"Lately, there seems to be a trend of overpuffed, self important people in the photo industry who claim that Photography is NOT about the gear. Well, I don’t know who those folks are, or what their qualifications are for making such arguments, but I wholly disagree with that wildly outlandish statement.
Of course, photography is about the gear. It’s always been about the gear."
oh i'm sure he wouldn't have written that before he was a pro who could afford all that amazing gear. we all start somewhere....and we all have our own personal goals and intentions. the gear has NEVER been the be-all-end-all. just because someone mentions Daguerreotypes doesn't mean they're an expert on photographic history. Back in those days (1850-1900) people MADE THEIR OWN CAMERAS to get something better than what already existed. Photography is about KNOWING your gear and it's limitations, and using your own eye to capture and create the beauty around you. Shame on Dan Bailey for being an elitist.
In my opinion, a good photographer can produce good shots with a disposable camera.
There are people who buy a fancy camera and can't produce a decent shot with it. Expensive gear doesn't make you a professional or good photographer. Talent does.
Unfortunately, any argument that guy had really went out the window with his elitest tone...
Gear CAN and DOES matter for certain things. But it's not the end all be all. I shoot most of my daily photos out of laziness with my iPhone because it's always on me and it's little and light and doesn't attract attention. I shoot race cars with a prosumer DSLR and f/2.8 lenses. Everything has it's time and place. iPhone won't hack it for race cars, just like the D300 + 80-200m f/2.8 lens cannot fit in my purse (though I have tried...)
This guy proved he was an asshole with this comment: "Sure, some folks might say that’s a bad thing, and that you can do make great photos with just an iPhone, but trust me, those are just the people who can’t afford a Nikon D4 or a Fuji X-Pro 1."
Oh, I assure you have I have enough credit available to buy a D4, yet I still think an iPhone can get some very good photos. I'm not sure why he just automatically assumes a person who says an iPhone is good cannot afford a particular camera... maybe that person even owns a D4 already?!
I’ll Say it Again: Photography is Not About The Gear
"Yesterday I read a short post by travel photographer Phil Hill that was posted over at Light Stalking, called Why Good Photography Isn’t About The Gear.
In his article, Phil went out and shot landscapes with his girlfriend’s entry level DSLR and f/5.6 kit lens. His intent was to prove that learning how to effectively expose for your scene with Manual and Aperture Priority modes is far more important than just buying more Megapixels.
@webfoot@grizzlysghost There's a story about there somewhere, can't remember the people exactly, but a photog was at a party and someone told him "Your photos are so good, what camera do you use?" and the photog replied "This food is so good, what brand is your stove?" LOL!
Oh yes Heidi, I remember something about that. A lot of people take it as a bit of an insult when a complement on a photo is accompanied by a question about the gear. :)
gosh, I thought photography was about emotion and composition and about expressing yourself through a visual art. Hmmmnnn... however I'd love to be able to afford any and all the gear I want,. ;-)
@grizzlysghost It does get a bit annoying. "That's a really good photo, must be a nice camera!" Sometimes I am tempted to lie and say I took something with a $50 point and shoot or something, just to try to offset the expensive camera = awesome photo thing. But oh well... I still think *depending on the type of photography* gear can matter, so I can't hold it against someone for complimenting me, even if they just think it was the camera.
What gets me is that anytime I am out and about with a DSLR, I always get someone asking me if I'm from the newspaper... Because big camera = newspaper photog, apparently...
If my camera doesn't keep up with me... and I get annoyed... it's about "the gear". Only "problem" can't afford anything other than I have right now... slowly saving some money ;-) Don't care about upgrading to soft-boxes o.a.l.t. Just a Nikon and a speedlight for starters... and for everything else "my household set-ups work fine by me ;-) BTW... any thoughts about the D5100? Esp. it's sensor (high ISO vs noise) & speed-wise? LOL
damn, I must suck as a photographer, I told someone to use a flashlight (torch) to light the dark part of their subject at night instead of using hdr.
I like when I take a photo with a point and shoot no one pays me any mind, but as soon as a lens change on the dslr happens, I get a group of cameras behind me. It is such a funny thing.
I always agree with Heidi when this argument comes up, of course gear matters, you choose your equipment for your intended purpose... but the technical side is only ever half the story. @hmgphotos
I'd prefer to re-word it slightly:
"Of course, photography is about the light. It’s always been about the light."
