How many times have you heard either “you must be a good photographer to have a good camera like that” or “what a picture! You must have a really good camera”. Wrong and wrong! A good camera doesn’t make you a good photographer any more than a great shot can only come from a good camera. I know it’s a cliche but it’s not about the camera! It’s about the picture maker – you! How you see the world, What story you want to tell. What beauty (or not) you want to capture. Yes buy a great camera if you can. It gives you more options to create great images. But it doesn’t mean you will. A few years ago I did my first wedding for someone close to me. I did an OK job with my Canon EOS5 (the film forerunner of the current 5D) and after taking the necessary shots of the reception I put all my gear away ready for a good time. I did however have a little Olympus compact film camera with me. It had a fixed lens and virtually no adjustments. But I couldn’t help myself and took a few shots with it and discovered later (remember this was the film days, the instant gratification of digital was still in its infancy) that I had taken by far the best shot of the day of the bride and groom. So remember its not the gear that makes great art but the person behind the camera.

Pilgrims on the Ghats. People on the Ghats or steps on the banks of the river Ganges in Varanasi, India

Want to put this on your wall or licence or share this photo email or contact us