Less gear choice = Better results

[gavinlg]

I've been thinking about this for a little while now - and just saw this on Ken Rockwells site (which I check every now and then for a laugh and his sometimes very valid points):
http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/simplicity.htm

I find the more gear I have on me, the more lenses or cameras, the less shooting I do, the worse my pictures are. I went to Japan in november with 2 cameras, one of them with 3 lenses, the other with 1. Whenever I packed all the lenses with me on a day trip, I spent much of the time thinking about which focal length would best portray my situation, rather than adapting and reacting to important moments. As such, my photos suffered. I think the reason I still hang on to film cameras so much, is that I'm stuck with 1 ISO per film, 1 lens and the most basic of features on the camera, and I like it. I find photography an organic and near spiritual experience - I hate being rigid and technical on shoots, I love just having them flow and simply being reactive.

In short, the less I think about equipment, the more I get into the "now" of photography, and the better the results are. When I use my DSLR, I use the least automated of settings, and I use it the same way I would an m8 (in which there are no special gimmicky electronic "features"). It's a real observation, and something i'm becoming more and more aware of.

I'm interested in other's thoughts on the topic - how does this sort of thing work for you?

 

[FrankS]

I think that there are some photographers who may do better with less gear choice AND there are other photographers who do better with more. Why not let everyone decide for themselves. Personally I like choice and variety. Not to carry it all with me every day, but to select from.

 

[Spider67]

Check your style thoroughly. Are you someone who likes to make portraits or are you going for groups of people....Continue this mental checklist and boil down your choice of lenses.
I somedays walked around with two cameras with different lenses (one under each arm, under a jacket). It was rewarding...each time I took an additinal lens with me I did not use it.
It's very purist to take one one Lens/cam but hey we don't have to emulate Zen masters all the time!

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

I use a 50mm lens 90% of the time on a 35mm camera, but I carry 28, 35, and 85mm lenses and use them when appropriate. I never have a problem deciding which to use, I can usually see in my mind how I want the image to look and what lens would work.

 

[btgc]

Strong decision which camera to use for what may help. In general he is right, at least about amateurs with huge backpacks full of gear.

 

[BearCatCow]

Gavin my experience is the same as yours. I always get the best pictures when I take just 1 camera and look for/anticipate pictures that one setup can take. That one camera can be a P&S, a film RF, a digital RF, or digital camera.

In theory we should be able to expand our mind to look for the decisive moment with 2 or more frames / setups in our mind. But thus far I can't do it fluidly enough. 🙂

Also for some types of photography having a good bag of tools would definitely be a plus.

 

[Mael]

I think it's true. Went on a hollyday trip to Venice.

Carried a Nikon S3 2000 with 3 lenses. a 2.8D Rolleiflex Xenotar, and a vintage 1931 6X9 folder for amusement.

Which one in colour ? which one in B/W ? Which lens for this and that ? This has been a waste of time. After all the 35mm film has been exposed, and tired of my Rolleiflex, I spent the last day with the 1930 folding and one B/W and one Provia 400X film in 120. 16 exposures.

They were the best pictures. No time to regret what pictures I would have take. I just tried to did my best in the simpliest way...

Revisiting classic, elementary camera, made me took better pictures.

Ebner bakelite folding, Rodenstock uncoated Trinar, Provia 400X.

 

[FrankS]

I feel sorry for those photographers who get confused about whether a certain scene calls for colour or B+W, or for 28, 50, or 100mm lens. That's not a problem for me. Perhaps they are better off with just one camera and one lens, and no creative choice to make in these matters.

 

[Mael]

Don't feel sorry, I took pictures with pleasure.😀

 

[Vince Lupo]

I recall having seen a Cartier-Bresson book a few years back entitled 'Portraits', or something along those lines. The book contained some of the most beautiful and compelling portraits I've ever seen. At the back of the book, one the notations included the following:

"Equipment Used: Leica and 50mm lens".

Just goes to show....

