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| Without the best gear, your photos could turn out to only as good as this––a mere snapshot! Don’t let this happen to you. (click to enlarge) |
I’ve now done some extensive, in-depth, scientific research and it is clear to me that better gear frees you to excel, be more creative, release your genius and become more successful than your wildest dreams. I discovered that better gear actually allows you to be better at just about everything. Here is the information they never wanted you to know. And we know who they are.
Now, this wasn’t merely a casual investigation, mind you. It involved years of careful observation, countless hours consulting obscure history books, reading internet forums and a statistically significant amount of time watching YouTube reviews. I even spent time in solitude reviewing all my major life events. I only arrived at my conclusions after careful thought, meditation and a thorough examination of the evidence.
In fact, I found the evidence is overwhelming. Talent has been grossly overrated. Practice is largely unnecessary. Experience is optional. The real key to greatness is owning better equipment because the historical evidence is impossible to ignore. It’s right there in black & white. Here are some historical examples.
William Shakespeare. His early work was, by all accounts, rather forgettable. Ever heard of his plays, "The Butcher Goes To Yorkshire," or "A Midsummer's Night Sleep?" I didn't think so. Then, by sheer chance, a merchant from the Orient sold him an extraordinary quill made from the feather of a particularly gifted goose. Within weeks he had written Hamlet, Macbeth, and King Lear. Clearly, the quill deserves most of the credit. True story.
Another example. Vincent van Gogh struggled for years painting uninspiring landscapes. He couldn't give them away. Then an artist friend introduced him to an imported set of premium sable brushes. Overnight his work exploded with color, emotion, and genius. Critics continue to discuss his technique while almost completely overlooking the obvious contribution made by those remarkable brushes. Again, true.
We all know the genius of Albert Einstein. He was able to create new science that had never before thought of by any human being. A true genius. What is little known is he wrestled with physics until he upgraded his chalkboard. The previous one squeaked far too much. Distracted him. Interrupted his thought process. Once he acquired a smoother slate, the Special Theory of Relativity practically developed itself. Often times he was heard admonishing his students to only buy the best chalkboards.
Thomas Edison? Same story. Thousands of failed experiments simply reflected the fact that he owned inferior wires. Once he upgraded his wires that simple change released his creativity and that led to the light bulb as we know it today.
The Wright brothers are another obvious example. People insist they succeeded because of engineering, persistence, and countless failed attempts. Nonsense. They simply found the right tires. Once they mounted those new tires to their "Wright Flyer," the plane just about left the ground without a pilot! Amazing leap forward. Who would have thought "tires."
History is full of examples once you know where to look. It took a while but I discovered this information buried deep, deep in the forbidden part of the Internet. Lucky for us.
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| If you can get your hands on better kit, then you may be able to make a decent photo like this. In fact, your better camera won't allow snapshots! (click to enlarge) |
Michael Jordan didn’t become the greatest basketball player of his generation because he practiced relentlessly or possessed extraordinary competitive drive. He finally found the right pair of shoelaces. That made all the difference. Fact.
Usain Bolt? Couldn't get out of his own way until he bought better spikes.
Mario Andretti? He kept crashing leaving the pits. Only when he was given a better muffler for his race car not only was he able to get around the entire track, he started winning!
Babe Ruth? Couldn't hit worth a darn. Got a uniform made of cotton and the rest is history.
Beethoven? Beethoven couldn't compose "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" no matter how hard he tried. No one wanted to hear his music. Then a friend introduced him to a better harpsichord. Wow! 'Nuf said.
Michelangelo? When he finally upgraded to the latest and greatest chisel, "David" practically sculpted itself. Obviously, it was the chisel that made the difference.
Leonardo da Vinci? Failed inventor. Failure after failure after failure. Then as friend and fellow inventor suggested a different brand of notebooks and ink. After he got better notebooks, ink and top shelf paper, the inventions poured out of him.
