More videos about important stuff… kzfaq.info/get/bejne/qqqaidJ6mp_PiZc.html

I'm a retired pro, and have shot using many different cameras and lenses over many years. My first camera was a Kodak Brownie which will suggest how old I am. I agree entirely that knowing how to shoot good shots on a variety of different types of equipment is the mark of a photographer. It requires adapting your vision to the equipment and situation. The first and most important lesson any aspiring photographer can learn is to how to see in images. This naturally differs from natural sight in that it requires a kind of mental adjustment. Seeing like a photographer requires a unique kind of artistic kind of vision which involves both an understanding of the technology in use, but also composition and the essential elements of any visual medium. It is the interplay between light, form, subject, composition and intention which create the image. The camera then is something like a canvas and paint for painters. In both cases, the vision of the image to be captured comes first. However, once has acquired a photographer's eye, certain cameras may well be needed to capture what is held in the mind's eye. The simple example I have occurred to me last winter and proves the point. Driving along in a rural area I spotted a snowy owl on a roadside fence post. Getting a picture of the owl required working from a distance. Walking up with a camera phone was not an option. The camera I had with me at that time did not have a long enough lens. The owl continued to move away making it increasingly difficult to capture any usable image. Anyone with a desire to photograph birds in the wild will relate to this point. However, even with the best camera and a long lens, I could still have muffed the shot if I had no understanding of composition, lighting, subject, and all the technical understanding needed to get the correct exposure etc. Mastering the camera, any camera requires first mastering yourself.

Amateurs talk about gear, Pros talk about money, Masters talk about the light!

Sometimes limitations can force you to be more creative.

It seems so odd to me. I'm new to photography, but have been a musician for over 30 yrs. a pro musician can still create incredible music on a student line instrument. A student can sound slightly better on pro gear, but it does not make them professional. Art is art. It doesn't matter the format. The simple truths are the same

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."- Theodore Roosevelt

I've often noticed that the people who say the gear doesn't matter are the people with really good gear lol. I do agree the camera doesn't make the photographer, but the better gear, especially the lenses, can take them to another level.

When you understand lighting, shadows, composition, depth of field and focus, it applies to all types of cameras. What makes me a better photographer on a DSLR also makes me take great shots with my phone.

This reminds me of my college days where I participated in a class called History of Documentary photography. It was my first contact with the old important figures of photography. It is where I fell in love with the works of Joel Meyerowitz, Cartier-Bresso, Cindy Sherman and the likes. For our final exam we were given the names of four classical photographers and we had to shoot one image per name. No matter how the teacher (he was wonderful) explained to not copy these works, the more people did it. In the end images made from phones (and this was a while ago, so far inferior pictures to what a modern iPhone can do) made the cut more often than the ones made from top shelf DSLRs. The thing is, he was not looking for image quality or photoshop skills, he was not looking for a copy of original work. He was looking for the atmosphere, the story. You do not need a big camera for that or a vintage look to the images. It sometimes helps, but you don’t need it. :)

Yes gear does not matter if you can get the shots that speaks to you with the equipment that you have. Yes I could get good shots on my Iphone 6s but then I would be pulling my hair out when I get frustrated trying to create a long exposure shot with a wide angle perspective. Then trying to edit a jpeg file to bring out the shadows and it creates too much artefacts. Buy only the gear that you need that makes it a pleasure to use that gear and to get the shots that you want.

I think it all comes down to purpose, if you have the desire to tell stories and capture moments then gear doesn't matter as long as you have something,. However if your purpose is for a commercial gain, to make a product, then the gear can have a considerable impact on the quality of the work.

Just came across this. The best video I have seen on photography. Thanks. I am a 53 yesr old real amateur. I did a short evening course to better understand my new Sony A37. Almost at once I wished I had bought I better camera like those the other students had. It took me a while to "get just the message" you pass here. I decided to learn all I could about my own camera and the three lenses I had (2 second hand because it is all I can afford ). I stopped wrapping it in cotton wool (metaphorically) and began carrying it everywhere I could. I took hundreds, if not thousands of pictures and from those I got a few that I am really proud of. The rest weren't wasted. I realised they were bad because I had failed to remember composition, light or depth (I always shoot in manual ). Each time I learned something. I had to remember that my entry level Sony is still 1000s of times more capable than the cameras that took many of the photographs that stop me dead in my tracks when I see them. Thanks for addressing this issue. Keep up the good work.

