Back in my analog days, when I was shooting film, yes, with film cameras, I didn’t jump from camera to camera each and every time a Camera manufacturer introduced this new feature or that new feature.
I pretty much stayed put with the camera I owned, good or bad, right or wrong, and got to know her, inside and out, one click at a time.
After all, even back then, I came to the conclusion, pretty quickly, that my photographs had more to do with my skill and talent than the camera I owned and operated.
This is true today, even in the smartphone camera era.
Yes, of course, all photography, at all levels, casual or intentional, newbie or veteran, is a seamless blend of technology, talent, technique, tastes, and temperament working tirelessly together, in combination, to deliver remarkable and memorable images to the viewing public.
But, in my humble opinion, even though there are many variables involved in this image creation, there is none that is more important than raw, innate, organic skill.
Given a choice, if I were picking an all-star team of photographers, I would, hands-down, pick photographers with high talent/low-tech than photographers with high-tech/low talent.
Even in iPhone photography today, smartphone photography requires smart photographers to take smart pictures.
When it comes right to it, it’s less about the features and functions of even your newest shiny smartphone camera and more about your beating heart and articulate eye.
Talent will always trump technology
I am just beginning to play with my new iPhone 15 Pro Max. It’s a beauty and marvel of modern complexity and simplicity in tech.
But I have to keep reminding myself, over and over, each and every time I take a picture, of anything, that, it’s not so much the mechanical and technical skills, I have acquired, over the years, that sets my work apart, but my tireless and passionate art of seeing that matters most.
Click
Jack
