Vision vs equipment

[Jerevan]

Today, the thought struck me that "I am buying (too many) cameras and lenses in search of a vision".

Except I don't know exactly how that vision should look, but I think that I will know when I see it.

Does that make sense?

 

[dof]

This only needs to make sense to you. Work with it. If it's useful, work with it. If not, jettison it.

 

[MCTuomey]

I have pretty good gear. My output isn't. I need that thing called vision.

 

[John Bragg]

Vision transcends equipment in the making of images. Some of my best shots have been taken with humble thrift store and ebay compacts, bought for literally pence ! However, quality equipment makes consistent results easier to obtain.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

I buy the equipment needed to make the images I visualize, rather than depending on equipment to change or enhance my vision.

 

[robert blu]

first: vision, second equipment. Now the question could be: how to get a vision, or to develop our own vision (which cannot be bough as for gear).
For me it was see in many visual works, not only photographic. books and exhibitions. Trying to imitate in the beginning, than starting my own way, taking risk (photographically speaking), going out of my comfort zone, it's a continuous work, a never ending story, which is what I like in a creative activity as photography.
robert

 

[Nokton48]

For me it was see in many visual works, not only photographic. books and exhibitions. Trying to imitate in the beginning, than starting my own way, taking risk (photographically speaking), going out of my comfort zone, it's a continuous work, a never ending story, which is what I like in a creative activity as photography.
robert

Very well put! I think that I do tend to take off in the direction that the equipment takes me (to some extent) but that is secondary to having the vision and working to maintain it.

 

[Damaso]

It sounds like you need to spend more time thinking about what interests you about photography. What are you trying to communicate through your work? Or are you using photography as a means of understanding the world?

Gear is never going to help you find your vision...

 

[airfrogusmc]

I buy the equipment needed to make the images I visualize, rather than depending on equipment to change or enhance my vision.

Yes this is what I do also.

And in my opinion it's not vision VS equipment but the two are connected. Finding equipment to match the way you see and work is what it is all about.

 

[jsrockit]

Finding equipment to match the way you see and work is what it is all about.

Agreed... and you might not know what you want without trying a few things at first.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Our "vision" might depend on the gear and lens.
For street for example.
Wide or tele, you'll see it differently and it will have impact on "vision".
Tunneling SLR VF, classic TLR, RF view might dictate your vision, because they are very different.

Also, I have "vision" how I want to photograph trees. Some of it requires UWA, some LF with motion of both standards.

 

[Jerevan]

Some comments:

I agree with the idea that it is vision and equipment, and not a divide between these two things. There is a relationship - that the tools help you along to the vision and vice versa.

I think of photography (writing, drawing) as a means to understand the world around me.

Originally photography was a means to connect more directly, more hands-on to the world compared to writing which is in your own head most of the time.

 

[daveleo]

Today, the thought struck me that "I am buying (too many) cameras and lenses in search of a vision".

Except I don't know exactly how that vision should look, but I think that I will know when I see it.

Does that make sense?

I think you're just sorting out what works for you and what doesn't. I don't think you need to establish a "vision" and then buy the perfect gear to make it happen. I think you should buy and try gear and shoot and shoot and the "vision" may come around some day.

 

[jsrockit]

Our "vision" might depend on the gear and lens.
For street for example.
Wide or tele, you'll see it differently and it will have impact on "vision".
Tunneling SLR VF, classic TLR, RF view might dictate your vision, because they are very different.

Also, I have "vision" how I want to photograph trees. Some of it requires UWA, some LF with motion of both standards.

I think we may be talking about an artistic vision (seeing photographically) and you are talking about perspective / field of view / lens choice.

 

[back alley]

can't say that i have much of a vision really...more like a desire to capture what catches my attention, to show others what i see...

when it comes to gear i buy the same things over & over...a body and few lenses with the same fov as the last batch i bought!

 

[CMur12]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ko.Fe.
Our "vision" might depend on the gear and lens.
For street for example.
Wide or tele, you'll see it differently and it will have impact on "vision".
Tunneling SLR VF, classic TLR, RF view might dictate your vision, because they are very different.

Also, I have "vision" how I want to photograph trees. Some of it requires UWA, some LF with motion of both standards.

I think we may be talking about an artistic vision (seeing photographically) and you are talking about perspective / field of view / lens choice.

I think we can separate vision from perspective/field of view/lens choice in concept more successfully than we can in practice. Ko appears to be saying the former depends on the latter. I think that's largely true. Additionally, the sequence and the associations aren't exactly the same for every individual.

- Murray

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Ko appears to be saying the former depends on the latter. I think that's largely true. Additionally, the sequence and the associations aren't exactly the same for every individual.

- Murray

Thank you, Murray. It isn't easy with my ESL.

I think we may be talking about an artistic vision (seeing photographically) and you are talking about perspective / field of view / lens choice.

Dare I say, I have some artistic "vision", feel free to check my Flickr.
It just not "99+ likes" artasty, yet 🙂

Also I have learned enough to understand which gear I have to chose to achieve some particular view according to artistic "vision" of something specific I have in my head.

I hope, I didn't screw it with my ESL again.

Cheers,
Ko.

 

[kxl]

"Vision Without Action is a Daydream, Action Without Vision is a Nightmare." - Japanese Proverb.

 

[x-ray]

Equipment can consume you and it's just too easy to get caught up in the gear. My work was just as good when I owned one body and one lens as it was when I owned six bodies and a dozen lenses. Too often the lack of equipment becomes an excuse for no vision.

 

[MCTuomey]

Equipment can consume you and it's just too easy to get caught up in the gear. My work was just as good when I owned one body and one lens as it was when I owned six bodies and a dozen lenses. Too often the lack of equipment becomes an excuse for no vision.

Guilty here