The facts are in. indisputable. History never lies. Case closed.
Naturally, this principle applies to ordinary people as well, including myself. After reflecting on my own life, I was able to clearly recall some pivotable events in my life.
As a child, I struggled to write legibly. My handwriting looked as though a chicken had walked through an inkwell. Then I saw my teacher with a really cool mechanical pencil instead of that ordinary yellow #2 lead pencil with which I was struggling. Almost immediately I could print my name like a pro. Coincidence? I think not.
Later, I discovered that school essays had very little to do with vocabulary, grammar, or organization. What I really needed was a better ballpoint pen. I sent away for a rare handmade one with a larger ink capacity. Suddenly my thoughts flowed with remarkable clarity. Hey–I'm not lying here.
When I was learning to ride a bicycle, I couldn't balance and stay upright for anything in the world. Then, one afternoon I saw my best friend whizzing past me on a new Schwinn 26" red and white three-speed bike. What? How is he doing that? Just whizzed by effortlessly. I convinced my dad to get me one and, voila! I was riding like the wind. My bicycle simply lacked the proper technology. Once that problem was corrected, I was practically ready for the Tour de France.
Driving wasn’t much different. My first car wandered all over the road. It hesitated at intersections and made parking unnecessarily difficult. I gave up trying to park––even pulling in forward. I couldn't do it properly. Fortunately, my next car featured a nicer steering wheel and more comfortable seats. Instantly I became a capable driver. Driver's training courses had apparently been wasting everyone’s time. I'm convinced it was the more comfortable seats that made the difference.
Even mowing our lawn followed the same pattern. For years our yard looked as though a drunk squirrel had been lazily staggering around. I couldn't keep a mowing line straight for any amount of money. Then I purchased a better mower. My lines instantly became 'arrow' straight. They were to be admired. Neighbors began slowing their cars to admire my perfectly straight stripes. Augusta National golf course soon called to ask if I was available.
Who knew?
Usain Bolt? Couldn't get out of his own way until he bought better spikes.
Mario Andretti? He kept crashing leaving the pits. Only when he was given a better muffler for his race car not only was he able to get around the entire track, he started winning!
Babe Ruth? Couldn't hit worth a darn. Got a uniform made of cotton and the rest is history.
Beethoven? Beethoven couldn't compose "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" no matter how hard he tried. No one wanted to hear his music. Then a friend introduced him to a better harpsichord. Wow! 'Nuf said.
Michelangelo? When he finally upgraded to the latest and greatest chisel, "David" practically sculpted itself. Obviously, it was the chisel that made the difference.
Leonardo da Vinci? Failed inventor. Failure after failure after failure. Then as friend and fellow inventor suggested a different brand of notebooks and ink. After he got better notebooks, ink and top shelf paper, the inventions poured out of him.
The facts are in. indisputable. History never lies. Case closed.
Naturally, this principle applies to ordinary people as well, including myself. After reflecting on my own life, I was able to clearly recall some pivotable events in my life.
As a child, I struggled to write legibly. My handwriting looked as though a chicken had walked through an inkwell. Then I saw my teacher with a really cool mechanical pencil instead of that ordinary yellow #2 lead pencil with which I was struggling. Almost immediately I could print my name like a pro. Coincidence? I think not.
Later, I discovered that school essays had very little to do with vocabulary, grammar, or organization. What I really needed was a better ballpoint pen. I sent away for a rare handmade one with a larger ink capacity. Suddenly my thoughts flowed with remarkable clarity. Hey–I'm not lying here.
When I was learning to ride a bicycle, I couldn't balance and stay upright for anything in the world. Then, one afternoon I saw my best friend whizzing past me on a new Schwinn 26" red and white three-speed bike. What? How is he doing that? Just whizzed by effortlessly. I convinced my dad to get me one and, voila! I was riding like the wind. My bicycle simply lacked the proper technology. Once that problem was corrected, I was practically ready for the Tour de France.
