A couple of nights, I had a traumatic moment. If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook, you might have seen my post about getting my stomach pumped.
I just drank a full gulp of my gym’s pool water. I feel as if I need my stomach pumped; maybe even a blood transfusion.
Facebook Post
I was on my first lap when the band for my goggles snapped. Unlike Michael Phelps, I yelped like a puppy. The only problem was that yelping under water invited mouthfuls of unwanted chlorine (and apparently other elements according to the responses on Facebook).
When I got home, I nursed my wounded conscience with a cappuccino and television. I came across a commercial from H&R Block that epitomized my question — does gear matter?
As a photographer, I understand the relevance of the artist. However, many argue that a great artist could be handed any camera (even disposable) and be able to create great art. Do you think Michelangelo would have been able to paint the ceiling of Sistine Chapel with broken brushes?
These Firenze (Florence, Italy) street artists did a wonderful job with limited tools.
Arguably, finger painting is rather effective even in small details.
So, would it have made a difference if I had better goggles? Maybe. Personally, I believe that good gear does not necessarily make a good artist. However, it sure make the transition from amateur to professional a lot easier. So, if you don’t have the gear, rent.
What are your thoughts? Does gear matter?
Lawrence Chan
P.S. If you’re in Los Angeles, I’ll be speaking at Infocus Video Conference from 20th January to 23rd January, 2013.
P.P.S. If you’re in Europe, join me at Dutch Wedding Congress from 4th February to 6th February, 2013.
P.P.S. Daniel Cruz, a phenomenal Southern California Photographer, shared some kind words about my pricing e-book.
Per Ken Rockwell, I am inclined to say that gear is not as essential as knowing what you’re doing. Obviously there is a minimum amount of gear that you need to make an image, but as you go up the scale of quality towards professional-grade equipment, you are only gaining (1) ease and (2) speed/efficiency. Cameras don’t take pictures, photographers MAKE pictures.
It is a balance of both. My husband (when I go through my artist angst moments) tells me I have the “Eye” when it comes to photography. But I have several examples of how my ‘eye’ is badly showcased because I was still trying to understand my camera or my post-processing workflow. But on the flip side, I started out with a point and shoot camera and I still came out with some pretty good photos. I am honestly I glad I started out this way because I was able to hone my craft, but also once did get my profession camera I understood the magnitude of what it was giving me-in terms of the canvas I am working with.
One of the best tips I’ve heard on gear is this: “Don’t upgrade your gear until you’re certain your gear is the only thing holding you back.”
In other words, increase your understanding of photography until you’ve reached the point where it’s hard to get better without better gear.
Do you REALLY need to upgrade from the 85 1.8 to the 85 1.2? Or would you be better served fixing your lighting issues first? A 1.2 vs a 1.8 won’t fix the fact that you’re still putting your subjects in direct, harsh sunlight all the time.
I’ve also tried to abide by the concept of: “Where would your BUSINESS be best served by that investment?”
In other words, if you’re going to spend $1500 on a new lens, are your sure your photography needs a $1500 investment? If your website looks like it’s from the 2000′s, wouldn’t your business be better served by investing $1500 into upgrading your website rather than a tiny increase in photographic quality? Or how about putting that $1500 into a class or online seminar to know how to work with light better?
Instead of thinking of where to spend money on your photography equipment, think about how your business as a WHOLE would be better served by investing that money.
Love that tip in the first line. Sometimes the allure of new gear tricks us into thinking we need new things.