One of the most interesting aspects for me over the years with Photography is people's complete fixation on camera gear! Much like cars or other equipment related hobbies or professions, photographers can be a rowdy bunch when it comes to speaking about their preferred camera system, which they will defend with honor.
I've been guilty of this myself; my good friends Chris & Adam both shoot Nikon and have yet to discover the amazing world of Canon! They just don't know what they are missing!!!
I speak and meet with lots of photographers in a variety of settings, and it's not until you stand and watch others more closely that you start to notice them all eyeing off each other's equipment, albeit somewhat discreetly. It's as it before a single shot has even been taken that a group will judge who is the 'pro' and who is the hobbyist based purely on what camera and lens combination they are holding.
Camera gear ranges in price from a few hundred dollars right through to having to decide which organ you can do without to help pay for that prized piece of kit. With all that in mind, I have found that good photographers are good photographers no matter what gear they are using. The pressure to have the latest and greatest gear is a very real and tangible concern for many photographers and many upgrade their equipment without ever really knowing how to use the camera/lens that they just discarded! "My new camera will take better photos, I just know it will" I'm sure rings loud in the minds of many.
Professional photography equipment doesn't make you a professional photographer, in my opinion. It can be difficult to even define what a "professional photographer" is these days, depending on who you ask.
Does having 10,000 Instagram followers make you a pro? I know a few who believe this is the case. I also know many pro photographers who have a very limited following but make a significant contribution to the art of photography and earn a good income doing so. So why bother spending all that money on good gear then you may ask?
I've only ever upgraded my equipment when I find that my current gear is no longer able to capture the images I want to take, or by upgrading, that process will become easier or allow for more creative control. An example of this that I often refer to is with maximum shutter speeds. A lot of entry/mid-range cameras will offer a maximum shutter speed of 1/4000 second, whereas pro gear tends to offer double at 1/8000 second. It's not something you may use regularly but having it there can be the difference between getting the shot or missing it. Functions such as IBIS (In Bulit Image Stabilisation) can be extremely useful as photographers get older or for people with a disability, allowing for lower shutter speeds when using your camera handheld. Better low light photography with improved ISO ranges is also something to consider when buying your next camera, especially if you like to shoot in low light settings.
None of these features mentioned here are going to, on their own make you a "better photographer", but they will allow for more creative control and perhaps a cleaner image straight from camera. There is a consistent dialogue that unless you are using a full frame, 35mm sensor you can't be a 'pro'. Smaller APSC sensors provide many benefits in certain circumstances such as crop factor to allow for tighter framing at longer focal lengths, really useful for sports or wildlife photography. I know many photographers who use the Micro 4/3 systems available from Panasonic and Olympus to great effect because they use this equipment as it is intended. You'll never hear a Micro 4/3 user complain they have to lug a heavy bag of gear everywhere with them!
If you're going to spend your hard earned on quality camera gear, I believe that buying the best available glass (lens) that you can afford is the way to go. You can have top quality camera bodies but when paired with average glass, you're going to get average results. Understanding what you like to capture and what focal length suits your style is a great way to get improved results by choosing the right equipment for your needs instead of keeping up with those guys who have everything. I always recommend considering high quality secondhand camera gear when looking at your next purchase, especially when buying from a reputable source.
I recently acquired a Canon EOS-M which came with with a fast, 22mm lens. A compact but powerful little camera, far from being a professional piece of kit. However, it serves a purpose in my kit. Having a play with the 22mm focal range together with the compact nature of the camera created opportunities to capture images in places that would have been more difficult or not possible perhaps with a bigger camera/lens combo. When still applying the basic photography principles while using lower spec gear can still produce captivating, high quality photography work and can be a good way to keep yourself in the creative headspace.
I often ask other photographers during workshops or lessons, "Do you find yourself favoring a particular lens?" If you do, ask yourself what makes that focal length so important to you?
Is it a lack of choice in your kit? Or is it that you don't get the results you want from other equipment in your camera bag. For me, my favorite focal length on a full frame camera is 35mm and my Sigma Art 35mm f1.4 is my starting lens for a day out taking photos. If you find yourself using the same lens on a regular basis, I recommend challenging yourself by heading out for a day with just one lens, and not your favorite! Learning how things like compression and depth of field can change a scene using different lens choices is a key component to getting the best out of your photography gear and will allow you to make informed choices next time you go shopping for gear.
This image of Largs Jetty was achieved using a Canon 24-70mm f2.8L lens and having an understanding how this lens can benefit the scene. By having my camera close to the ground with the lens tilted down at a wider 24mm creates an emphasis on the foreground. The cloudless sky can be a challenge at the beach when trying to capture a dramatic sunset, so using the contrasting hues and shooting at an aperture of f18 creates a 'Sun Star' effect under the jetty. By spending time shooting with this lens and understanding exactly what it is capable of helped me to create the scene I wanted to capture even when conditions weren't ideal.
So take a look at your current camera kit, what equipment do you use often? Have you got a lens that sits gathering dust, resigned to the bottom of your camera bag? Drag it out, have a play and discover what you might be missing. If the love for your lens or camera body doesn't flow, you can always trade it in on something that will keep the creative fire burning.
My camera kit contains the following equipment, with a small description as to why it has a place in my camera bag:
Camera's and Drones
Canon EOS R5 - A very high-resolution Full Frame camera for portraits, landscape and Corporate Work.
Canon EOS R - A high resolution Full Frame camera for landscape and Astro photography. More compact and lightweight than the R5.
Canon EOS R7 - A high resolution Crop Sensor camera for sports and wildlife photography with exceptional focusing capabilities.
Canon EOS 5DmkIV - A high resolution DSLR using for beach photography, storm photography or in dusty/rainy conditions. Built like a tank, it is reliable, and weather sealed.
Canon EOS M - Compact Mirrorless camera which is compatible with my full range of EF lenses making it a great walk around camera.
DJI Mavic 2 Pro - High resolution drone capable of capturing high quality aerial images in a range of conditions.
DJI Mavic Mini 2 - A compact drone used for scouting or capturing images when hiking or discovering potential compositions when out shooting.
Lens Range
Canon RF 16mm f2.8
Canon RF 50mm f1.8
Canon 24-70 f2.8L
Canon 24-105 f4L
Canon 16-35 f2.8L
Canon 16-35 f4L
Canon 85mm f1.4L
Canon 135mm f2L
Canon 70-200mm f2.8L
Canon 300mm f4L
Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L
Sigma 35mm f1.4 ART
Sigma 50mm f1.4 ART
Sigma 50-100mm f1.8 ART
Sigma 105mm f2.8 macro
Samyang 14mm f2.8 AF
Tamron 150-600mm
Thanks for having a read, here are a few images captured since my last blog entry...
Very good blog Keith, you got me thinking about all the lenses sitting in my cupboard I hardly use. Will take up your advise and have a play. I think some people have the eye for photography, there images tell a story.
I’ve had freinds who ask me now are you a professional photographer if I say no they don’t hire me. But they like my photos doesn’t that matter :)