead of investing my time and money in learning composition, I had spent it on choosing the best possible gear.
I would probably not have been able to frame this photograph because my eye would not have been trained enough to compose a good photograph.
Knowing what subject to go after, how to tell a story, how to balance a composition and other skills are the real fun of photography. And by focusing on gear you miss all of it!
There is very little point in having thousands of dollars worth of gear while lacking skills!
The reality is most amateur photographers, probably like you, have limited time and money to devote to their passion. This is why it is important to invest them wisely if you want to improve and have more fun.
Go After the Big Improvements, Not the Little Ones!
When I look at amateur photography, I always reach the same conclusion: gear is not their problem, a lack of skills in composition and the creative process is.
If they are willing to switch their interest from gear to skills, in 99% of cases they will have more fun photographing and improve their picture quality in a matter of weeks.
So forget the $1000 camera and save your money. For $8 a month I offer lessons with concrete examples in the contact sheet posts on ElectroCroissant.
I studied composition and the creative process for years, this is why I can say that I am an artist. What I will share with you, is basically the logic and the thinking that allowed me to build my craft.
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