Michael Coyne asks if our equipment is as important as our ideas in the current issue of Better Photography.
"A lot of discussion about photography in recent times seems to be about the mechanics and the hardware, not about the image itself.
"How many pixels or gadgets, whistles and bells does a camera body contain? Is the lens big enough or zooming adequately from 16mm – 300mm? I have seen photographers so loaded down with equipment that they can’t figure out which lens to pick up or which camera to use before the light or moment disappears.
"The camera you carry may not be your latest purchase and the attached lens may not be a favourite focal length. It doesn’t matter.
"Walking the streets of Ubud in Bali, I encountered a woman resting with her basket at a market. Her poise, the light and background were pleasing. It was a street photograph worth recording. The only photographic device I had with me was a cheap, plastic ‘point and shoot’ camera. No problem. The woman smiled whimsically and I captured a special moment with a file good enough for me to reproduce.
"It’s worth remembering that cameras are only tools that help us achieve the goal of capturing great photographs."
Michael explains how he approaches photography in the current issue of Better Photography magazine! Not a subscriber yet? We'd love you to join - take $20 off with our coupon code IDEAS20.