Ok, I’m going to argue against the old accepted wisdom that states that ‘camera equipment isn’t important’. It’s the same wisdom that argues that it’s the ‘eye of the photographer’ that really counts, and that a great photographer can take a masterpiece with a basic camera phone.
You see, I just don’t agree. Of course, talent is fundamental. Without an eye for composition, lighting and timing, or at least some knowledge of these 3 areas, it’s very difficult to consistently take great photographs. However I would argue that, without the right equipment, it’s extremely difficult, if not impossible, to achieve this as well.
What do I mean? Well, just try taking a shot in-camera that demonstrates shallow depth of field with either a camera phone or a basic compact camera- you can’t! You see, the tiny sensors in these cameras result in lenses that have a very ‘wide’ focal length. This consequently means very deep depth of field, where every aspect of the scene is ‘sharp’ and in focus. And whilst this factor may not be important to a landscape photographer, where you generally want everything sharp, in the world of portrait photography it is essential. In other words, if you have only very basic equipment then there are very real limitations in terms of being able to translate your artistic vision into a real photograph.
Let me take this principle a step further. Would you try photographing a wedding or a sporting event with a cheap compact camera? How do you think that such a camera’s autofocus system would cope with locking onto and tracking moving subjects? Not very well, I can tell you! And how will the sensor in that camera cope with the realities of shooting a wedding in a dark church. It wouldn’t.
Of course, you could argue that I am taking an extreme view, and that I am just playing ‘devil’s advocate’ and yes, there may be a nugget of truth in this. I just want to make the point that, whilst talent is primary, we shouldn’t underestimate the importance of using the right equipment for the right job. As a wedding photographer you would never convince me to give up my fast zoom and prime lenses, and I’m sure you wouldn’t convince a top landscape photographer to part with their large format cameras. Like many things in life, success is down to developing and realizing your own innate talents whilst using the right tools to support that development. So, the next time your partner asks you whether you really do need that expensive fast zoom lens, you can turn around and reply ‘absolutely!’
Matt co-runs Foden Photography with his wife Brenda. They shoot weddings and events across the United Kingdom, and also cover destination weddings as well.
Purple Base Color - Tri-Color Representations
Yellow Base Color - Tri-Color Representations
Red Base Color - Tri-Color Representations
Pink Base Color - Tri-Color Representations