I do agree that most of the time around 80%, the gear does not matter, yet on the other hand, sometimes gear is what matters. It all depends what are you trying to produce. Around 6 years ago I needed a beauty dish but none of the shops I have in my country had one, so I built it myself from a huge plastic deep bowl.. I had used it ever since.. didn't buy BD and since it is a deep parabolic it had somehow grown on me. The client at the time was amazed with the light quality I got from a contraption that costed around 10 usd.. But on the other hand I do use professional Elinchrom strobes and many of their modifiers..

Now watch someone make a pinhole camera out of a potato to prove a point.

"Yes it is possible to take a good picture with a camera phone, but your extremely limited in what you can do. It's like trying to win the Indy 500 driving a golf cart. It's theoretically possible to win, but realistically you won't." - (user: THX 1138.) This is exactly the issue every time a photographer says gear doesn't matter. Ted says in the end it only matters if the picture speaks to you. I argue, the picture has to be able to speak clearly to be able to understand it. Yes, to create content it doesn't matter what you use. To create quality content, it does; And, in todays world, having 4k or high megapixels and wide apertures means everything to producing quality content. I think many photographers are getting lost in the, "Direction vs Production" conversation. Those are two very different things. To say Gear doesn't matter is saying that quality doesn't matter. As we know, THAT is an untrue statement. Now, as gear becomes better in quality, we close the gap in what gear can achieve. Much like the 35mm Camera, it wasn't an immediate go to tool until 10 years after it's release. Even then it wasn't a fad until somewhere in the late 50s early 60s. AKA The Great Boom of Photography. Cartier-Bresson captured his images in, what? The thirties? The point being, the medium had been out for sometime. The quality of the 35mm camera had to become better before it was used by the many and the greats. Cell phone photography is becoming better and better every year. In this day in age you CAN achieve great images with your phone camera, just like a golf cart can go a lap on the speed track. However, you can't win the race. A Leica MP is going to out-perform the cell phone every time. There's no way around it. With interchangeable lenses, better build quality, Manual controls. It's just going to be better. "Though, most of us can run, we probably won't be able to outperform Olympians." - Me. Take a look at what it takes to make a short movie with a cell phone, rigs, and combinations of a tun of add-on gear. Stabilizers and more. WHY? For what? The answer is, BECAUSE, GEAR MATTERS! I think a better conversation overall would be is photography a competition? This, might get the ball rolling! But overall, to take a picture requires a camera, to take a quality picture you need production, to take a quality picture that tells a story, you need direction. So, should we Learn to Direct or Produce first? And; how do you win a subjective competition? (Fellow Art of Photography lovers, It has been awesome talking with you all. I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I do.)

I used a superzoom for years and years, the artifacts and limitations in the image were very important for me to learn Photoshop. Bought a DSLR, got frustrated with the lenses limitations and prices, went back to superzooms. But I get what you mean, some youtubers became famous using very basic equipment, like a cheap cellphone, just because they had something interesting to say. Some people by equipment that cost ten times what I spent and I never see then uploading anything worthy.

Ted! Just recently discovered your channel, and I love it. The reason I often don't like the use of cell phones for photography is, just like you covered in your "no one cares about your photography" video, their accessibility makes taking photos so easy that no thought or effort is often put into it. I suppose it kind of relates to what you said, with the specifications of your camera not mattering (i totally agree), but rather in this case, how well a smartphone sells is often reliant on how good the camera is. And let's admit it, the vast majority of pictures taken on smartphones aren't heartfelt or planned out. They're momentary. Great video.

I think an experienced photographer can do more with less in terms of a beginner. However, location, timing and composition rein supreme. Any thoughts?