The funny thing is that I can see some of his points. How often does a new camera come out and a bunch of people oooh and aaaw over it? Suddenly those people think that their camera isn't good enough any more, they just NEED the extra megapixels/faster fps rate/higher ISO capability (or whatever). In some cases its true, but often it is just falling for marketing, which tries to convince you that your photos will be just as good as the xyz professional the manufacturer hired to promote it if you buy that camera. How do I know? I've fallen for it more than once, yet the photos I've taken with the new camera often don't look all that much different than the ones from the previous camera (there have been a couple of exceptions, and in one case the photos were significantly worse). But there are many, many people who do feel that you just have to have the latest and greatest camera/lens/accessories or you can't be any good. And that "latest" always equals "greatest". They are welcome to their opinion, I'll happily keep myself occupied digging out my 30 year old lenses every so often, it's fun playing with them.
Any camera is good enough, until it's not. If you shoot low DR scenes, in good, bright light and your subject moves slowly or not at all, and you don't need shallow DOF, then you can use pretty much any camera.
If you're going to shoot kids, pets, high DR scenes like sunsets where you want to lift shadows, you're going to be require something better than a camera phone. When I'm out at night and I want to shoot some scenes but didn't bring my tripod, I'm happy my sensor will produce relatively clean 3200 ISO shots.
When I need to travel light and I don't care so much, I have an S95 which can produce excellent images under the right circumstances.
I think equipment plays a certain part, for example a 50mm f/ 1.8 will give fanstic results compared with just bog standard point and shoot....but ultimately it's about haing a good eye and working with equipment you've got.
Having all that gear doesn't necessarily make you a photographer, it just means you've got a lot of disposable income.
When i see a shot on here that i love, i never check what camera it was taken with......because i dont really care! and i never say wow your camera took a beautiful shot, i say wow YOU took a beautiful shot.
It's not the camera, it's the photographer. Plain and simple. An expensive scalple in the hands of a surgeon doesn't automatically make him Dr. Kildare.
That said, there's a lot of gear I hope to get one day when I can afford it. An assortment of glass, a better camera bag, etc. Someday.
An expensive camera does have its advantages though. A few months back I found out there was a Celebrity Look-A-Like Exhibition being held at a local hotel. They all gathered together to be judged by scouts for TV and print adds, talent agents, casting directors for movie extras agencies...stuff like that. I went hoping to just get a couple of shots of some of them entering and leaving the ballroom. After a while the promoter spotted me and walked over. I immediadely though "Uh oh, the jig is up. He's gonna ask me to take a powder.". He introduces himself looks at my camera and asks me what paper I was with. I quickly stuck out my hand and said "Cromwell...from the Sentinel (I live in a one newspaper town). He lit up, said "Come with me!" and took me backstage, and left me to shoot to my hearts content! Never asked for any credentials or media passes. Just assumed I must be official because of my camera gear. So, there ya go. If I was holding a point and shoot he probably would have called security. LOL!
sigh What gear is best is a different question than what gear is necessary. Use the tools you have to the best of your ability. Always seek to learn more.
BTW, are we certain this is not an early April Fool? The above linked articles contradict each other. And they are both kinda wrong regardless.
@hmgphotos I've totally used an LED on an iphone for a wedding shot and it worked brilliantly!!! (btw, cheesy overused shot, but the bride asked for it so I tried to make it different by using the LED, and I was happy, so you are right! Even THAT can make good photos!)
"As photographers, it’s easy to get caught up in all the gear hoopla. After all, our entire craft essentially revolves around expensive mechanical wingdings and technology that refuses to stand still. It’s no surprise that we get so concerned with having the right and optimum equipment so that we may capture our subjects in the best possible way.
However, I’ll say this once again, even though you’ve heard it a thousand times:
@dmortega Hey, Dorrena! I came upon the most FASCINATING post on Dan Bailey's Facebook wall today. Have you and he had a good time playing with everyone?
@beautifulthing --- Well, I started out just sharing and then saw the other post and well, don't take it personally. I didn't write the original posts nor the subsequent posts. I did mention that everyone here were decent people. Sometimes I post something to get conversation started. It was not meant to be mean. So, please don't take it in that manner. Like I said, Dan posted these and I shared them. That's all.
OH, come on. Do you not find it interesting how opossing opinions can keep this particular subject going? I think we should take it all with a grain of salt. No matter what side we are on there will be very strong opinions. We have the same discussions about SOOC and editing. Please do not make this into something it is not. I did not write the original posts.
FWIW; I share information that I think will be of interest. After I saw Dan's second posting, I wondered what people would do with that here. I've seen so many heated discussions on both sides but this was an interesting take on it. So, yea, I threw it out here to see what the response would be.
@dmortega , While I do like healthy discussions, I am not someone's social experiment.
While each piece of cheese you dropped is interesting in their own right, your comment "Sometimes though, it's just fun to play with them. ;-)" makes me picture a scenario in which I am a mouse dancing between treats to their master's amusement.
While it may not have been intended as such, it is hard for me to take your comment out of context; no matter how it's read, it just looks manipulative.
