Real life lesson -- An analogy to photography

[Dobick]

after several of the threads started here about equipment, and gear, and those associated topics, as well as the daily discussion of the various upgrades and equipment lusts that pop up, I was reminded of a story that actually happened many years ago.

When I was 12, I played golf. I had played for a few years with the clubs that I had which were about 3/4ths the size of full sized clubs, and not the greatest quality in the world. A family friend that was probably 8 or 10 years older than me, (and a scratch golfer) was out at the course one day while I was, and happened up on me while I was on the tee. He stopped to see how the round was going, and chat. I happened to mention how crappy my equipment was, and how I would be doing better if I had some new clubs. He then asked me to show him, and so I teed one up, and pretty much dribbled it out about 75 or 80 yards and somewhat to the right (an all around not-too-stellar shot.)

I will never forget the look on his face, as I handed him my "crappy" 3/4 length driver, as he proceeded to place a ball on the ground lean way over in an awkward stance, and knocked the ball 270 to 280 straight as a string down the middle of the fairway

He half handed, half tossed the club back at me, and said "It's not the club, Kid" and rode off in his golf cart

[djroga]

Amen

[Big Dog]

Originally Posted by Dobick

"It's not the club, Kid"

That's why I gave up golf before I spent any more money.

[laawaaris]

dobick, i could just imagine you sitting in a rocking chair leaning back and telling this story to a room full photographers, each with $7000 of equipment in their hands !!!

haha!

[JPalmer]

Sadly... I also play golf. How could I have picked the 2 most nerve-wracking and expensive hobbies.

[brad]

Heh, that applies to so very much.

[CaptainTom]

Fair Warning !!!!

I am stealing this story !!!

[ndsimm]

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

Fair Warning !!!!

I am stealing this story !!!

Me Too! and the names might be changed ......to give me credit
great story and analogy

[Arnor]

Great story!

Best regards,

[Dobick]

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

Fair Warning !!!!

I am stealing this story !!!

Originally Posted by ndsimm

Me Too! and the names might be changed ......to give me credit
great story and analogy

Ya'll go right ahead. I'll take that as flattery!

[Dokk]

Hmm...I heard that National Geographic only requires a minimum of 6 megapixels on any submissions from it's photographers. There was one issue where the whole issue was shot with digital consumer point & shoot cameras just to illustrate that anyone can get a great shot if you just pay attention think about what you're doing.

[Ahh!]

Great advice, no matter what the profession!

And for anyone too obtuse to make the jump to this part of the world, let me spell it out for you!
At some point we need to get over ourselves.

Remember when we all could buy the same film the pros bought? Remember when (OK - read the history) "consumer" was not a term applied differently to a "professional" except eventually by marketing people? And what about "prosumer" so we all could feel good about ourselvers when the top-of-the-line was too outragiously priced to be practical?

For all of my life I have never been denied the right to buy any camera, film, development, or printer ever built or devised. (True of ANY of my "loves").

Its the not the tools, its who and how they use them.

Amen to this thread. It should be required reading!

[Big T]

Just a point, Everyone that responded so positive to this thread, I have peaked at your camera gear and most of you have about 3000.00 to 4000.00 in lenses, not counting camera bodies, so does this mean everyone's going back to their kit lens on the next wedding shoot or sportshooter job.

[jeffkohn]

Originally Posted by Big T

Just a point, Everyone that responded so positive to this thread, I have peaked at your camera gear and most of you have about 3000.00 to 4000.00 in lenses, not counting camera bodies, so does this mean everyone's going back to their kit lens on the next wedding shoot or sportshooter job.

Heh heh. I've always thought this whole notion that "gear doesn't matter" is false, or at the very least a gross exaggeration (that gets a bit tiresome, to be honest).

Is it possible to hit a nice shot with a cheap, 3/4 length golf club? Sure. Is it likely that the same person could hit better shots (or at least good shots on a more consistent basis) with better clubs? Absolutely. I don't think you'll find too many golfers on the PGA tour playing with cheap clubs.

Same thing goes for photography. Can any number of top-tier photographers take better pictures with a diposable camera than I can with professional gear. Probably, but so what? That doesn't change the fact that I have a better chance of getting the shot that I want with good gear thatn I would with a disposable.

Gear may not be the only thing that matters, but it does matter.

[Dobick]

Originally Posted by Big T

Just a point, Everyone that responded so positive to this thread, I have peaked at your camera gear and most of you have about 3000.00 to 4000.00 in lenses, not counting camera bodies, so does this mean everyone's going back to their kit lens on the next wedding shoot or sportshooter job.

Originally Posted by jeffkohn

Heh heh. I've always thought this whole notion that "gear doesn't matter" is false, or at the very least a gross exaggeration (that gets a bit tiresome, to be honest).

Is it possible to hit a nice shot with a cheap, 3/4 length golf club? Sure. Is it likely that the same person could hit better shots (or at least good shots on a more consistent basis) with better clubs? Absolutely. I don't think you'll find too many golfers on the PGA tour playing with cheap clubs.

Same thing goes for photography. Can any number of top-tier photographers take better pictures with a diposable camera than I can with professional gear. Probably, but so what? That doesn't change the fact that I have a better chance of getting the shot that I want with good gear thatn I would with a disposable.

Gear may not be the only thing that matters, but it does matter.

This story was not about the assertion that everyone should now go out and buy cheap cameras. No where in that story, did the older guy (his name was Mike) decide that he actually wanted to use my clubs for the rest of his round, because they didn't matter.

The point of the story, is the fact that while equipment can make a difference, good technique, practice, and hardwork is what make the mechanics of a golf swing. The mechanics of a golf swing is the most important part of the list of things that is required for a good shot in golf. At no time did I suggest he took my putter out of the bag and knock the ball 290. There are tools that are right for each job we have in front of us.

Do you think if you have a canon 1d Mk III, and a 600mm f/4 lens that you could make a great photograph? Maybe, but not if the shot you were trying to get was a shot of your grandmother in her kitchen making her famous Christmas cookies.

If you want we can discuss what elements go into making a great photograph. My assertion is that 75% of those things listed will have absolutely nothing to do with the camera, equipment or the medium in which it is captured.

Anyway -- my point with the story, was exactly that, a loose analogy with the game of golf, and something that happened to me back many years ago, that for some reason was triggered by the recent conversations going on on the board.

And Jeff if your work is a result of great equipment -- then truly I want that equipment -- because your work is fabulous.