And if someone wants to get into not-point-and-shoot-photography, but only has 100$, they really should buy a film camera (fully manual one with TTL light metering) (for example an Asahi Pentax Spotmatic) and a cheap used film scanner (I got an Epson V330 for 15$). Fully manual cameras teach you how to get the shot right and how the lighting and exposure can make the image look different, and film teaches you to value every single shot you take and it keeps you from just walking arround taking stupid photos of everything. Film makes you think about every shot you're about to take twice, and that is what we lost with digital photography. Don't get me wrong, digital photography is great and changed the world of photoraphy a lot in a positive way and I even own a professional Nikon DSLR setup (D700 and a lot of lenses), but it really is a bigger pleasure not to take my D700 with me on a trip, but rather taking the Spotmatic with me. Thats why I still shoot film and why I recommend beginners who want to get to know and understand photography to start with a fully manual film camera. Hope someone reads this.

I have an interesting answer when people approach me for this 'If you are asking me whether gear is important, then IT IS NOT, as you do not even know what you want; If you know you what you want, the question won't be even raised. Craft your skill and challenge yourself until the moment you realise your gear cant achieve what you want, especially considering about either printing or dynamic range, that is the moment for you to do something about your gears'

A day after viewing this, I've actually bought a Mamiya C33 medium format camera at my local store. I'm feeling totally crazy for buying it, but at least I'm thinking, I'll try it, and if I ever get bored with it or I don't like it anymore, I can sell it in the future. It's a mid 1960's model, and yet it can be re-used and I find that incredible. Most recent digital cameras break within 5 to 10 years max. I've got a 1985 Contax camera as well and it's been my favourite so far. I love to explore film more because it helps me understand the features in detail, because with digital, I feel that we don't even need to think about anything, the camera does it all for us. Still, the best camera is the one you have with you. Looking forward to your new video, Ted! and thank you for your advice & feedback.

I feel that many people commenting are getting it a bit wrong. Of course a dslr produces better quality pictures than any phone around. This said, a full frame camera produces better image quality than most of the cameras people daily shoot with and still only a bunch of people are willing to take a full frame camera on a travel. For me "gear doesn't matter" means that when you only have a phone and can't afford a camera, but you still want do shoot photos, then do so. Let's assume we didn't talk about photography but about cars. You don't go off to somebody who only can afford a crappy car and tell them that they can't drive because there are faster and more efficient cars around, would you?

Maybe not on the potato? Is that a challenge I hear? :)

Using a phone to take pictures is a creative constraint. On most phones it's a 28mm equivalent with a deep depth of field. Therefore, you need to take pictures that suit that kind of camera. I find it's easier to take pictures with better equipment, though in many cases it's the camera that gets some of the praise.

Your comments about the materialism of photography are spot-on. But what I think you overlook is that so many new photographers look at highly experienced photographers with literally a shelf of cameras behind them who say, "It doesn't matter" and they read that as out-of-touch of self-delusion. As in, they look at that shelf and say, "Okay... It doesn't matter for pro photographers who have a dozen cameras to choose from." I think it's really telling that I just watched a video about "minimal" photography (sort of a "what's in my bag" video) where it turned out that the photographer was carrying 2 bodies, 5 lenses, a few LED lights, and a satchel full of filters. All of that was considered a "minimal" kit. I think that if you had more photography-oriented KZfaq channels with people using a single camera, manufactured circa 2014, shooting on a single lens, and publishing astonishing images and video, then people would sit up and take notice. And I mean not as a "I can make a single video showing I can get legit shots with this" but actually committing to using literally nothing but that one camera, one lens, nothing but ambient light, for say 2 years and making weekly videos that amazed and impressed. I think that would make waves in people's minds. But as much as I agree with you that gear matters less than people think (and I do agree with it), I think it's difficult for novices to not be cynical about when they see how much gear photographers actually amass (and use) in their photography.

I've had my Nikon D3100 for six years and it still serves me well

Indeed. A creepy camera forces us to learn and thus become more creative

It is really lovely to listen to someone who speaks with passion about photography and who is honest and upfront and open about all its pitfalls, pros and cons.

I get a big kick when I see KZfaq videos telling us why one photographer switched from Nikon to Canon or Sony etc. Like this would make any difference ! I have always said that one of the greatest landscape photographers ( Ansel Adams ) used a wooden box with a lens in the front. Cameras do not take great photos.....the person that pushes the shutter release does. Another great video...thank you

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." -- Theodore Roosevelt . I think this is the quote that you are referring to. In my opinion, this few simple words are the quintessence of adaptation in every aspect of life....including photography :D. I really like your explanations. I fully agree with all of it.

