Comparing Photography Skill to Fancy Gear
Some common questions in this new age of photography are: “Which is more important, having the latest equipment or focusing on gaining professional knowledge and skills through education and training?” Is photographic talent obsolete?
Photography Quote of the Day
"You don't take a photograph, you make it."
(This episode expands on the discussion from my 1st post: Pro Photographer VS Smartphone: Which is Smarter?, but has distinct differences in the information given.)
The most obvious new age piece of photography equipment is the smartphone. Equipped with increasingly advanced camera technology, the general public has convenient access to this tool wherever we go, selfies continuing to be a favorite shot to snap!
In addition to this, there are various cameras, including point & shoots, DSLRs, & mirrorless types that have Program modes that utilize aided computer intelligence to dial in appropriate settings.
The tradeoff with this is that those choices may not take into account important factors such as motion blur, digital noise, or depth-of-field.
When it comes to talent, having smart cameras has begun to level the playing field for amateur photographers learning how to compose photos rather than snap shots without intention. Photography has become casual as people focus their cameras on everyday moments, events, and experiences.
Let’s dig deeper into this topic by comparing the pros and cons of equipment versus skill!
The Pros of Photography Gear
We’ll begin with the pros of cutting-edge gear.
• Overall Quality: Modern professional grade camera equipment can produce excellent results, even in the hands of a novice.
• Intuitive AI: Newer camera software often supports your efforts by “thinking” about how optimize your picture taking choices for you.
• Low Light Performance: Recent professional cameras have improved upon the old and offer higher quality exposure possibilities in low light situations. This is desirable for the pros and amateurs alike!
• Compatibility: It’s a simple fact that older technology can have compatibility issues when trying to integrate into newer technologies. So, current camera systems save you some stress there.
• Camera Evolution: Even 10-year-old entry level photography equipment today is considerably more advanced than the best camera systems that were available to your grandfather.
The Cons of Photography Gear
Why it’s not all about what equipment you have.
• Cost: Professional photography gear gets really expensive really fast! High quality cameras and lenses alike range from $1,000 to over $10,000!
• Knowledge: Cameras, lenses, and lighting equipment are all ultimately tools. For any artist who wishes to create something, an understanding of their equipment is vital! By relying on your equipment and its software to do the job, you’d be lost to produce the same results on your own.
• Art Principles: Even with the best photography equipment in the world, without a basic understanding of art design and composition, you would fall short in your endeavors.
• Experience: Basically, experience is obtained through continual practice of a skill. This is invaluable and does not come in the box your brand-new camera rests inside.
• Competition: If you plan to become a professional photographer, you will not be able to compete with those already established pros without a solid foundation of the knowledge, skills, and experience pertaining to the craft.
Investing in high-end photography equipment helps yield superior image quality and offers a wide range of creative possibilities. Possessing up-to-date gear ensures that you can meet evolving industry standards and requirements.
However, the steep price of premium equipment can strain your budget and might even place it out of your financial reach. Carrying a large array of equipment to a photoshoot may present problems, as it’s often more effective to work with a carefully selected set of equipment. It’s also important to note that transporting thousands of dollars’ worth of photography gear can make you a target for thieves.
The Pros of Photography Skill
Now let’s cover the benefits of skill:
• Proficiency: It is unlikely (other than by chance) you’ll be able to operate even basic camera equipment without some technical knowledge. And once you have that knowledge, without practice and skill, your aim could be short of your goals.
• Adaptability: A well learned foundation of concepts like the exposure triangle and artistic composition, allows you to apply that knowledge to a variety of camera systems that are unfamiliar to you.
• Lifetime Guarantee: Possessing a well-trained skill (in any craft) is like having a tool that will never break down!
• Expense: Although paying for professional training in photo or videography may be desirable to you, there is a wealth of information available at your fingertips online and at libraries. And practice only costs you time and effort.
• Your Value: By obtaining solid skills and experience in the photography niche of your choosing, you have increased your own value! I can tell you that this value far exceeds the equipment you’d like to purchase.
The Cons of Photography Skill
• Time: Some of the skills needed to operate basic camera equipment will take you minutes to learn, while others could take you years to master.
• Staying Current: Considering the rapid evolution of technology, although you may already have the basics down, you will need to stay current with gear and supporting concepts that are new to the world.
• Inadequacy of Equipment: Although skill and experience serve as the engine that drives your gear, they will only get you so far with subpar equipment.
• Overwhelming objective: There is a vast treasure trove of information available pertaining to various topics of photography, videography, art design, lighting, posing, and more. It can be daunting to try to tackle it all at once! It’s preferable to start with the basics and build from there.
• More than Photographic Skill Alone: These days, gathering the skills and equipment necessary to capture stunning photos and video is more attainable than ever before in history! Unfortunately, this means that there is potentially great competition for you. To earn a decent living as a professional photographer, you will need one more skill: how to work as a businessperson.
As I stated above, training yourself to master a skill is like having a reliable tool you can always use, and you can take with you anywhere! So, taking the time to master a new craft makes you valuable to those needing your talent.
You can often learn new skills without the need to spend money on it. Especially in the Information Age, with nearly limitless knowledge at our fingertips, finding an inexpensive (or even free) way of learning a valuable talent has never been easier.
Of course, acquiring valuable skills requires time to develop, and staying up to date is crucial as technology evolves. This can feel daunting. Moreover, having the right equipment is essential. Struggling with slow or inadequate photography gear can hinder your talent’s effectiveness during a photoshoot.
The Current Photography Playing Field
It’s often more economical to pay more for durable camera equipment that will serve you well for years to come, as opposed to buying something more thrifty but less robust that may break prematurely. Additionally, even today’s entry-level photography equipment exceeds the capabilities of the past, offering better performance and features than what your grandfather had access to.
Human beings have achieved many incredible feats that were once thought impossible by developing new skills. To be accurate, our tools are just as important, but our skills drive and empower them.
Being exposed to a constant stream of images & video through the internet and social media has cultivated the visual literacy of the average person. Furthermore, the abundance of online courses and tutorials available enables anyone with interest the opportunity to improve their skills.
Become a Skilled Photographer First
So, what’s the bottom line here? Do you really need to invest time in refining your photography talent, or can new technology handle everything for you? The truth is, even with advanced gear capable of remarkable feats, you remain in command. You are the artist and the conductor, shaping the images your devices capture in an instant. Smart technology cannot think the way creative artists do. Ideally, combining your skill with top-notch equipment is the most effective path to achieve your desired results.
