Weekly Poll: Photographer or Gear (Now with poll)

[imagia]

Having good gear is always important to convey your artistic ideas. Some gear just isn't up to par with those thoughts going through your head. But even a person with lower quality gear can show promise. And in the age of digital, the digital darkroom can always help to make up for what your gear lacks.

[rjb_FotoTaker]

Let me be blount, when is the last time you saw a professional walking around with a Polaroid or disposable 35mm.
Take golf for example, you can share your crappy clubs with a pro and he will spank you by 20 strokes, but you would not catch him on ESPN without the best gear.

BAM, I win, end of discussion, GEAR is more important.

Let me know when you find a copy of Ansel Adams book of Greatest Polaroids.


OK, bring on the beating.

[Nicole]

Originally Posted by rjb_FotoTaker

OK, bring on the beating.

I knew my question wasn't totally in vain and there had to be someone out there willing to put themselves on the line with the opposite perspective

[Jamesc359]

Originally Posted by rjb_FotoTaker

Let me know when you find a copy of Ansel Adams book of Greatest Polaroids.

Originally Posted by PBS.org - American Experience | Ansel Adams

Beaumont Newhall narrated Larry Dawson's 1957 film, Ansel Adams, Photographer, and described Adams's photographic gear:

"...A fine craftsman employs different tools for different purposes. Item: one 8 x 10 view camera, 20 holders, 4 lenses -- 1 Cooke Convertible, 1 ten-inch Wide Field Ektar, 1 9-inch Dagor, one 6-3/4-inch Wollensak wide angle. Item: one 7 x 17 special panorama camera with a Protar 13-1/2-inch lens and five holders. Item: one 4 x 5 view camera, 6 lenses -- 12-inch Collinear, 8-1/2 Apo[chromatic] Lentar, 9-1/4 Apo[chromatic] Tessar, 4-inch Wide Field Ektar, Dallmeyer [...] telephoto.

"Item: One Hasselblad camera outfit with 38, 60, 80, 135, & 200 millimeter lenses. Item: One Koniflex 35 millimeter camera. Item: 2 Polaroid cameras. Item: 3 exposure meters. One SEI, and two Westons -- in case he drops one.

"Item: Filters for each camera. K1, K2, minus blue, G, X1, A, C5 &B, F, 85B, 85C, light balancing, series 81 and 82. Two tripods: one light, one heavy. Lens brush, stopwatch, level, thermometer, focusing magnifier, focusing cloth, hyperlight strobe portrait outfit, 200 feet of cable, special storage box for film.

[Ansel's car (a Cadillac) with platform pulls away from camera.]

"Item: One ancient, eight-passenger limousine with 5 x 9-foot camera platform on top."

Source: PBS.org

Originally Posted by rjb_FotoTaker

OK, bring on the beating.

Excuse me whilst I fetch a frat paddle.

[ari4u]

A good photographer and good gear compliment each other.

--With lousy gear, a professional photographer can only create good looking pictures.
--With professional gear, a lousy photographer can come nowhere near (except being lucky).
--But a professional photographer with professional gear can create exceptional pictures

For e.g. Michael Schumacher cannot win the F-1 race without a Ferrari. Ofcourse he can drive well even in a station wagon, but it can't match up to his skills. At the same time, an average driver cannot just pickup a Ferrari and expect to win the race. He simply cannot make use of the full power of the car. The talent of the driver and the performance of the car make a huge difference.

You could have added a third option to your poll:- "Good Photographer with a good gear" and i would have definitely voted for it.

[Nicole]

Originally Posted by ari4u

You could have added a third option to your poll:- "Good Photographer with a good gear" and i would have definitely voted for it.

But that's not the point The point is that odds are that at least one or the other is responsible for 51% of the image being a great image. (Besides, most the time these weekly polls only have 2 options to make you actually come down on one side or the other... middle ground options are so wishy-washy ).

Although IMHO I'm quite convinced that you can have an astounding photograph with lousy gear. I think that to say that you can only have a good photograph with lousy gear definitely minimises the view that the photographer is mostly responsible for the picture.

[xxpinballxx]

I think in general the photographer is where its at but think about those really REALLY cheap old camera phones....mot even a megapixel and give it to a well known photographer then give a 4 year old a camera and show him where the shutter button is....I'm guessing the kids shot will be a clearer and better exposed photo...I know thats an extreme example but a possible scenario all the same. With that said the photographer is still the important factor....

[rjb_FotoTaker]

Now I know how to make the front page!!

Love you guys.


some will know what this is about.