I have to admit that there are times when I’m a little peeved when some people see my work and they say “Wow! Your camera really takes great pictures!”. There are times when someone compliments the photo and they immediately say “that’s because he has a good camera”.
So what exactly is it that makes the photo? Is it the camera or is it the photographer. Or could it be both?
To some extent, a good camera can go a long way. With all the advancements in digital photography these days, a good camera definitely has its advantages. While there might be a lot of things working for it, it still doesn’t have the one thing that is most critical to photography – the photographer’s eye.
A good camera doesn’t necessarily make for a good photograph. Composition is key to creating memorable images. Put a group of photographers in one room photographing the same object and I’m sure no two images would be alike. Like most photographers, I strive to create “the perfect” shot. What sets a good image from a mediocre image is foresight. Foresight happens when an image is already determined and embedded in a photographer’s mind even before the shot is taken.
So what do you think? Does the equipment trump the talent? Or is it about time to start thinking that it’s really the people behind the lens? What do you think Henri Cartier-Bresson might say?
It’s not always about the camera.
Her name is Teresa. I met her at her home in Naga City, Philippines. She lives at an orphanage with other kids her own age. While she isn’t an orphan, she lives with the rest of the children since her mom is one of the caretakers of the children. The tube you see on the side of her neck helps relieve the pressure in her arteries. She’s been using this tube for a few years now and has to live with the fact that she has to use it for as long as she lives. It’s the only thing that keeps her alive.
3 comments
That’s a good point Daniel. Although I’ve also heard this very thing from people who have dSLRs. I suppose it depends on what your subject is. If it’s landscapes, I’ve seen point and shoots that rival dSLR images straight from the camera.
It is true that the photographer’s eye doesn’t come quickly. It takes patience and lots of practice to develop.
It’s never too late to get in photography. There are lots of family to learn from :)
I just recently picked up photography as a hobby (I know, late for a Dy-Liacco!). I always appreciated good photography but came to realize that my point-and-shoot just can’t achieve what an SLR can (shallow depth of field, for instance). So in this regard, having the right equipment is needed for a beginning photographer to learn the ropes. It’s just a starting point though. There’s so much to learn! Developing a photographer’s eye is hard work.
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