As a full-time landscape photographer with a small platform to voice my opinions to more than just my pets or friends, words carry meaning. Phrases like "gear doesn't matter," which I've said for years. The intention behind those words is to express that gear shouldn't hinder you from pursuing photography, or finding ways to improve your work simply because you don't have a certain lens or camera. While the intent of the phrase remains true, interpreting the words more literally could very easily be misleading to those that are newer to photography.
Gear does matter! Every person touting that it doesn't (me included) is simultaneously taking photos with multi-thousand dollar equipment. Recently I've realized that gear even makes us better photographers, and if you don't agree, then I've got a plethora of reasons to change your mind.
Excitement
Excitement is one of the most important aspects of photography. It motivates us to get outside and experience nature, or into the studio to learn how light changes the mood of a portrait, or to invite friends around to practice on. This is how many of us fall in love with photography. If you've ever been excited to capture photos on a new piece of gear, then it has made you a better photographer!
When I first dived into the hobby of photography back in 2009, I purchased a camera and was genuinely excited to learn everything about how it worked while learning many of the technical aspects of photography in the process. I spent weeks or even months researching a particular lens I wanted to the point where, when it finally came in, it single-handedly reinvigorated my excitement to go out and take more photos. This continually made me a better photographer, even if I didn't realize it at the time.
This is a great time to vocalize that it's okay to enjoy gear! While I personally don't get nearly as excited as I once did, it is totally okay if you do.
A Camera to Photograph What You Want
I've spent the majority of my landscape photography career without the ability to photograph anything cohesive past a 200 mm focal length. Once I finally took the plunge and bought the Canon RF 100-500mm so I could photograph wildlife in Alaska, it opened a new door for what I could capture during my travels. Did such a lens suddenly make me a master wildlife photographer? Of course not. However, by giving me access to a genre I once avoided, I had to learn (and continue to learn) a myriad of new photography techniques.
Landscape photographers typically are not worried about autofocus, shutter speed, or burst modes. Wildlife photography is the exact opposite, and I had to teach myself the ideal shutter speed for a flying bird or just how far I can push my ISO for noise reduction software later. Without the lens, I simply would have just enjoyed the moment in front of me and moved on.
Imagine the widest focal length lens you own is 35mm and you recently got a super-wide angle lens such as the Canon RF 15-35mm to capture astrophotography. That is an entirely new genre of photography with a lifetime worth of knowledge to learn by simply opening the door with a new lens, thus resulting in you becoming a better photographer in the process.
Easy to Use Cameras
While I personally don't get too excited about new gear anymore, I do find myself continually on the hunt for a camera that just gets out of my way so I can focus on creating. I gravitate towards cameras that are ergonomically better for my hands, have simple menu systems, or reliable autofocus. A few years ago, I even "downgraded" the image quality of my videos on YouTube by trading in my Fuji X-T4 for a Canon R7. The biggest reason is I couldn't rely on the autofocus when recording myself. This fault, along with a poorly organized menu system, meant I got frustrated enough times to get rid of it.
You never want to be frustrated with the camera you're using. As photographers, if we spend more time focused on getting the camera to do what we want rather than the story or art we want to represent, we won't capture the moments that matter. This is incredibly important in the moments where I'm not only trying to capture the photo as it happens, but also record me capturing the photo. So how does a camera that gets out of my way make me a better photographer?
Simple, I can focus on the photography! A camera that gets out of your way so much that it becomes second nature to you and you can focus all your energy on the composition, the lighting, or the moment. This will slowly improve your skills as a photographer. Not only that, but you'll be more excited to go out and shoot when you've got such a positive relationship with your gear.
Like an old car that only you can start the engine on, developing a relationship with your camera is far more important than you might imagine. If your camera hinders you from capturing the images you want, you are likely going to be unmotivated to go out and shoot. If you love the camera you have, you'll find yourself enjoying the experience much more, which results in your becoming a better photographer in the process.
Cameras That Slow You Down
While a camera that doesn't get in your way is great for someone like me, what about cameras that do get in your way? That might sound ridiculous, but think about it. The most popular camera in the last 5 years is very likely to be the Fuji X100 line. A fixed lens, crop sensor, "slower" camera.
Combined with the significant resurgence of film, it's pretty clear that many people out there are looking to slow down and take a less-is-more approach. Just like having access to any focal length you could possibly want, restricting yourself to a fixed focal length provides unique challenges within itself. You have to find images that fit into that frame, and many photographers out there find these challenges refreshing or fun.
These restrictions test your capabilities, challenge you in new ways, and ultimately push you to become a better photographer simply because of the camera you picked up that day. This goes even further when trying to learn film. As someone who hasn't taken the plunge yet, I know for certain that I will become a better photographer with an arguably much worse, slower, and older camera when I snap my first 35mm roll of film. These cameras are more about the experience and relationship you have when capturing photographs than they are about the end result.
Before you get your pitchfork out in the comments, please note that I've never said any of these things suddenly make you a good photographer. A new expensive or old expensive camera won't suddenly turn you from amateur to master. They will all continually motivate you in different ways to improve as a photographer though. Even if you don't care about the gear aspect at all, I'm sure there's something you love about the tool you use that makes you a better photographer.
