Money
It’s a crime
Share it fairly, but don’t take a slice of my pie
Money
So they say
Is the root of all evil today
“Money” by Pink Floyd
Photographers spend more money on equipment and travel than most people. I think the manufacturers are aware of this because why else would we be paying the price of a small car for a camera lens? “The lens gives you better pictures, and you will become the greatest photographer of all time!” (Or so the manufacturers want you to think.) The belief that new equipment will make better pictures possible comes from that internal voice that wants to capture that perfect image.
Where does it end? We don’t have a boatload of money, so we must budget on what we can afford versus listening to that voice tell us that new photography equipment will make us better photographers.
Consumerism is based on the premise that the more goods and products we consume the better off we will be. This theory also drives the economy, so it is no wonder manufacturers keep upgrading products every few years. All camera manufacturers develop products under this ongoing societal reality where we think new products make us happier or provide better images. I remember my first digital camera being 2.1 megapixels, and now we are up to 45 megapixels or more. It doesn’t end…
Since the pandemic, prices for everything have skyrocketed, so now we must budget a little tighter to put food on the table or pick up that latest camera equipment. I recently returned from an expensive photography trip that was on the tundra, photographing polar bears and cubs. This trip required some big glass, and most of the photographers had 500mm to 800mm prime lenses – cha-ching! I remember looking at 12 photographers with tripods, camera bodies and big glass and thinking how much money was there sitting on that frozen tundra.
To capture those award-winning images, do we purchase better equipment and shoot around our neighbourhoods, or do we spend the cash on trips to take us to new places and become inspired? Maybe it’s a balance. For me, I will take the trip any day over upgrading to a new piece of equipment. However, like many, I do struggle with gear vs. trip because the recent upgrades to mirrorless cameras have truly become a game changer. The eye detection for birds in flight is incredible compared to the old days of just spraying and praying. The hit rate now on puffins in flight is much better. So what do we do? Maybe get that equipment and it’s going to be Kraft Dinner for a few weeks…
During my time teaching photography in my workshops with Newfoundland Photo Tours, I noticed that the gear really does make a difference in some situations. With the correct equipment, I was able to photograph polar bears in -50 degrees Celsius and did not worry about battery life – while seeing others struggle with their equipment in the cold. As for myself, I am slowly moving to mirrorless cameras and lenses. Instead of purchasing all new mirrorless equipment, I introduce pieces as I need them for various shoots.
With all that being said, I must go check out the new camera body that was just introduced yesterday to see how it can improve my photography.
Oh yeah, and I just got an email from a potential client asking if they can use one of my pictures for free, but they will provide photo credit. So nice of them…
About the Author – Michael Winsor
Michael is an international award-winning professional photographer and owner of Newfoundland Photo Tours on the east coast of Canada. He has been exploring and photographing our natural world for year.
Michael has worked with PHOTONews for a cover story on Newfoundland & Labrador. He has also worked Canadian Geographic on several stories and other magazines such as Macleans, etc.… He is an ambassador for Newfoundland and Labrador through working with Newfoundland Tourism and conducting presentations by showcasing the province through my images.
Michael has won many awards including “Wildlife Photographer of the Year” and “Best Landscape of the Year” with Canadian Geographic. He has been fortunate to have a best-selling photography book that is on its second print as well. Perhaps the best thing that my work has been recognized for is having one of my images printed on an international Canadian postage stamp that was printed over 16 million times. Most recently, He has just been selected to represent Team Canada at the World Photographic Cup in Singapore.
www.newfoundlandphototours.com
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/WinsorM
Inspiring article. I may need to dust off my 10k worth of gear and get back at it!
Thank you. Yes, getting back out exploring and taking picture will be fun.
Photography is a means to an end as is painting, sketching etc. Do we ask a painter what brand of brush they used to create an image or a sculptor which chisel brand that found best?
Over the last 60 years I have used some great cameras but still my best images have been taken with average or below equipment.
I wish that upgrading my vision of a great shot was as easy as buying a more expensive piece of equipment.
Interesting that you mentioned the whole photography versus painting thing, as my next article is about that topic.
I strongly agree that it’s the person behind the camera and not what tool they use.
Ah yes, the can I use your photo, with credit, for free.
Yes, that always bothers me. Only if our mechanic worked for credit. 🙂
I’ve recently discovered I am afflicted with PGAS-bv! Photo Gear Acquisition Syndrome – birder variant (fastest auto eye tracking and big glass). The cure seems to be psychotherapy.
I must be in the same boat.
Thanks Michael and I couldn’t agree more.
I try to plan two major trips a year.
I’m off to Stockholm, Helsinki, The Baltics, Warsaw and Berlin next week. Being a single guy you always pay extra for hotel rooms. If you go on a tour which I am I’m fairly sure they dinged me a ‘singles’ fee. Sheesh!
Ah well, I’m retired so I may as well enjoy my camera and lenses and trips as much as possible. You just never know what tomorrow will bring.
M