My Photography Journey
I have had a camera in my hand for about the last 9 years, ever since my digital photography class in early high school. I would enjoy taking photos of anything that interested me. At the time it was just a hobby, something I wanted to explore more of and knew little about. The more I practiced photography, the more I got interested. I started learning as much as I could about the technical side of things such as exposure, composition, and depth of field, thinking that these were the only things I had to learn to make great work.
As I dove into the technical side of things, I inevitably became a "gear head". Instead of asking myself what someone was thinking before taking a great photo, I asked myself "what camera are they using?" thinking that was the key to a great photograph. Thus, diagnosing myself with G.A.S. (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) where I only cared about what camera I should buy next. This pulled my focus off of the art of photography, and into the material side of photography. I eventually landed on my first DSLR, the Canon Rebel T3, a popular entry level camera at the time, and after a few years, I leveled up to a Canon 70D. With both of these cameras, I felt like a professional. After all I had a large "professional" camera that took great photos and made me look like I knew what I was doing.
Three days
In my senior year of high school, I took a trip to NYC to visit a college. It wasn't my first trip there but it was my first time there as a photographer, which changed my perspective. Before I went, I also happened to pick up the Fujifilm X100, a small, lightweight camera with a fixed 35mm lens. Despite my typical habit of taking all cameras I own with me on trips and only ending up using one, I decided to only bring the X100 to simplify what I carried with me. It may sound odd, but that was a hard choice for me, being that I enjoyed getting new gear but also liked the other cameras I had. I had become materialistic with the gear that I owned and felt as If I would be “missing out” if I did not bring multiple options for taking photos.
This short trip changed my photography career forever for the following reasons:
I had never been to NYC as a photographer, and after studying the works of Bresson, Robert Frank, and more I was itching to get better at street photography and capture life and people around me.
I simplified my gear which made some “creative constraints” for my photography while there. Little did I know, this would be a very healthy choice for my creative development as an artist.
Perhaps most importantly, I made the choice to photograph without fear or hesitation. I was prepared to make this trip well worth it, and push past any mental barriers I had with photographing people and life around me.
That last choice really was what led me to get the best images of my life. These images did not just have correct exposure and all the technical aspects down, they told a story. Something I had never really focused on until this point.
The images above are some of my favorite from this trip, see my “Street Collection” project for more.
My Advice for the New Photographer
Don’t buy it! Whatever camera it is, you most likely don’t need it. Stick with what you have and know the camera inside and out. Without looking or even thinking, know how to pin down correct exposure and focus to take the photo in an instant. Things in this life happen so quickly, that as photographers we cannot afford to fumble with gear, we must simplify what we use, know it well, and focus on the world around us.
The great photos are not because of the camera, they are because the photographer was looking outward into the world and paid enough attention to know when to make the image. There are photographs that have literally changed the world, imagine if the photographer was too busy fumbling with what camera to use that he missed the shot, it would have never existed.
Yes, gear can certainly be important, but what is more important is the story. It will forever make or break a photograph. So grab the camera you have with you, and go out and capture a story that means the world to you.
Conclusion
In my years as a primarily hobbyist photographer, I have bounced around with what gear I want to use, what photographs I want to create, and how I want to be seen as an artist. But after all this time, one thing has rang true - I have always created my best work when I simplify. Everything from the gear I use, the choices I make in the field, and what I carry with me I have always had the best time and the greatest results from simplifying my workflow. I remember days where I would be out in the street or woods with my massive camera bag with two or three cameras, lenses, and more and find myself only using one camera and one lens the entire time and being so distracted with what was on my back that I could not make an image. The best work came from grabbing one camera that I knew well, one lens, and being present in every moment.