I think all gear in the market TODAY are beyond the line of the clear and great image quality with no artifacts that affect the shot. What remains is the content, The story, The lighting and Composition..etc. A good portrait shot won't influence the audience by how sharp or visible facial Hair look but with .. you get the point :) Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can. ♥

You know what Ted? you are absolutely right! understanding light, expressing someone's feelings via a proper compositional technique and deciding the best moment to shoot makes the magic... the gear is important but it doesn't make a good photograph by itself.

The difficulty with this topic is that we're looking for a binary answer: gear matters/gear doesn't matter. The reality is that this is a continuum. Gear doesn't matter unless it does, and that depends on who you are, what you're trying to do, what the circumstances are, etc.

Gear doesn't matter. I learned a bit off of my phone and a bit about manual control, applied that to my Nikon d90 that I'm messing with. It's about composition of the photo and how you take it. I've taken some really nice shots on both my phone(oneplus 3) and my D90.

What you talk about in this video is so true! My personal experience is, that I just discovered photography the second time. I started with a digital compact back in 2010 and then got myself a used DSLR last year. The last year or so has been about discovering my own photographic style and finding the best gear for myself. I've been pursuing image quality so much, that sometimes I forgot about photography itself, which is kind of sad. I'm always on a budget, so expensive gear is out of the question, but I discovered vintage lenses and their magical characteristics. Then came out of the blue the need to get a split focusing screen. Which made using those lenses a breeze. Which made me realize... hey, I'm using my DSLR the way film cameras have been used and it just feels so natural. I might be able to handle a film SLR as well, perhaps... then I joined an analog photographic group on facebook, which made me fall in love with film and it's colors (or the lack of it), it's feeling... then came the need to finally have myself a film SLR... for which I already had a bunch of lens. (same mount as the DSLR) Then it happened! I just realized that it's the moment that matters, which I'm capturing. Shotting with a 70's film SLR made me realize that it's all the same as using a DSLR, except I can get magical looking images just with a small, cheap camera, which is far older than myself. Plus the thrill of waiting for it to be developed is just great! But it isn't even about analog photography, rather... the realization that no matter what kind of gear I have, the best camera's always the one with me and I have to use that one to capture the moment. That might even be a cellphone (although I like to keep photography separate from my phone), it doesn't really matter. Only the moment does.

Q: "Why do gear reviews/vids garner more views (ie clicks) than the actual art/photographs) imho A: The latter exposes a vulnerability that the former does not. The latter insists upon the user 'producing' rather than consuming. In other words, human nature strikes again. *Great* channel ... One of my favs!

"I only have an iPhone". Well, complaining about how expensive a mirrorless camera is but owning the latest iPhone doesn't make much sense. :)

Talent doesn't need money to express itself

I remember when I was younger, having a job interview that I was pretty much a shoe in for. I had all the gear to work for this smaller, union pay scale paper. The night before the interview I stayed at a friend's house and left my gear buried under stuff in my car. I had all Contax gear and a full set of prime lenses. Someone noticed the speakers in my car that night and broke in only to hit the jackpot. I lost everything. My portfolio was all over the front yard and the paper opted not to hire me. I ended up borrowing old pentax gear from a friend and took another job and continued to shoot with it till I replaced my gear with Canon cameras. I learned at that point that all the wiz bang gear had no major impact on my images.

I've been an amateur photographer for over 45 years and have developed a good eye for what makes an interesting photo. I've used many types of cameras and now I love having a camera in my back pocket! I SE interesting photos nearly every day, so having a "cell phone" at the ready is very exciting and fun!

loved this concept, and it's so true! :)

I think the all I have is phone argument is BS. A new iphone cost around 800 to $1,000. If you can afford an iPhone you can afford at the very least a pretty damn good used DSLR. The two cameras I have both of which i bought last year are a T4i and (don't laugh I got it extremely cheap) a Sony A3000 along with a dozen or so lenses and a crappy speedlite to use between them. All in I got less than $700 invested. Well shy of an iPhone's asking price. Hell even if you can't afford an Iphone the Sony a3000 I have with the main 4 (old manual) lenses I use with it in total cost me less than $175. I say go to ebay hock your phone and buy some used gear.