 

[ferider]

I'm half through my 1 year, 2 lens project. Limiting your choices does work; doesn't mean you have to sell everything else though.

I feel it makes me learn and walk more 🙂.

 

[fbf]

I'm half through my 1 year, 2 lens project. Limiting your choices does work; and makes you walk more 🙂. Doesn't mean you have to sell everything else though.

Seems like to me, you sir are selling a lot of toys lately? 😀

 

[ferider]

Yes. Half year through, time to get rid of the excess. Check my kits, there is still so much left .... 😱

 

[bmattock]

I find the more gear I have on me, the more lenses or cameras, the less shooting I do, the worse my pictures are.
[snip]
I'm interested in other's thoughts on the topic - how does this sort of thing work for you?

We've had this discussion repeatedly. I think people who are controlled by their possessions have something wrong with them.

I do what I want to do. If I want to take more gear, I take more gear. If I want to take less gear, I take less gear. If I feel like shooting exclusively with this or that lens or this or that film because I've chosen to do so, then I do that.

I don't feel any of those choices makes me a better (or worse) photographer. I am the photographer, not my gear. If I thought for a moment that my gear controlled my abilities to that extent, I'd throw it all in a dumpster immediately. What kind of mental weakling can only take good photographs when they intentionally restrict themselves to have fewer creative choices?

It's akin to the perennial argument made by the film luddites that one simply cannot take good photographs with a digital camera, because it forces one to bang away shot after shot in machine-gun fashion, or it forces one not to focus manually, or it forces one not to use proper exposure, etc. I feel truly sorry for people that are such idiots that they cannot control their own equipment. I may indeed choose to shoot digital machine-gun style, if I feel that is appropriate to the situation, or I may instead take my time and shoot as few frames as I would when shooting film. The choice is in my mind and my shutter finger - the camera does not control me. If your camera controls you, see a doctor.

 

[back alley]

merry christmas bill!

 

[bmattock]

merry christmas bill!

Merry Christmas to you, Joe!

 

[Turtle]

I have a variety of kit from 35mm to 5x7 but I only take what I think makes sense for a given trip/shoot. In Afghnistan I usuall carry two Ms and 3-4 lenses in a small domke, but I go down to one body and one lens if I dont want to carry a bag. Sometimes I carry a 3 lens Mamiya 7 system, sometimes a Mamiya and the 65mm and a M and a lens or two. Just depends. However, if you are uncomfortable you are going to lose. I calculate depending on the sort of usage I expect and how long I will be carrying it for. However, I will say that I do not agree that one camera and one lens forever is the way to go at all as it is hugely limited. Not even HC-B did that, but it can be a useful exercise if you have lost you way wih too many FLs and formats.

 

[Bob Michaels]

First off, I must say that everyone needs to use the amount of equipment that they feel makes the best photos.

Personally, I find that fewer equipment choices results in better photos for me. I only shoot one film. I have two camera systems I use, a Mamiya 7 system and a 35mm M mount system. I seldom leave the house with both in the car. And when I get out of the car to shoot, it is with one body, one lens and a pocket full of film. The choice of the lens on the camera is a decision made based on what I think I will encounter. It is almost always my 28mm or 35mm lens when shooting 35mm film. And almost always the 65mm on the Mamiya 7.

Now I do have other equipment at home for special occasions. I have a Bronica SQA system for when I need an SLR. I have a Nikonos system for wet environments. I even have a digital camera, a Nikon D70 but just don't use it except when I only need a JPG.

So put me over on that side that gets better results from fewer equipment choices.

 

[KenR]

One lens seems to work best for me, although the insecurity of leaving the house without a range of lenses can be quite stong. The time spent thinking about changing lenses and then actually changing lenses takes me away from the scene at hand. When I've had a wide angle lens on the camera and wanted to do a potrait, I haven't wanted to bother the subject with the time it takes to change things, therefore I've proceeded with a wide angle portrait. Maybe not the best practice, but better than if they walked away out of boredom.

 

[FrankS]

Gosh, about how long does it take you to change lenses?