Photography is like oil painting, except of course, you're painting with light. Imagine your camera is your easel, the film your canvas, your lenses your brushes, and the light your paint. The light comes in all types of colors and quality. Even if you have crappy paint, you can still paint a beautiful picture. The same is true for the easel. A perfectly-designed super-expensive easel, though cool, won't make the picture look any better than if it was on your lap, it's just easier. The canvas is important - you can make a beautiful picture on newspaper, but it won't last long and it probably won't look right. And vanGogh didn't use a 3" brush from to paint his sunflowers. You need a variety of quality brushes, each for it's own type of line or stroke. And if you can't afford a lot, rather than many bad brushes, you'll be better off with one good brush that will force you to make do and concentrate on the basics. Why do all artists start with just a pencil and paper? Finally, always keep in mind that experience and practice can never be replaced by equipment - and some of the greatest photographers in the world, even in the modern day, take one old trusty camera and a 35mm lens to an assignment (no matter what the manufacturers tell you.)
- Michael Brooks, February 3, 1999