Maybe I will write a companion piece: "Success in a social environment; it's NOT all about your hardware." :)
@grizzlysghost --- Fair enough. Maybe I could have worded that differently but I didn't. I am sorry if I have offended anyone by my statement. It certainly was never meant to be offensive to anyone. As I stated on Dan's post which was not included on the quote above.
"The people on that site are pretty decent people but they are so passionate on whatever side of the argument they are on. Overall, it's a great site and well monitored."
@amyhughes It's not a hate bash. It's a lesson in social media. I agree that this thread was misleading and the article posted was out of context. To find out it was on purpose sucks. People don't like being manipulated. The author of the article sought me out personally to explain that his write up was dry humor and tongue in cheek .... because of the comment I wrote.
@sdpace I wasn't thinking the hate bashing had started yet. I was just saying let's not start it...it feels like it might lead there. I just don't want it to go there.
And that's freaking hilarious that he sought you out to explain...LOL. THAT makes me laugh hysterically ;))
LOL, I must be part of the fail, because I'm not really passionate for either side of the argument,... For discussions around here, this one didn't show much passion on either side really. I've seen a lot better that would've been better social experiments... LOL.
@dmortega In about six months, I'm going to have the lab cleared and can develop and print B&W again. That is going to be fun.....my 1971 Pentax Spotmatic II is going to get dusted off and put back to work. not to mention the Argus C3 and a couple older cameras in the collection.
@byrdlip --- WOW! That's very cool! A few people from my photography group is trying to convince the group to do a disposable camera meetup. No editing afterward either. I did one of the meetups with a disposable camera already and it's interesting. I got some fantastic pictures and all there was on the camera was a shutter release. We will probably do that as a group.
Talent can compensate for lack of equipment, but the reverse... Not so much! I truly believe that artists are born, not made... Sadly for me... Cos the best I can hope for is to not completely suck!!!
@northy --- You can learn, can't you? I've seen photographers grow here on this site. They started out on one level and have moved, in some cases, many levels. Take pictures every day and open your mind to the possibilities that are in your mind and at your fingertips. Do not settle to SUCK! I'm starting my 3rd year next month and I can tell you it's all about consistance and determination to move beyond that stage. It won't happen overnight. Give it a year and then let me know what you think. :-)
@dmortega tx Dorrena... i know i can improve, and i think i have... i can learn the "rules" and acquire the technical skills, but i will never have true artistic talent... that's ok... like i said, i just want to not completely suck :) tx for the follow!
@northy you are crazy northy.... you ARE creative....I view your pics and you DO have a creative flair. If you aren't satisfied with the results you are getting, ask people that ARE getting the results you'd like to get how they got their images to the end result. Some of us (I know I will) are more than happy to share.
@jsw0109 awwwww Jeff... you really are sweet to say that... thank you... i guess in my mind i really do not have the creative spark... so even if i can learn some of the techniques you use (and i do appreciate the offer), it will still never be the same... as an aside, i've already filed away daffodil noir for future reference - that was one uber cool shot! :)
@northy --- Well, It's hard to get where you say you want to be in your photography if you've already made up you mind that you will fail. With this attitude, you will always fail. Seems to me you just haven't discovered where your spark is. Give it time to develop.
@dmortega@jsw0109 ok ok ok :D i'm not being defeatist... just trying to be realistic... haven't given up, nor will i... i promise :) i'm really enjoying myself with the camera... always have... i remember getting my first kodak with cassette film when i was 7... i took this cool picture of a giraffe at the zoo and my parents had it blown up to poster size for me and i had it hanging in my room for years... it's a hobby, and i don't expect to ever make money off of it... but i do want to take pictures others will want to look at, and when i bring in shots from a vacation, i don't want people to roll their eyes ;p tx so much for the kick in the pants... likely needed it!
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There are people who buy a fancy camera and can't produce a decent shot with it. Expensive gear doesn't make you a professional or good photographer. Talent does.
Just my thoughts :-)
Gear CAN and DOES matter for certain things. But it's not the end all be all. I shoot most of my daily photos out of laziness with my iPhone because it's always on me and it's little and light and doesn't attract attention. I shoot race cars with a prosumer DSLR and f/2.8 lenses. Everything has it's time and place. iPhone won't hack it for race cars, just like the D300 + 80-200m f/2.8 lens cannot fit in my purse (though I have tried...)
This guy proved he was an asshole with this comment: "Sure, some folks might say that’s a bad thing, and that you can do make great photos with just an iPhone, but trust me, those are just the people who can’t afford a Nikon D4 or a Fuji X-Pro 1."
