Unleashing my Potential as a Photo / Artist

[mugent]

My gear isn't holding me back, but it sometimes frustrated me to the point of giving up, I.e. trying to focus manual fast glass on a modern slr with a 3rd party split screen, I just couldn't get it shimmed properly, and eventually got a NEX 7 to solve this problem. The nex7 isn't perfect, but it's more capable than I will ever be.

Some crappy equipment can hold you back, but I'd say any modern digital large sensor camera is good enough for 99% of us.

Wanting is a different matter though, I'd love a new rolleiflex, or a dp2m, but neither would make me a better photographer, in fact, with the distraction of a pretty new camera, I'd get worse.

[Paul T.]

There is a problem with the digital upgrade cycle, as pointed out. It's very different from 10 years ago, when you could manage with, say, an OM-1 and Leica CL - they achieved a certain quality and used the same sensor. ANd of course it was easy to change film if a new formulation comes along.

now, of course, you have to throw everything else out if you simply want to use a better sensor. And it's only at $2,000 or so that you get something that gives the same look as film.

I always try and limit myself to a two year upgrade cycle - which is far more quickly than I would have upgraded my film gear. I think a lot of that was because my old G9, and GF1, simply weren't anywhere near as good as my old film cameras.

But I think when we get to affordable full-frame - which has taken 10 years - then the cycle of built-in obsolescence will slow down.

[Keith]

Sometimes getting a new camera doesn't need to be about opening up previously missed opportunities or improving your versatility.

It's OK to buy something because you just plain want it ... with no other agenda! I've had plenty of moments of retail therapy ... sometimes they work out and sometimes they don't. It's no big deal!

[Chris101]

Yes!

My "stuff" - the collective of the camera equipment over almost the last half-century of photographic work - is indeed holding me back. I have included an almost equal-but-separate number of years as a painter in the mix.

I remain unable to express as images, either 'on-screen'', or printed images that equal my imagined pictures. I get close, but I can't make exactly what I see in my mind's eye into a physical picture.

Perhaps, some day.

[Roger Hicks]

Originally Posted by Keith

Sometimes getting a new camera doesn't need to be about opening up previously missed opportunities or improving your versatility.

It's OK to buy something because you just plain want it ... with no other agenda! I've had plenty of moments of retail therapy ... sometimes they work out and sometimes they don't. It's no big deal!

Dear Keith,

But the magic word, as you point out, is 'sometimes'. There is a big difference between the occasional 'treat' and mindless, uncritical consumerism.

Cheers,

R.

[thegman]

Originally Posted by Paul T.

But I think when we get to affordable full-frame - which has taken 10 years - then the cycle of built-in obsolescence will slow down.

I see what you mean, but I am going to disagree. This is simply because it is in every camera manufacturer's interest to keep the cycle going. Once megapixels got to the point where no more is required, and high ISO got there, and then sensor size got there, then they'll have to start on dynamic range, or some other statistic that can be used to sell cameras. I guess they'll also use size/styling.

Let's be honest, the OM-D only sells over the far cheaper Panasonic G3 because it looks so nice.

Then of course the firmware updates will stop for the slightly older cameras, and everyone will use that as a reason to find it obsolete. I think it's a co-dependent relationship, we all want shiny new toys, and manufacturers want to sell them to us.

[Keith]

Originally Posted by Roger Hicks

Dear Keith,

But the magic word, as you point out, is 'sometimes'. There is a big difference between the occasional 'treat' and mindless, uncritical consumerism.

Cheers,

R.

Hi Roger,

The way I see it is the people who constantly cycle through gear really aren't harming anyone and if it wasn't photographic equipment it would be cars, motorcycles, ski equipment ... whatever!

They are not serious photographers and they know it ... they get their rush from consumerism. I'm OK with that ... it's their thing!

[Roger Hicks]

Originally Posted by Keith

Hi Roger,

The way I see it is the people who constantly cycle through gear really aren't harming anyone and if it wasn't photographic equipment it would be cars, motorcycles, ski equipment ... whatever!

They are not serious photographers and they know it ... they get their rush from consumerism. I'm OK with that ... it's their thing!

Dear Keith,

Wasn't it two of your countrymen who wrote Affluenza: When Too Much is Never Enough?

Cheers,

R.

[Keith]

Originally Posted by Roger Hicks

Dear Keith,

Wasn't it two of your countrymen who wrote Affluenza: When Too Much is Never Enough?

Cheers,

R.

Hi Roger,

A couple of Aussies yes ... but let's not forget I'm a Kiwi!

Current consumerism is revolting I agree and sometimes it does make me grind my teeth ... personally I don't see an end to it, just an escalation.

But ... I'm not going to let it ruin what there is left of my life!

[Roger Hicks]

Originally Posted by Keith

Hi Roger,

A couple of Aussies yes ... but let's not forget I'm a Kiwi!

Current consumerism is revolting I agree and sometimes it does make me grind my teeth ... personally I don't see an end to it, just an escalation.

But ... I'm not going to let it ruin what there is left of my life!

Ah: sorry. I had in fact forgotten you were a Kiwi. My apologies.

Cheers,

R.

[daveleo]

I feel the same as many of the comments here. I complain about my stuff ("If Nikon doesn't give me what I want now, I'm switching to Fuji."), but that's really "desire", not "need".

I can appreciate some of the comments about not having a studio setup, or the right tool for the next photo you want to take (that 8X10 LF camera or that SLR for macro).

