Opinion: Bullshit Gear Talk

They say any great photographer, or true photographer cares nothing for the talk about gear, because they realize it really doesn’t mean a thing. This is true. It doesn’t mean a thing. So why do so many people get into the fact that this lens or that lens is so much better? Are they flexing their photographic bank accounts? Let’s take one thing at a time.

Does gear matter in the first place? The simplest answer to it is no. It has never mattered in the least. Street photographers love talking about their Leicas, sure Leicas are good cameras, built to last, but would they have been as popular has Henri Cartier-Bresson used one? We will never know. Are Hasselblads the cream of the 120 crop? Maybe, but there are so many other medium format cameras out there that can in the right hands be just as good. What about Linhof’s Master Technika? Superb 4x5 camera, but will it make you all that much better? I’m going to have to go with the, not-a-chance-in-hell answer here. As it has been my experience, you get worse when you try and take on a much higher grade tool when you haven’t first mastered the basics. So basically saying you’re dying to get that new camera because it’s all nice and shiny, but do you really need it, I mean, do you REALLY need it? Have you come to the point that your basic camera isn’t providing you with the options you need? Yes you say, well then, now is the only legitimate time to go flexing your bank account.

This lens is better than that lens! Either way you can’t shoot worth a shit with either one of them. So many times have I seen people yammer over how good a lens is and that they need it and yadda yadda, when in fact, and this is the terrible truth, they can’t compose for shit with a normal lens. So I suggest to all of you, go out get a 50mm 1.8 lens and learn how to compose your photos for the love of all things holy! And knock off all the gear talk, it just makes you look like you are a walking hard-on with a $700 lens, which in some case I have seen, that basically is the case. I demand that people show me what they can do with the old standard. That should be the only qualifications as to wanting a new lens, learn the basics people, and learn them well.

Now to the subject of bank account flexing. You poor bastards. I don’t know if its to impress a girl or try and make yourself look good in front of others, either way, in front of me it does nothing for you other than makes you look just like the rich guy with the Porsche, dong-compensation. Here are some basics you will need to do a few types of photography. Camera, Lens, Film and Tripod. That’s all you need. The rest is minor details. Night photography, add a cable release. Sports photography, add more hobbies. Your child’s greatest moments, add nothing, just go home and stay there.