Driving wasn’t much different. My first car wandered all over the road. It hesitated at intersections and made parking unnecessarily difficult. I gave up trying to park––even pulling in forward. I couldn't do it properly. Fortunately, my next car featured a nicer steering wheel and more comfortable seats. Instantly I became a capable driver. Driver's training courses had apparently been wasting everyone’s time. I'm convinced it was the more comfortable seats that made the difference.
Even mowing our lawn followed the same pattern. For years our yard looked as though a drunk squirrel had been lazily staggering around. I couldn't keep a mowing line straight for any amount of money. Then I purchased a better mower. My lines instantly became 'arrow' straight. They were to be admired. Neighbors began slowing their cars to admire my perfectly straight stripes. Augusta National golf course soon called to ask if I was available.
Who knew?
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| With even better gear, photo like this are possible. This osprey stopped and posed for me when he saw what camera I was using. (click to enlarge) |
Henri Cartier-Bresson spent years wandering around Europe trying unsuccessfully to capture what he later called “The Decisive Moment.” He was known in his circle of friends as "Indecisive Henri" for years as seemed to always capture what didn't just happen. Then Leica introduced a better camera. The M3. Suddenly decisive moments began appearing everywhere he looked. Don't give him the credit. The credit obviously goes to Leica. The evidence is clear as day.
Ansel Adams wandered Yosemite making perfectly ordinary landscape photographs. Ever hear of his photograph entitled, "Moon over Albuquerque" or "Clearing Fall Foliage?" I didn't think so. His photographs were unremarkable. Then Edward Weston suggested to him a taller tripod. The mountains immediately became more majestic, the clouds more dramatic and the tonal range expanded by at least three stops. Its amazing what better gear will do for you.
Which finally brings us to today’s photographers.
For decades we foolishly believed compelling photographs required understanding light, recognizing composition, exercising patience, anticipating moments, developing artistic vision, and perhaps venturing outdoors once in a while. What quaint thinking.
Modern science has now established that all meaningful improvement occurs immediately after purchasing the latest camera body. If your compositions are weak, you need more megapixels. If your colors are uninspiring, buy another lens. If your photographs lack emotion, a camera with more dynamic range should solve that. If your landscapes are boring, clearly your autofocus isn’t fast enough. And if your images still fail to move anyone after spending many thousands of dollars, don’t despair. your camera's manufacturer has thoughtfully announced a Mark X version scheduled for release next month. Hope springs eternal! That surely will make THE difference you've been waiting for.
As for me, when I started out with a very basic camera, I couldn't take a decnt photo for the life of me. Nothing was exposed correctly, most of my photos were out of focus, composition was horrible and the colors were reversed. I knew that if I wanted to continue my passion and get better as a photographer, I needed a new camera. So, in 1974 I sold my car and bought a new Nikon F2a. Wow! That made the difference! Even the first roll of film I shot in that camera got me several award winning photographs. I couldn’t make a bad photo after that. If only I had known sooner.
Now, before someone fires off an angry comment telling me I'm 'full of it ' and accusing me of photographic heresy, let me confess something. I genuinely appreciate excellent equipment. I've written many times that photography is the best hobby/passion for me as it balances my need to create (right brain) with my love for technology, analytical thinking and process (left brain). A perfect balance for me.
Of course, this entire article is nonsense. Better tools absolutely can make certain tasks easier and can allow you to practice different types of photography that entry level cameras may not allow. They can remove limitations, improve reliability, or make work more enjoyable. But they cannot supply vision, creativity, discipline, experience, or judgment. Cameras don’t create compelling photographs any more than Stradivarius violins create violinists or Formula One cars create world champions.
We all know that good cameras are more reliable. Better lenses can be sharper. Autofocus can improve. Dynamic range can increase. Weather sealing can keep shooting when conditions deteriorate. Modern tools absolutely can remove obstacles and and provide features that allow you to do more things photographically, explore new and different genres and make your photography more enjoyable.
