Architectural & Interior Design Photography, Corporate Commercial Photography, Advertising & Portrait Photographer | Ottawa | 613-558-7585 | justin.vanleeuwen@gmail.com
The thought of acquiring more gear is always a positive one, after all, you can up your photographic hierarchy merely by making the purchase – no photographs need be taken. The gear-heads will praise you for what you have, no matter what, so if you appeal to those guys they’ll always compliment you in an effort of one-upmanship (remember to reciprocate when they buy the hot new thing). I’m crazy guilty of it, I just need one more thing and then I can do this, or that, or maybe I could have done it before but this will let me do it better or different, even when I haven’t really done it at all, ever.
The real trick is doing more with less. Being the photographer (or any kind of artist) that can do what the guys with the $10K camera are doing with the entry-level rebel, or a point and shoot, or their mom’s old film body; taking the “inferior” tool and creating a superior product.
The amazing thing is you can be one hell of a photographer, better than anyone I know, just by having the vision, and a tool, not necessarily the right tools, in your hand. This level of adversity (#firstworldproblems) has the added benefit of forcing us to be creative – if you don’t have the tech as a crutch, can you still produce awesome work?
So it’s time to learn what I’ve got, no more buys this summer, no new gear, I have plenty – more than most really – but with one caveat: if my camera breaks, I get to buy a new one.
Are you eying that next new cool thing? “If only I had that I could…” you could what? Have less cash? Do something awesome with what you’ve already got and really impress the world.
edit: A little gear info on this image – it’s about $2,000 worth of Elinchrom lighting (Ranger Quadra through a Deep Throat, not making that up, Octa), shot with a $500 point and shoot G11. I really don’t need more stuff.
can i please hold you to this? and what is your definition of summer?
You can do it, Justin. I've bought exactly one new lens since last summer. Of course, I've spent quite a bit of money on workshops, since the plan was to "improve the photographer," but I consider that more to your point of making do with what you've got.
Hear Hear! It's really about the man behind the lens with a vision and imagination that creates a truly fantastic picture.
The gear sencondary, you don't need an $8,000 body to take a great shot. You can do the same with a $500 P&S like you did just now.
I laugh when I see a noob with a 5D MKII or one of the 1D's with an L lens and take truly laughable pictures when I was walking around with a second hand Rebel XT with a sigma lens and blowing their shots out of the water.
I will probably never buy into the "you have to have an "L" Lens to be good"… Again. I would rather save my money and still take good shots.
All I need really is a lighting rig.
I love it Justin! Both your photo and your post. I don't go on about it too much, but I actually buy very little gear and try to work with what I have.
I make a deal with myself. If I book x # of sessions/weddings, I get to treat myself to a new lens or piece of gear I am coveting. Until then I just keep plugging away and rent what I need when I need it if I don't have it.
Kudos.
I know exactly what you mean. Up till now I've been all about the gear – but I've reached a point where I've used, even if I haven't owned, all the exciting gear that I wanted to, and it hasn't magically made my photography better. Right now I've been using a film camera I got for $11 and a lens I got for $30 and the shots, while technically inferior to digital files, mean much more to me for some reason I'm still figuring out. And my wallet feels much better
Holy shit how'd i miss this? Well, I know why: Ive been extra busy this week… THis is awesome. THe light is perfect and the focus spot on! I need to get on that Elinchrom lighting (or steal it from my office / studio).