It simply depends on what kind of shoot you are doing. For some (earnest emotional portraiture) it doesn't much matter, for others (high end product photography) it absolutely does. Not all photography is in the realm of Annie Liebowitz's more personal diary-like work or Henri Cartier Bresson. That's like saying all photography may as well be black and white. And yes, I have been to a gallery, and what struck me about a piece - what made its impact - was the visual effect of how it was printed, and how sharp and high res it was. That's not the only reason I've been impacted by something in a gallery, but photography is not just emotional photojournalism, it is many things, and some of those things greatly benefit from the best tech possible..

5* !!! What matters is to know how to "squeeze" what your gear as to offer in the best why possible to capture the moment and pass on the story / emotion / message you want.

I'm so tired of this. "Good images are good images no matter how they are made." This is obviously correct. The image-taking capability of the modern smartphone is astounding. Then go all the way back to the earliest photographic techniques. You can do so much with everything from A-Z. That's not a question. For KZfaq support check out DigitalRev's series where they give top 1% photographers shitty gear, and they know how composition, light, etc. work, so they make great images. "It doesn't matter at all what you shoot on." NO NO NO NO NO. Camera tech matters. What you shoot on has limitations. Different focal lengths, different sensors, different lenses, tilts, shifts, film stocks, etc. are all limitations, and are worth considering when you're making an image. You can make good images with any camera, but you can't make every good image with every camera. It's worthwhile to study the equipment, know what it can do, and what it can't do. Use your tools for what they're designed. Don't shoot slide film at night hand-held. Don't shoot wedding portraits with a 6 MP point and shoot expecting lovely bokeh. It may seem like pedantic nit-picking, but I think it's important to make the distinction when people parrot the "gear doesn't matter" stuff. Thanks, Ted! Love the videos.

when you say iPhone you're actually referring to the smartphones in general, I hope. If gear doesn't matter, so doesn't the brand.

I am reminded of the old saying. "The best camera in the world is the one you have with you"

I'll admit I found your channel trying to do camera research before buying my first "prosumer" camera. But I've been addicted to all of your learning and education videos.

My Potato takes great photos.

Alright, but then why does pro photographers spends up to 100k on their camera gear? If it doesn't matter then they should just shoot on their iphones full time.

Mr. Forbes, I find myself BINGE WATCHING your content and I will tell you, you've opened me up to this world of photography in a way that not even classes I've taken have. I truly appreciate your contributions.

Ted, honestly you hit the nail on the head. About 4 years ago I started getting serious about photography, and it was your review of the Kiev 88 that landed me on your channel. The fact is, camera review are really important to people get getting into photography, because there /IS/ this perception that the camera makes the photo. We're all marketed to that effect so much that it really takes experience to "get" it. However, it was channels like yours, that are really refreshing to get that photography is, in fact, an art. Thanks for everything that you do. And admitting that even you get "GAS" a little bit too :)

"why gear doesnt matter" video in 4k and leica lenses

"why gear doesnt matter" yeah, you can take the same pic with a 500mm f8 mirror lens with a nikon d40, as i can with a d500 and a 500mm f4 lens, FOR SURE, COZ GEAR DOESNT MATTEr

Ted, I agree with all the points that you made. Isn't there a saying, "The best camera is the one that you have with you". Many years ago when I was just a kid, my Mom told me, "You don't need an expensive camera to make good pictures". I think that's true now more than ever. There was a time when I thought to myself, "If only I had a Hasselblad, if only I had a Nikon". When I was very young, I saved my money to buy a Fujica ST-605. I was embarrassed to show my friends, who had Nikons, Olympus OM1s and even Leicas. As it turned out, it wasn't so bad to have just a Fujica ST-605 35mm camera. Sometimes when we have to make do, it actually makes you a better photographer. It seems counter-intuitive, but that's just my opinion.

Wow!! you just spoke my mind. I am an amatuer photographer, and for a great amount of time I was shooting exclusively with my cellphone. In fact it was my cellphone (and Instagram) that spurred me to invest into photography. Last year I got my first mirrorless camera - and many of my friends told me that a DSLR is way superior to most mirrorless. While I agree fully to that - I must say that a small, light, and easy to use camera encourages me to take more photos, and taking more photos, for me, is the ultimate objective. I know many people who simply buy a DSLR and never ever use it, only because it has become somewhat impractical to lug that thing around everywhere. Even to this day, I love taking photos with my cellphone. For me, it's never so much the sharpness/quality of the photo, but the artistic expression behind it.