When I asked the question, I had just come from another forum (less experienced people, apparently) who were bleeding about (literally) having their "creative potential" stifled because the very latest cameras didn't have this or that (39 autofocus points and a blindingly fast moving subject algorythm ! ? . . . a particular user option was located in the wrong sub-menu ! ). And I thought . . . . . . "Am I the village idiot? or are these guys out of their minds?"

[Jamie123]

Originally Posted by Roger Hicks

In other words, you need the right gear for specialized applications -- as others have pointed out, macro with an RF is a bit like hard work -- but I would be astonished if anything at photokina would make a major difference for any of the sort of pictures I want to take. Or that anyone else wants to take, either.

I completely agree and I also share the OP's opinion on the ridiculous 'unleash your talent' marketing phrases. Of course equipment alone is not enough to take good pictures. But that doesn't mean that equipment is irrelevant or that you can do any kind of photography with a single device. Every single camera I have ever used has imposed certain boundaries on what kind of picture I can take. For me that's part of the appeal of photograpy.

[Roger Hicks]

Of course, part of the appeal of photokina is finding stuff you hadn't thought of: novel or particularly fine answers to known questions, such as Alpas, or novel ideas such as Lensbabies.

Cheers,

R.

[laurentb]

If I ask the question to myself, then I keep on the good ol' Rolleiflex, and anything else is sitting on the shelf.

If I were honest to myself, then I'd use all (or most) of the monney I saved to buy more film... the more I shoot, the more my images look like what I want, and the happier I am.

OTOH, If I stick to this, then I'll never try a Leica, and provided what the Rolleiflex did to my "vision", then I might be missing something...

[nighstar]

if anything having too much equipment to choose from limits my potential.

that and not having a car + being so goddamn busy.

[Roger Hicks]

Originally Posted by nighstar

if anything having too much equipment to choose from limits my potential.. . .

You're almost certainly right, which is why I use fewer and fewer of the cameras I do own. I want to take pictures, not play with cameras.

But playing with cameras is fine, too. I used to do it a lot more.

Cheers,

R.

[jsrockit]

Originally Posted by daveleo

Is your stuff holding you back?

No, not at all...it's a great time to be a photographer (equipment wise).

[fstops]

The more important question for me is:

Do I have potential?

I mean, there is no point talking about whats limiting or unleashing my potential if there is no potential to begin with.

How to know whether one has potential or not is a very personal thing. Some people know it some don't, some don't care and some don't even understand what the question is all about. But a basic empirical judgment makes one less optimistic because the world is not large enough for everyone's dreams to be fulfilled - a cheesy quote but very true. If everyone had the potential to be great then the word great would no longer mean 'great'.


Is my photography equipment limiting my potential? I don't know about that but one thing is for sure, laziness, inertia and apathy are a far worse adversary than equipment as far as I'm concerned. Yesterday I came upon a great scene and since I was tired and hungry I did not move enough and somehow failed to make the best of the situation.

Photography is a physically demanding activity, and its one's own physical condition that is a limiting factor more than anything else, gear and gear buying is more of a distraction from facing the real challenges of photography, which are physical, mental and intellectual.

[FrankS]

As I understand the word, everyone has their own potential, to be the best that they can be. As to how great that potential is, that is another story.

[Tejasican]

For me on film, not anymore. On digital, yes.
On film I found I could not focus the Nikon F3 adequately, my eyes like the Leicaflex SL much better.

In digital I shoot a NEX5 that, being farsighted, is a problem with how I have to hold it to see properly. I just can't keep it steady. It will go to my wife who has no such problems and I will end up with something that I can hold up to my face and keep steady. That said, any problems other than that are all me and cannot be blamed on the fit of the equipment.

[kuzano]

Minimal Limitations

Holy cow!!! Look at the size of that sensor!

Wutt's a Photokina?

Megapixels by the hundreds per shot.... $375 last week... Craigslist....

Oh yeah,,,, those folds on the front of the bellows are called misfolds. The badge of a well used LF camera.

Will slowly replace my modified Super Graphic.

Nope... not concerned with limits. Weighs less than my FF DSLR did.

[gb hill]

Your question reminded me of Roger & Francis module Does-Equipment-Matter.
I know I have capable equipment to do what I need for the job. The key is feeling comfortable with the tool in hands & the knowledge of how to compose & capture the moment you visualize in your mind. When I first got my Bessa R I wasn't sure I liked it & thought about selling it. Now I wouldn't trade it for anything. I can finally see some improvement in my photography.

[robert blu]

I am not a pro and not (yet ?) an artist. I'm just a passionate amateur. I know what my gear is and what I can do using it. When I have a new idea or I plan a new work I try to plan it according to the available instruments. It works, enough. Now the question becomes: do I really need some more gear? Not really. Do I wish to have more gear? Yes, sometimes.
Could I make better work with that additional gear? Maybe yes, but not sure!
robert

[Murchu]

Originally Posted by fstops

If everyone had the potential to be great then the word great would no longer mean 'great'.

True, but then one might also hold the view that if told what it takes to be great, most would not have the appetite for it. This I feel holds more people back from greatness than mere lack of potential.

[Bill Clark]

I find that too much stuff can hold a photographer back. It can lead to too much thought about the equipment to use rather than concentrating on the story told with the photographs.

Jean & I will be making wedding photographs at a high end wedding next Saturday. The majority will be made with God's light with a little help with a reflector. We will make some photos during the reception with a couple of off camera flashes to make photographs like you'd see in a Hollywood movie.

I find simple is best. I focus on other stuff at any photo session and use equipment sparingly!