Oh, I assure you have I have enough credit available to buy a D4, yet I still think an iPhone can get some very good photos. I'm not sure why he just automatically assumes a person who says an iPhone is good cannot afford a particular camera... maybe that person even owns a D4 already?!
I’ll Say it Again: Photography is Not About The Gear
"Yesterday I read a short post by travel photographer Phil Hill that was posted over at Light Stalking, called Why Good Photography Isn’t About The Gear.
In his article, Phil went out and shot landscapes with his girlfriend’s entry level DSLR and f/5.6 kit lens. His intent was to prove that learning how to effectively expose for your scene with Manual and Aperture Priority modes is far more important than just buying more Megapixels.
And you know what? He’s right."
Continued ...
http://danbaileyphoto.com/blog/ill-say-it-again-photography-is-not-about-the-gear/
That's like saying in cooking, it's all about the oven and the mixing bowls and the spatulas and the stove. What utter garbage that guy spewed.
What gets me is that anytime I am out and about with a DSLR, I always get someone asking me if I'm from the newspaper... Because big camera = newspaper photog, apparently...
I like when I take a photo with a point and shoot no one pays me any mind, but as soon as a lens change on the dslr happens, I get a group of cameras behind me. It is such a funny thing.
You know what can be handy for lighting? The LED flash on a phone set to stay on! I learned that a while back for a photo I took for this project. :)
I always agree with Heidi when this argument comes up, of course gear matters, you choose your equipment for your intended purpose... but the technical side is only ever half the story. @hmgphotos
I'd prefer to re-word it slightly:
"Of course, photography is about the light. It’s always been about the light."
If you're going to shoot kids, pets, high DR scenes like sunsets where you want to lift shadows, you're going to be require something better than a camera phone. When I'm out at night and I want to shoot some scenes but didn't bring my tripod, I'm happy my sensor will produce relatively clean 3200 ISO shots.
When I need to travel light and I don't care so much, I have an S95 which can produce excellent images under the right circumstances.
When i see a shot on here that i love, i never check what camera it was taken with......because i dont really care! and i never say wow your camera took a beautiful shot, i say wow YOU took a beautiful shot.
That said, there's a lot of gear I hope to get one day when I can afford it. An assortment of glass, a better camera bag, etc. Someday.
An expensive camera does have its advantages though. A few months back I found out there was a Celebrity Look-A-Like Exhibition being held at a local hotel. They all gathered together to be judged by scouts for TV and print adds, talent agents, casting directors for movie extras agencies...stuff like that. I went hoping to just get a couple of shots of some of them entering and leaving the ballroom. After a while the promoter spotted me and walked over. I immediadely though "Uh oh, the jig is up. He's gonna ask me to take a powder.". He introduces himself looks at my camera and asks me what paper I was with. I quickly stuck out my hand and said "Cromwell...from the Sentinel (I live in a one newspaper town). He lit up, said "Come with me!" and took me backstage, and left me to shoot to my hearts content! Never asked for any credentials or media passes. Just assumed I must be official because of my camera gear. So, there ya go. If I was holding a point and shoot he probably would have called security. LOL!
BTW, are we certain this is not an early April Fool? The above linked articles contradict each other. And they are both kinda wrong regardless.
However, I’ll say this once again, even though you’ve heard it a thousand times:
It’s Not About the Gear."
Continued ... http://danbaileyphoto.com/blog/photographers-its-not-about-the-gear/
http://www.facebook.com/danbaileyphoto
@brumbe @amyhughes @lilbudhha @cromwell @emmac @mantha @azza_l @sshoihet @mtngal @dieter @loztsoul @hmgphotos @crickle1969 @webfoot @grizzlysghost @niara @sdpace @byrdlip
Um.... yea. Well, that was fun. I'm glad someone's amused.
"Dorrena Ortega, after posting those two articles, you could repost my original photography gear post and confuse them even more!! :) http://danbaileyphoto.com/blog/photographers-its-not-about-the-gear/"
"Done! I was looking for that one but couldn't find it. Thanks. ;-)"
So the intended purpose, again, was just to start conversation?
@grizzlysghost I agree.
While each piece of cheese you dropped is interesting in their own right, your comment "Sometimes though, it's just fun to play with them. ;-)" makes me picture a scenario in which I am a mouse dancing between treats to their master's amusement.
While it may not have been intended as such, it is hard for me to take your comment out of context; no matter how it's read, it just looks manipulative.
Maybe I will write a companion piece: "Success in a social environment; it's NOT all about your hardware." :)
"The people on that site are pretty decent people but they are so passionate on whatever side of the argument they are on. Overall, it's a great site and well monitored."
And that's freaking hilarious that he sought you out to explain...LOL. THAT makes me laugh hysterically ;))
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argus_C3 (top picture)