An antidote to gear talk?
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FrankS
Registered User
We're here for you, brother.
Feel free to pick and choose, and be the change you wish to see.
boomguy57
Well-known
When I have something worthwhile to share with the lovely people of RFF, I will do so...
David_Manning
Well-known
Trev, you can fight it, but it'll keep returning. Gear is an attraction to a photographer. It's what we pine about or talk about (along with technique, like Chris said) when we can't be out shooting.
I know that I do my own fair share of gear talk and read the discussions, but when I'm out somewhere shooting, I enjoy making my frames. It's usually when that joy is hampered by a gear-related let down, that I return and rant online 🙂
I know that I do my own fair share of gear talk and read the discussions, but when I'm out somewhere shooting, I enjoy making my frames. It's usually when that joy is hampered by a gear-related let down, that I return and rant online 🙂
JayM
Well-known
99% of people that stop me on the street to talk about "photography" really just want to talk about cameras.
A couple weeks ago someone actually wanted to talk about photography instead of "Buy buy buy, shop shop shop shop. Money money!" It was pretty dreamy <3
A couple weeks ago someone actually wanted to talk about photography instead of "Buy buy buy, shop shop shop shop. Money money!" It was pretty dreamy <3
boomguy57
Well-known
To each his own! To be particularly post-modernist (though admittedly, the term is problematic), everyone can do what they like and there is no wrong...or right, for that matter.
I wasn't critiquing anyone with my initial post, just ranting about frustration that has been boiling over lately. A good part of it was a rant at myself and my own GAS-related gear chatter, no doubt.
I wasn't critiquing anyone with my initial post, just ranting about frustration that has been boiling over lately. A good part of it was a rant at myself and my own GAS-related gear chatter, no doubt.
boomguy57
Well-known
I think you may have hit on something...perhaps those whose livelihood is to make images spend less time obsessing since they are too busy with shooting and editing (?), while those who are "stuck" doing other things for an income have to waste time at our computers, leading to a gear obsession (?). Just a hypothesis...
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
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When I was a painter, I became so obsessed and centered in the world of art, that it became self absorbing. At one point it was all I knew that I could talk about, but I really didn't know what was going on in the real world around me. LOL.
Previously, I use to be just a Nikon SLR shooter until about three years ago when I discovered this forum. Now in addition to my SLR's I have a killer Leica kit and also shoot lots of medium format. This forum I atribute to making me a better photographer due to the exploration of all the possibilities of pursuing GAS.
But I'm at the point now where I have more gear than I ever need or that is practical. I need to cull down to the most needed to pursue my art, but I appreciate that I could explore and learn what is right for me, and I feel especially fortunate to finally learn what I really want and need.
The antidote for for GAS for me was to first have a raging GAS attack and live through all the possible gear that I might only otherwise dream about, and now I'm in the process of going back to the basics and will cull down, but in the end this pursuit of gear made me a better, more rounded out, more experienced photographer.
The only new gear that interests me now is possibly a M10 that I could fund by selling gear. I'm O.K. with that because I have hit the saturation point.
Cal
Previously, I use to be just a Nikon SLR shooter until about three years ago when I discovered this forum. Now in addition to my SLR's I have a killer Leica kit and also shoot lots of medium format. This forum I atribute to making me a better photographer due to the exploration of all the possibilities of pursuing GAS.
But I'm at the point now where I have more gear than I ever need or that is practical. I need to cull down to the most needed to pursue my art, but I appreciate that I could explore and learn what is right for me, and I feel especially fortunate to finally learn what I really want and need.
The antidote for for GAS for me was to first have a raging GAS attack and live through all the possible gear that I might only otherwise dream about, and now I'm in the process of going back to the basics and will cull down, but in the end this pursuit of gear made me a better, more rounded out, more experienced photographer.
The only new gear that interests me now is possibly a M10 that I could fund by selling gear. I'm O.K. with that because I have hit the saturation point.
Cal
Yes, I agree... I spend a lot more when I'm near the internet. and those that do it (photography) for a job, may not do it for fun.
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
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- The Gateway To The Hudson Highlands
Plus one. I have a boring day job. I use the internet to help stay awake. I agree my job is a waste of time. LOL.
But I live to shoot: gear obsession is secondary because when I'm not shooting its the next best thing.
Cal
Yep. If I wasn't photographing, I wouldn't own gear. That's how I know my priorities are in order.
shadowfox
Darkroom printing lives
This is an interesting thread.
I posted a set of photos in the W/NW section a couple days ago.
78 people (as of this time) took a peek, none commented.
Even if my photos are as bad or bland as it could be, why don't people who claim that there's too much gear talk start a discussion anyway?
If only to point out why the photos are not interesting for you personally. Or how would you handle the same situation / scene / subject better?
IMPORTANT NOTE: I only mention this as an obvious example, to point out the irony. I'm not plugging my thread nor am I desperate for comments. I've grown out of that a long time ago 😀
boomguy57
Well-known
furcafe
Veteran
Writers do argue/complain about word processing software (e.g., this article: http://www.slate.com/articles/techn...nt_and_obsolete_it_s_time_for_it_to_die_.html), & back when they still used typewriters, different writers did have their preferences in brands & models. I'm a lawyer, not a writer, but we use word processing programs, too, & in the days before Word took over, I do recall debating w/colleagues the merits (or lack thereof) of that program v. WordPerfect v. Xywrite, etc. Same goes for research tools like WestLaw v. LEXIS.
Lund
Established
I myself realized a while back that I actually enjoy camera porn, gear talk and me myself dreaming about more gear (even though my collection overwhelms me with stuff I never use).
I just chose to see it as an interest different from my photography. Seeing as I often use my simpler cameras to take the pictures I like rather than too use the cameras I like to take pictures it seems to work out just fine.
It also explains to me why the rolls in my Minolta AF-C seems to fly through all of the time, while the few frames in my Mamiya Universal sometimes last forever (except for the rare occasions when the universe is in harmony and five rolls just roll by in an hour or so, and somehow makes it all worth it)
I just chose to see it as an interest different from my photography. Seeing as I often use my simpler cameras to take the pictures I like rather than too use the cameras I like to take pictures it seems to work out just fine.
It also explains to me why the rolls in my Minolta AF-C seems to fly through all of the time, while the few frames in my Mamiya Universal sometimes last forever (except for the rare occasions when the universe is in harmony and five rolls just roll by in an hour or so, and somehow makes it all worth it)
Steveh
Well-known
This is certainly what I recognise in myself. My job and family eat up most of my time - if I escape for a couple of hours to take pictures at the weekends I'm doing well. Reading RFF and buying and selling gear is displacement activity for me, and makes me feel I'm spending time on my hobby when I'm not, really - I don't think I'd do as much of either if I was out shooting every day.
I've been through quite a lot of RFF fuelled GAS over the last few years, but as other people have said it's given me the chance to play with a lot of cool stuff at minimal cost (buy used, sell on) and I'm now starting to cull back down again.
I've been through quite a lot of RFF fuelled GAS over the last few years, but as other people have said it's given me the chance to play with a lot of cool stuff at minimal cost (buy used, sell on) and I'm now starting to cull back down again.
dallard
Well-known
I think it's about time this thread got hijacked with photos of our camera straps 🙂
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