As previously mentioned, I got my first DSLR in August of 2017. It was a very basic purchase, including the camera body, strap, battery with charger, and an 18 – 55mm kit lens. Thus began a series of “Update” purchases that were intended to make my Photography better. First came a multi-coated UV filter which I rarely use, if ever. Next was a Circular Polarizer which I use quite frequently. I then got a remote trigger so I could activate the shutter without touching the camera; a handy device when shooting long exposures. That was followed by a 55 – 250mm lens for getting close images without getting close, (Think of long distance shots without all the walking) followed by a 24mm Prime lens for wide-angle images.
When I upgraded to a newer model camera, I discovered the remote shutter release wouldn’t work, so I had to get an Intervelometer. When I ordered a more stable Tripod, I also added an “L” bracket to make switching to Portrait Orientation more stable. Eventually I saw a 75 – 300mm lens for sale and decided to buy it in order to gain the additional 50mm over my 55 – 250. However, I lost 20mm at the lower end. I’m still not sure if that decision was the best one I could have made. I then added a “nifty fifty” 50mm Prime lens because that lens is highly recommended for all-round Photography due to the fact that it most closely represents what the Human Eye sees. And of course, I needed a bigger Camera bag to carry it all!
Recently I came across a Sigma 150-500mm lens for a very good price but was unable to make the purchase. In deliberating with myself if I should attempt to free up the money somehow, I had to ask myself; “Do I really need it?” (well, YEAH!) or can I make do without it?
Of course I can make do… I made do without all the other purchases before I made them. As I have been told either directly or indirectly, many times, it is not the Gear that makes a good Photographer, just as it was never the Gear that made a good Musician!
To prove this point, a Professional Photographer in the U.K. named Gary Gough, recently purchased a Canon EOS 350D (in Canada it’s the EOS Digital Rebel XT which is the same model Anne uses) It was released in 2005 and boasts an 8 megapixel sensor. Gary bought it online for £19 which is equal to about $32.00 Canadian. What Gary discovered is that the most difficult part for him was in getting used to the camera’s functions. Obviously the more modern Canon cameras he uses have different features so he felt it was a bit like going back in time. To see the results of Gary’s experiment, follow this link.
I have spent a lot of time wondering if I had the right tools to make my Photographs stand out, all the while overlooking the comments I receive from people who state how my Photos touch and affect them. In the past few years I have been like a kid at Christmas every time someone posts camera gear for sale on Kijiji or Facebook Marketplace, but the truth is, I already have the most important tools I need; my eyes.
The ability to see compositions and to further see how they will look when framed to fit the camera’s sensor is the most important part of photography. Sometimes one must look carefully to see the image within the background. There is a place I go where the landscape is rather uninspiring. It’s a small lake and while the landscape is unexciting and the fish don’t bite, its tranquility is wonderful and gives me some time to clear my mind. But while the photo opportunities are few, I have managed to capture a few images by looking at smaller compositions instead of the larger picture. I even managed to get this somewhat intimate photo of an endangered Piping Plover!
Having the ability to look ahead and see a finished Photograph when scanning a rather large landscape gives one an advantage over the person who just gets a snapshot. Snapshots are fine for remembering places and events, but Photographs create moods and emotions, causing people to pause for a moment or two and allow those moods and emotions wash over them. None of this is associated with the gear one uses. I have seen some amazing Photos taken with a Smart Phone or a Point ‘n’ Shoot camera. I have also seen blah, unimaginative images taken with a camera kit worth thousands of dollars. The greatest Drumset in the world will still sound awful when played incorrectly.
To become a great Photographer, you must have great eyes – the kind of eyes that see the beauty in chaos, or the sublime or abstract in the ordinary. Sometimes it simply takes experience, and sometimes it takes a whole new way of looking at things. Remember; When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change!
Once again, thanks for dropping by and reading. As always, I appreciate your thoughts and comments. Until next week, keep your shutter finger warm and always remember to pack extra batteries.