What an trolling discussion on simple subject? 'Gear doesn't matter' is true. We are talking of esthetic or emotional content of the certain picture, photos, music, aren't we? After all photography should be fun, passion, love, hobby. Ok an job too. I do understand love for photo equipment or gear in a collector's way. But... Fancy gear, or expensive or sophisticated won't be the substitute for mere lack of talent.

Love this video, love the channel! subscribed

Hey Ted! How are you doing? I can't agree more with you. The importance of what gear you buy is irrelevant if you don't carry it with you. I spend my days thinking "ohhh God! I can't believe that I missed this shot too" and it is because I don't have my camera with me. My cellphone is a iphone 4s and its camera sucks but watching your videos makes me wonder that maybe my eyes suck more than my cellphone. =) Anyway, your channel is my source of knowledge and culture, you are awesome, have done a even more awesome job and need to tell you something: I'm Brazilian and the first video of yours that I watched was about Sebastião Salgado. It brings tears to my eyes just thinking about your words. That video made me watch all your other videos and acknowledge: I'm your fan! lol Thank you to bring back my faith in youtube's photography channels!

"The camera doesn't take pictures, people take pictures." Brilliant :)

this is now currently the greatest episode you've ever done....until the next one ;)

This all sounds very nice but unfortunately it doesn't hold true in the real world. Try shooting wildlife with your phone. If you actually do manage to get close enough you'll probably get eaten or trampled to death... By the way, here's a question for you: If you actually do think that gear doesn't matter, why not sell all your cameras and lenses and get something cheaper? I suggest one of the cameras from DRTV's "pro tog cheap camera" series. They should be pretty cheap and save you a whole bunch of money that in that case could be much better spent elsewhere.

As a photographer, I don't have a smartphone, I have a camera. I don't have a DSLR, I have a camera, I don't have a mirrorless, I have a camera. A camera is great for taking photographs. That's all you need to know.

I come back to this video every time I worry about what thing to buy next. After watching it, I realize what I need and buy it. If I don't need anything, I pick up my camera and just go take pictures. Thank you, Ted.

Gear doesn't matter !!! I'm going to shoot a very expensive Wedding with my iphone. I know the Bride would just love it !!!

Love the videos

The lack of proper gear stops so many photographers, You have many great points. What's that saying? The best camera is the camera you have on you? It's entirely true.

Very well said Ted. As a photo channel I also experience what you mentioned. Reviews get views, a video tutorial on studio lighting I worked on for over 12+ hours gets less then a 1/4th of the views.

So stop doing gear reviews

Of course gear matters. "Gear doesn't matter" might sound great to someone with no gear, but the reality is, if it truly did not matter, nobody would have all this gear. If gear doesn't matter, get rid of yours.

very meaningful advice! I still shoot with the X-pro1, which was released in 2012 and is ancient by digital camera standards and some of my best photos were shot with an archaic Canon 10D... jumping on the latest cameras and thinking those cameras will make one a better photographer is a fallacy that too many unfortunately go by...

This is the best video I have seen on you tube this year period! Absolutely brilliant advice...

You can be the best contractor in the world, but you aren't building anything if you only get a pair of pliers. You need the right tool for the right job, do you need the best of the best? No. But you NEED the RIGHT tool for the job. Gear matters. Stop setting the bar lower for photography, people like you make photography worst off in the long run.

Would Leonardo Da Vinci's drawings have been any better if he had owned a mechanical pencil? Or a biro? No. Case closed.

totally agree. There are days I pick up my Kodak Hawkeye and there are days I pull out the DSLR, RB67, AE1P or what ever... Take pictures!

The cell phone photos of the loved one who passed away. In my opinion, there is one powerful aspect to that. Taping the photos together, to me, is an expression of her wanting to put her loved one back together. A desperate wish for the impossible to be possible, if only for a moment.

I think the Theodore Roosevelt quote is "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." Basically what you said. I think about this exact quote all the time when I'm shooting.