Still disagree? I'd love to know why in the comments and welcome any opposing views!
The Nerve Meter is what matters.
Get yourself an iPhone with a couple clip-on lenses. It “stays out of your way”, is easy to use than the R7 and can do most of the thinking for you! (joke)
The comment’s intent originally was (and still is relevant) that a more expensive camera doesn’t necessarily make you a better photographer. The R7 didn’t “make you a better photographer”, it simply allowed you to do more things. You had to learn it first and then make use of its improved capabilities. That made you a better photographer, not the hardware. If I lear how to fly a single engine does buying a 747 make me a better pilot?
I suspect the fact that an iPhone can do "most of the thinking for you" is less of a joke than you might imagine. I really don't believe anyone masters their craft without a lot of work. There are no short cuts in photography. In many respects, the more difficult a task is to get the results you want, the stronger your skills become over time... and to the point of this article, become a better photographer.
Undeniably a new camera or other new gear might enable a person to capture a better picture. But a few pictures here and there do not necessarily make us a better photographer. Admittedly it’s kind of a nitpicky difference but an important one nonetheless. First of all, I believe that becoming a better photographer (for whatever that means) is more likely measured in terms of years or even decades. I purchased a Nikon D800 in 2013 for the explicit purpose of selling a large photo order (in terms of picture size and quantity of prints) to a hotel… a project that was proving nearly impossible to do well with my previous camera. But I had already possessed the skills to see the picture that I wanted to capture. The new camera merely provided the megapixels and quality of low light detail to get the job done. So the camera enabled me to take a better picture, but it didn’t make me a better photographer.
I feel that distinction has come from a decade or more of challenging myself to see new things in new ways. And I don’t think anyone or anything can do that for you. In other words, there is no substitute for how your mind shapes your photography. In fact, I’m still (to the amazement of my peers) using the same D800 camera today. I really can’t see how the newest camera technology will make me a better photographer. If I get excited about bird photography, I’ll consider buying a longer lens and improved auto focus system. However, a bird on a stick photographed from 50mm or 500mm doesn’t really change the subject… it’s still just a bird on a stick. Inspiration to learn by expanding our thoughts and ideas relevant to photography has to come first, not the camera gear; otherwise it’s simply a superficial experience. Of course the feeling of excitement plays a role in motivating us to take the lens cap off, but how long is it before the excitement of new gear wears off… a few weeks or months; and then what? With that line of reasoning, aren’t we trapped in a never ending cycle of buying stuff as a prerequisite for improving our photographs?
So, if not new gear, how else might we become genuinely better photographers? I believe there are more important underlying factors. Making better pictures over the long haul requires internal motivation. Good photographers seem to be naturally curious people. Good photographers are life-long students of their craft. Good photographers never seem to be able to sit still. If I might take the liberty of calling myself one, my mind never seems to sit still either. We continually exercise our imagination for seeing things in new ways. The art of “seeing” the composition, or how light shapes an image, comes from looking… with or without a camera in our hands.
The broader more beneficial question to ask would be: “How do we cultivate our imagination as a foundational step for improving as a photographer?” Without having to always write out a check! Here’s one possibility: When I look at a picture, and the first thing that comes to mind is: “How did they do that?”, I’ve taken the first step. Studying other people’s images, whether it be from an Ansel Adams book of old black and white photographs, or the local art gallery full of contemporary photographs, or an art museum perhaps… all these visual experiences cultivate a person’s imagination for making new and creative images. Sometimes I simply stop and look, and get a feel for the place or subject, looking for distinctive elements that might make a creative, rather than purely documentary, photograph. Training my eye too, from years and years of experience, to “see” the picture-within-the-picture has made me a better photographer. If a new camera or lens serves an unfulfilled technical need, fine, I’ll go buy it. However, without knowing what you’re trying to accomplish with new gear, nothing changes.
It's truly amazing what great photos cameras can take today. In recent "Wildlife Photographer of the Year" awards, remote wildlife cameras captured some great shots. Fstoppers editorial topics frequently fall into the social media trap of throwing out topics that are discussion bait. The great movie, North of Superior didn't rely on AF, drones or any automation. It relied on skill. The increasing reliance on technology is sabotaging photography. Frankly, I'm not seeing much that is "new" in terms of imagery. Next headline: "Only medium format sensors are best for landscapes". Or "who needs a PC lens when all we need to do is combine a series of images focused at different distances." "Pixel-shift technology is a must/useless". "True video centric cameras must have 8K and Apple Pro Res". "Anything less than 15fps is useless for wildlife". "Raw is the only way to go for the best images". "Who needs RAW anyway". "I prefer small and light cameras for street shooting". "Fixed focal length lens cameras are too restrictive". "A true photo artist enjoys the challenge of a fixed focal length lens camera." Any more "click bait" ideas?
But if you don’t bait clicks, you are out of business. No different than a newspaper truing to sell papers.
For myself, a photograph needs three elements; a compelling subject, good composition & lighting. None of these elements are dependent on camera or gear.