But they cannot supply curiosity. They cannot create vision. They cannot recognize beautiful light. They cannot teach composition. They cannot replace patience. And they certainly cannot substitute for spending years learning to see.
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| This photo basically 'took itself.' I just pointed the great camera I was using at the bird and voila! (click to enlarge) |
I’ve been making photographs for more than half a century. During those years I’ve owned over 100 cameras from numerous manufacturers, ranging from humble point-and-shoot film cameras to today’s astonishing digital marvels. Every generation has been better than the last. Yet the photographs that matter most to me were never created because I happened to own the newest or most full featured. latest and greatest camera. They were created because, for one fleeting moment, I happened to be standing in the right place with enough experience to recognize what was unfolding before me and enough knowledge to capture it. The cameras simply were a means to an end. Any particular camera just came along for the ride.
Having said all that…
If Fujifilm announces a X-T6 tomorrow with even better autofocus (hope), another stop of dynamic range, a revised sensor and image processor and a few more computational photography tricks, well...
…Also, I reserve the right to conduct additional scientific research. My sources for this post may be flawed. LOL 😉
Join me over at my website, https://www.dennismook.com.
Thanks for looking. Enjoy!
Dennis A. Mook
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Interesting article. However, I am still looking for the "Emperor's New Clothes" paragraph. To this end, and at the risk of beating a dead horse, I have been repeating a comparison test. The premise is that my Z7 46mp full frame camera produces images, viewed on monitor and 19" prints that are far and away better than the oft scoffed at m43 20mp Olympus.
ReplyDeleteThe Z7 images, cropped to the canvas size of the Olympus, look remarkably like those native images from the Olympus. Also, the Olympus images, resized in PS, to the canvas size of the Z7 (27.5" horizontal at 300 dpi) look remarkably like those Z7 originals.
For the record, I have been wearing my new glasses while staring at the monitor and the prints on the wall.
Still, given the edict of "Believe nothing you read and only half of what you see", it is apparent to me that I must be missing something. Either that, or the camera manufacturers and the internet pundits must be perpetuating a huge hoax on us poor photo equipment buyers.
Maybe a rental of a Fujifilm GFX will provide me with the great image improvement I seek.
Thanks for your comment. I have found the printing process equalizes differences in resolution (and sometimes sharpness) in image files. Detail is lost as the printer can’t replicate the tiniest detail found in files. Secondly, I can definitively say that when comparing identical subjects made with both a GFX and OM-3, then downsizing the GFX file to 20mp, it is visibly better than the m4/3 file at 100% and 200% when viewed on a monitor. More detail and sharpness. However, when the images are viewed in their entirety, are pretty much indistinguishable. ~Dennis
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ReplyDeleteVery interesting about the GFX downsized performance. Reinforces what you have written previously about the sufficiency level of cameras in this modern era.
Printing on paper is limited to a much shorter range of tonal values and requires a higher level of sharpening. Images that have visible highlight separation and clean shadows, while on an electronic display, may produce a print that has blocked highlights and color shifts in the shadows.
It is often necessary to compress the range in order to make a traditional looking print.
Paper texture, ink dot spread, are other factors that affect detail. Still, to me, viewing photographs just look right on the wall and holding them in my hands. Whether from the printer, in a book, that just seems to be the optimal photographic output.
All that said, in recent tests, I am not seeing an appreciable difference in images on the monitor. I should add that my tests are directed to images recorded at or near base ISO. I suspect higher ISO's would tilt the outcome towards the larger sensor. I only use high ISO's for wildlife in low light levels. I expect compromise there.
I am glad to have the Z7 as a reference standard for these tests. Otherwise, I would be plagued with FOMO about using any camera sensor smaller than full frame.
Anyway, this all keeps an old fellow's mind active and hands busy.