I have seen photographers with the best equipment get poor shots and those with basic equipment get good results. You just have to know how to get the best out of your camera, and the only way to do that is to practice practice practice. I thought I would never be able to shoot flight shots of birds but over time I have improved dramatically. The secret is to never stop learning and don't be afraid to try something new.

These videos you make, drags me to photography...I am a beginner, but you have convinced me to become a photographer and not a gadgetgrapher..love the way you teach.. Thank you

The thing about using a phone for photography is that it heavily limits you artistically in mainly two things; the focal length and aperture you are using are fixed (in most phones, that is). With a SLR, you can get lens that are as cheap as you want and that still provide you with absolute creative freedom, but with phones you just can't. That being said, all my street photography gets shot on my phone, whose lens just happens to be of my favourite focal lenght, ~28mm.

All I want to add is that different gear CAN help you make different images. For example, you mentioned it yourself with the large format vs 35mm: you could capture images with the 35mm camera that you could not with the large format. I wholeheartedly agree that one should do the most with what one has got, but sometimes a different kind of camera can be of great help in making the images one wants to make.

Admittedly, I have been shooting since the 60's, and when I encountered digital, i had to learn photography all over again. As a matter of fact, some of my best pictures to this date were shot on film.

I agree to a point. You can get different results from your camera type. For example, shooting with a rangefinder is different from an SLR. Use the tool to create what you want. Learn the tool inside and out. One big part of any art is the craft of creation. You must be comfortable enough with what you have to create what you want. Another example, there are great watercolour paintings and great oil paintings, but they are different beasts. Shooting with a large format camera is different from shooting with an iPhone, and the aesthetic will reflect that, for the most part.

So many times I have heard this. I believe (and want to believe) that more and more I'm setting the gear aside and diving into what photography really is.

There’s a certain wisdom in the old expression, “Run what you brung.” I think many of us are fascinated by the gee whiz factor regarding new photo gear, and we are conditioned as consumers to keep purchasing whatever is the newest or best product (How many times in your life have you seen “new and improved” on laundry detergent boxes?). It’s undoubtedly true, though, that the best way to grow as a photographer is to become so familiar with your gear that you can operate it almost by reflex, and that comes through sticking with the gear for a substantial period. It’s also fun to reflect on the fact that Nikon kept the F3 in production for decades, even though it had been superseded by the F4 and F5. Simplicity is a form of perfection.

It's funny how I'll put out a video with expensive equipment and lots of planning that does not get nearly the response as others shot on my iPhone. The funny part is that I probably get more comments asking "what camera do you use" on the iPhone video because people brought in by the content oftentimes still cannot get away from focusing on the gear. Your video really got me to step back and refocus myself on the art rather than the equipment.

Gear Acquisition Syndrome is very tough to fight. we do live in a world of material envy. I will try to push the gear I have to its limits. the depth, thought and the intelligence behind the camera is so important. Thank you for your reminder that I am behind everything I produce. I will build a better relationship with my cameras.

I am constantly reminded, every time you put out a new video, why I think you're one of the best photography related content producers on KZfaq. I like that you focus on more than just the reviews and whatever is trending. I have nothing against the Northrops or FroKnowsPhoto but I just find myself not enjoying the content they put out lately. There are a dime-a-dozen videos about the basics of photography and the latest and greatest hardware. There just aren't a lot of people making content *about* photography like you are. The photo assignments and videos like this (as well as the more controversial ones such as "No One Cares About Your Photography") are the perfects examples of what really matters. Don't get me wrong, I do like to keep up on the newest technologies and hear different opinions of them but that's not going to make me a better photographer. So, thank you Ted for doing what you do.

I came here initially for your RX100 review, and I have stayed for the amazing insights and general discussion about photography from an art point of view. I never discovered photography until recently and you've been a great companion on this journey.

