As photographers we often forget that the answer is inside each of us when it comes to improving our craft, and finding personal creativity.

NOTE: Click on images to enlarge. Photographs have been added to serve as visual breaks.

The camera equipment that we own can absolutely help us create the images we have in our minds.

But… changing our camera gear is no guarantee that our photography will automatically improve.

In order for that to have any chance of occurring we need to invest the time and effort to learn how to use that new camera gear effectively. And most importantly… we need to continue to stimulate our creativity, and improve our skill sets.

Many of us (including me) have invested in new camera gear with the hope that it would provide the ‘secret sauce’ answer to our quest to improve our photography… only to be disappointed later.

How much money have we individually wasted over the years chasing the ill-conceived idea that our camera gear was the answer?

I haven’t calculated the exact answer for my own misguided photography-related purchases, but it would be at least several thousand dollars.

Experiencing some wallet pain can have a positive effect on photographers. It can cause us to think more rationally, and thus reduce the emotional aspects of a camera gear purchase. I doubt manufacturers would want that to become endemic.

When I reach back into my old porous brain, it can be almost comical for me to relive the rationale that I used to justify making specific camera equipment purchases.

🙂  I suppose there will always be plenty of jugs of Kool-Aid around from which we can choose to drink. The challenge is to recognize what’s in the jug and how appropriate… or not… it is for us, before we decide to drink it.

I had the pleasure of doing a presentation last week to a photography group in my local town (thanks Anna and Ray!).

It was a non-technical presentation that focused on the sources of inspiration for various images, and how some creative concepts were applied to various photographic executions.

It was one of the most enjoyable photography presentations that I’ve done… and was quite liberating.

Reaching back in time to what originally caught my eye and attracted me to a particular photographic opportunity, reminded me of what is vitally important about photography.

Photography is all about how we connect to the world around us. It’s not about sensor size, dynamic range, or diving into a sea of technical minutia.

Nor is it about pointless discussions focusing on what’s the best ‘this’ or the best ‘that’ in terms of cameras, lenses and the like. Or looking at huge image enlargements to pixel peep about perceived sharpness or noise.

Connecting to the world… finding inspiration around us… and creating something while we are ‘in the moment’… is the essence of photographic expression.

When we see a photograph that interests us… intrigues us… or moves us in some way… the exact camera equipment that was used to create the image is irrelevant.

The power and emotions that emanate from an image are what matters. How it draws us in. How it can make us feel. How it captures our attention.

Photographs document precise moments in time that will never be repeated. That’s why as photographers we can often remember exactly where we were when the image was created.

As you read this article you likely noticed that I only included a bare minimum of EXIF data, and I didn’t specify what camera gear or technology was used to create each image.

If you’re like most people the detailed EXIF data would have been of interest if you were trying to figure out how specific photographs were created. Whether you liked a particular photograph or not, was not impacted by the camera gear used to create it.

When it comes to creative photographic expression…. the answer is inside each of us. It is up to us to determine how we can expand our creativity. And… where and how we can find inspiration… as well as hone our photographic craft.

Thinking that our camera equipment can… or should… do that for us is a crutch that holds us back.

 Technical Note

Photographs were captured with camera gear that I own, or have owned, in the past. Images were produced from jpeg or RAW files using photographic software that made sense at the time. This is the 1,321 article published on this website since its original inception in 2015.

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