G.A.S. & New Perspectives
If you’re like me, you probably find yourself in a creative rut on what feels like a daily basis. I often feel like nothing is good enough, from my own mind to the equipment that I use. There's a common misconception in creative fields that our outdated equipment invalidates our work, and in many cases (using myself as 'many cases’ in this situation) prevents us from even starting our work. This is especially true of cameras, a market that is as expensive as it is absurd.
The camera industry is rapidly evolving; blink once and your camera is obsolete and worth 1/8th of what you bought it for. Do we need top of the line gear? Of course not, but there's a collective subconscious that believes that if we just had that new lens, 8k camera, or unnecessary accessory, then we will finally make it. We now refer to this phenomenon as GAS. Not the kind that you get after Taco Bell, but rather Gear Acquisition Syndrome, which sounds terrifying when spelled out in full.
Even though we know that this mentality is counterproductive, I would wager that nearly 95% of creatives fall into this consumer trap; however, I want to combat this mentality with another widely accepted mantra in creative fields: that boxes and restrictions actually make us more creative. In many cases, complexity is an awful thing that kills our ideas before they've even attempted to birth themselves. When the creative bug strikes, we need to act on it. As I'm currently discovering, moving backwards in my thinking of photography has opened so many doors, and for the first time in a while photography is fun again.
A few days ago, a friend of mine let me borrow his Fuji XF10, an ideal snap and go, run and gun camera. This camera is opening my mind because I've frankly never used such a simple camera!
Aside from this, I've shot on a Canon 7D and a Canon AE1. I love both of these cameras, but they aren't all that simple; I often expend the majority of my concentration setting up the shot, concerning myself with aperture, shutter speed, and worrying if my iso is too high that I often forget what’s important-- the shot itself. Now, I’m sure many photographers will writhe in agony when hearing that I shoot in manual mode with my cameras, but that’s how I prefer to shoot for some reason (or I’m a massive masochist). While I enjoy the technical aspect of photography, I believe that it is the least important part, especially in the current age of digital shooting. With this Fuji, there are no consequences to my bad shots like with a film camera, and on top of that it doesn’t have the limitations of the 7D, which I normally shoot manually (which may be my biggest flaw with photos on the 7D as well as why I never take it with me). Anyway, this Fuji is so freeing because of its portability and ease of access. I keep this thing with me wherever I go and -snap- I shoot anything that my eye finds interesting.
My mind has never felt so free before. All I have to do is line up a shot and press a button, so my mind is entirely focused on the composition of the shot. And at the end of the day, photography is truly about what you’re capturing, not how or why. I’m looking forward to running around with this tiny camera and capturing whatever strikes me as interesting. This isn’t a mentality I’ve had with cameras before despite carrying a camera in my pocket 24/7 for the past 5 years. Although we have near impeccable phone cameras now, something about them just doesn’t compare to a simple point and shoot-- mostly in quality/dynamic range, but more importantly in how we think about our devices. A phone has the potential to be a multitude of things-- a computer, an IM device, a calendar, a calculator, a music box, a video camera… you get the point. A plethora of research over the years has revealed that our beds should be used solely for two things and two things only: sleep and– if you’re fortunate enough– fornication. This way, our brain knows exactly what to do when it interacts with a bed. Phones and cameras conduct different thought processes. Although I cherish my phone’s ability to take high resolution photos, I don’t believe I’m performing the act of photography with a selfie or quick snap for instagram. If this fuji is in my pocket, I have a clear intention of what I’ll be doing that day; I’ll try to find the most fascinating shots possible and take as many photos as my heart desires. In a way, the current state of digital photography captures the very essence of what photography is intrinsically meant to be.
While splurging on any hobby is a good way to get motivated, changing our thought processes of the activities we take for granted can often yield phenomenal results. Rather than moving forward with trends, sometimes grinding against the grain can help us learn more about the things we love. I really believe that running around with this Fuji will inspire me far more than going all-out on a Leica S (or etc). I’m excited to discover what I capture in the upcoming weeks.
– 2/15/2020 –