I spent a few days this week up in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Froze my ass off but it was beautiful. I brought my AE1 Program with me to shoot in downtown Gatlinburg. Had some amazing views and photos I was crazy hyped to develop. That night I realized I rushed and messed up loading my film. There goes the hours of walking in windy snowy weather getting shots and the only opportunity there for who knows how long. Now I'm always going to remember to load my film right, but it made me really regret not using my LG G4 that can shoot in RAW. I learned a few lessons; be diligent with your gear, diversify what you use, and learn to let go. I still have those shots in my head, and that's what truly matters

A women who wanted photo's from a friend of mine, asked my friend if he could arrange a professional camera to take professional looking photos of her. My friend has a Panasonic G7, with a 25mm 1.7 and a 14-140 kit zoom. I explained to my friend that laymen often don't have the understanding to exactly explain what they mean by the word 'professional'. So I urged my friend to ask her what she considers professional, and he should help the laymen being specific. It turns out that 'professional' in the mind of the laymen is something that does not look like a typical cellphone image. Think about camera angle, composition, dynamic range, colours, lighting and the obvious shallow depth of field. So if you got a cellphone camera you should study cellphone images and 'professional' big camera images and learn ways to make your cell phone photos not look like cell phone shots. To do this you must learn to use manual settings in the phone, shoot raw if you can, learn to how to frame, light and edit photos. Instructing and guiding your models is also very important, as well as planning your shots, and vitally important is good light. BTW if you get handy with photo editing, and plan you shots and easily make a shallow depth of field photo. Best done on a tripod: 1) Take a shot of your model, 2) ask her to step out of the frame and take another shot, 3) in photo editing: load in the shot without the model, use a 'camera blur' function to blur the fore and background, 4) create a new layer on top with the model photo and erase the area around the model to show the blurry background. The advantage of this method is you can choose the amount of blur later. Disadvantage is that you need a bit more time to shoot that separate background shot and edit it in. Working with fore and background layers also creates more opportunities, for adding more methods of separation like making the foreground (model) coloured warm, and the background cold (blue). You see creating pro work is about using your brains. Not only in technical way like I described above, but also knowing the language of images, and expressing feelings and thoughts with that language. Look up Digital Rev's pro photographer bad camera, and see how pros shoot pro images with (very)shitty cameras. BTW if you look around you can find old DSLRs with manual lenses for very little money. These are great learning tools because they allow easy ergonomic manual control that helps you to explore and learn. Aside from the technique I think being an eccentric person can also really help, because your very different look on life can create interesting pictures normal people find intriguing. Being different is an asset.

Great....and I agree 100% My high school photography teacher back in the mid 60s brought in some pictures that he had shot. They were some fabulous portraits shot in lowlight Rembrandt lighting on Tri-x and pushed. After capturing our attention he brought out the camera... a Kodak Box.I've remembered that lesson to this day. I shot weddings and commercial work with many expensive cameras but now that I am retired I carry a pocket Sony. I have shown in galleries and taken awards with this tiny camera. The fun part is when asked what equipment I use I pull it out of my pocket. It's the singer not the song!

Couldn't agree more. I am using a full-frame DSLR and a Sony RX100 on a daily basis, and it's more often the pics from the Sony that come out nicer, because it's always available and it does not attract attention. It's more versatile in many ways and it's much easier to capture a moment with it than with a larger camera. And I couldn't care less about the pixel count or noise or grain...

I was glued to this video, your words are just so right, and have made me really think, why, "gear doesn't matter" are the words that grabbed me in essence. I sold my Fuji HS10 recently to buy a current dslr, and now I'm asking myself "why", because you've made me ask that question, the Fuji HS10 is a great camera, but so is my dslr, so Yeh you've really made me think about gear, so thank you for that crucial thought.

As Alison Moyet said when she fronted Yazoo, about singing on top of dinky-sounding synthesizers: "A note is a note. It doesn't matter what it's played on." Thank you for this, very inspiring.

This video is very important! Thank you. I'd put it that way: Better gear means that the conditions under which one can take a decent image can get worse or give you more error margin. That's it.

I picked up a nice compact camera because I was tired of the mud in my phone pictures. I picked up a 5D because I wanted to take advantage of shorter focal lengths and wider apertures. I shoot mostly with the 50mm f/1.8 and really enjoy the versatility. I'm looking forward to getting a 15mm lens to further explore some of my creative ideas.

Had a Minolta X700 35 years ago in a camera club that we had monthly contest. I often competed with others that had the best equipment at the time. It was a joy to win the contest using a cheap camera which was all I could afford back then. Your point even today is valid. Thanks for reminder

Reading the comments shows youve really upset a lot of people who have spent thousands on gear, yet still have no idea.

Super interesting story about the 8x10" vs 35mm controversy! I never really thought about the pre-35mm world like that.