Evolution of a Photographer

I’m reinventing the wheel. People have been here before me. But until i got here, i didn’t know Here was a place to be, or a place to look around and see people with the same odd expression on their face that i have.

Gear makes you look cool. Gear makes you look professional. Customers/clients expect gear. Early on, I couldn’t afford gear, I had to see myself with my portfolio. Still can’t afford much, really, but my day job has a budget, so I can have gear at work. Over the last three years i’ve developed the department into a respectable photographic force to be reckoned with. But personally? Not yet. But there’s something i’ve noticed. The more gear I get, the more i dwell on the gear… “ok, i’ll need this lens with this scene, then i’ll switch to this one, oh i’ll need another light over there…” plus it’s getting heavy. My new outlook on life is if you can’t carry it (off the ground), you have too much with you. And even then, pair down a bit.

Don’t get me wrong, there’s time for the quadras and the octoboxes etc., but really, you need to be able to take a great photo with just one camera and one lens. If you can’t, all this other junk is just going to get you a mediocre photo and a backache.

Granted, there’s nothing like ripping open that box from B&H, and pulling out that nice new Thing and really, it can revitalize your creative spirit for awhile. But this too shall pass.

I have it if i need it, but my mind is returning to minimalist, because i WANT to. Shoot with one lens. Shoot with onelight. Whether that’s a speedlite or the sun, start there. Try to keep it there.

Gear becomes a crutch. Gear becomes the focus of envy. Gear becomes an addiction. Gear. I love gear. I admit it.