Forgetting What a Camera Means to a Photographer
My History with Cameras
Since high school, I've loved photography. I've always been an observer. Quiet and reserved in social situations, it's no surprise I was drawn to photography. Around 20 years ago, I got my first 'proper' camera, and since then I'd never be without one. Until recently.
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| Crescent Head, Australia - JDI Mini 2 - 27th April 2024 |
When I left school, I flirted with the idea of photography as my career. I quickly failed. My photos were mediocre, and my business skills were even worse. A quiet and reserved 18-year-old who didn't know what he wanted from life was never going to succeed in business. Despite this, I continued taking photos.
I accumulated lots of photography equipment. Too much actually. I became aware that I wa focusing too much on the equipment and less on taking photos.
Gear Lust
Photography isn't all about owning a camera, 'proper' or otherwise. Great photos are taken on 'bad' cameras all the time. Everyone now has a good camera, and they're very capable. The camera in your pocket far surpasses the first 'proper' camera I ever bought in high school.
Gear lust is something I now rebel against. It's a hobby in itself, separate from photography, and it disguises itself as photography. I've been guilty of it in the past, amassing large amounts of camera tech. As I get older, I'm realizing that the stuff you own doesn't mean that much. Life is all about memories and experiences.
Experiences make photos, not cameras.
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| Croatia - Fujifilm FinePix X100 - 12th June 2012 |
A Clean Start
Two years ago I decided I no longer needed a dedicated stills camera. All my needs could be met with my phone camera. Less clutter. Less stuff. More memories. More experiences.
I parted ways with the final camera I owned—my beloved Fujifilm FinePix X100. This camera held a special place in my heart. Over the years as I gradually removed clutter and sold equipment, this camera held on tight.
It took some of my favourite photos, was super stylish, and compact enough to take anywhere. It turned heads wherever I took it—people would stop and ask questions about it. I regret selling it.
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| Italy - Fujifilm FinePix X100 - 26th October 2019 |
As I anticipated, my phone camera was just fine. Two years of family gatherings, holidays, and events were all recorded on my phone. The photos were completely satisfactory, but it wasn't exciting. The process of taking photos changed, and I didn't like it.
It was like biting into a pain au chocolat to discover no chocolat.
Like a sentence without a full stop
What I learned
A camera connects a photographer to their subject. It forms part of a photographer's identity. It's literally the lens they see the world through. My desire to revolt against gear lust went too far. Not having a dedicated camera disconnected me from the images I was taking.
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| Coffs Harbour, Australia - Panasonic GX80 & Lumix 14mm f/2.5 - 29th April 2024 |
Not everyone will feel a sense of disconnect using a phone to take photos. Taking photos is a very personal experience. When I developed my love for photography, using a dedicated stills camera was the only way to take a photo of passable quality.
By pushing my limits, I discovered something about my creative process. I'm sad to have lost my Fuji X100 along the way, but life is all about experiences and memories, not stuff.
So, I bought a camera. This time, not because of gear lust, but with an understanding of my needs as a photographer.
That feeling of connection to images has returned. When the shutter clacks in the camera, it's not a fake sound. Years of muscle memory kick in as I feel the pleasing mechanical shutter move when I press the button. My Pavlovian reaction causes me to salivate and smile (in that order)
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My new Panasonic Lumix GX80 paired with a Lumix 14mm f/2.5 lens |
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