You ever look at your gear and wondered how you got to that point?

I can remember starting out digital with a Olympus 3mp camera from work, best friend put me on to a Canon 10D he was looking at. Here I am like " why in the world are you going spend $1,500 on a camera?" well he showed me samples and that was it. I bought a Sony 828, returned it the weekend I bought it and got the Digital Rebel. Worked with that for a long time using it for portraits, events, and landscape, moved up to the 30D it held its own for awhile, moved up again to the 7D, was blown away by the FPS, processing speed, and features, last but not least just picked up a 5D Mark IV, and I am speechless, a month in and I can't put it down. Over the years I have added numerous lenses, Alien Bee strobes, backdrops, multiple backpacks, tripods, etc.

Share your story....

Not really but I often think of how I helped make Canon richer.

Not at all...

I can see EXACTLY how I got here, and that's not including about 3x60li boxes full of camera bags in storage...

NOTE _ Removed this image for security reasons..

I see Canon, I see Nikon, I see Sony.

You, good sir, have a severe case of g.a.s.

But that's ok, many of us are afflicted likewise. If it gives you pleasure, who are we to judge?

Tronhard wrote in post #19044228
Not at all...

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I can see EXACTLY how I got here, and that's not including about 3x60li boxes full of camera bags in storage...

Good grief!!!! Looks like mini B&H stockroom!

Scrumhalf wrote in post #19044283
I see Canon, I see Nikon, I see Sony.

You, good sir, have a severe case of g.a.s.

But that's ok, many of us are afflicted likewise. If it gives you pleasure, who are we to judge?

I beg to differ in the GAS. To me GAS is when someone buys camera gear in the belief that such a purchase will make them a better photographer. I have never subscribed to that idea. I take photos that I like with 20 year-old cameras and cheap lenses. I often use older cameras to remind myself that it's not the tech that counts, it's the technique.

That said, I WILL own up to being a gear head!

Tronhard wrote in post #19044228
Not at all...

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I can see EXACTLY how I got here, and that's not including about 3x60li boxes full of camera bags in storage...

Ahhh, such a wonderful, uplifting sight.

Cheers

Dennis

ive wanted to be a news photographer for about as long as i can remember. my bedroom window faced the direction of a pretty hazardous intersection and when i was WAY YOUNG, i always thought i might grab an award winning shot that the local paper would pay me a large sum for, and i would buy a professional camera. i think i got the notion from our neighbor who was the chief photographer for the local newspaper and he was always traveling for the job...

when i got my AE-1 in the summer before my senior year in high school, i started looking at extra lenses. by the time i graduated HS and started college i had the FD 35 f2, 85 f1.8 and was putting money away for the 200 f2.8. when i joined the Air Force i added the 24 f2 so with the initial 50 f1.8 i had a solid selection of primes and my ex-wife added an F1n to the mix...

i tired of photography after 8 years probably because of the rather mundane assignments we shot and put it all away. 8 years later i picked up an Olympus C4040 (4.1mp) because i had a new baby and from there it didnt take long to steamroll to my current set up (18 years later)...

5d3, 5d4, 50 f1.4, 100 f2.8L, 24-70 f2.8L, 70-200 f2.8L, 300 f2.8L and throw in some umbrella, speedlites, background gear etc...

i dont shoot for the local newspaper, directly but ive done stringer work for them and i shoot for a local weblog, as well as a local semi-pro hockey team and the Michigan High School Athletics Association...

now to turn all that gear into a better profit making pile of stuff...

As to the OP's question, No, have't thought about it really.
Now if I were to ever become as organized as Trevor, than yes, I would wonder how I reached that point. I have more than one hobby/ pastime and more than one occupation. Not organized with any of them, it frustrates me at times and don't seem to change. You can only imagine how scattered my photos are that I've taken over many years,:oops
I will share that I started with a Petri 35 mm and a bag full of lenses, went to Nikon F2, more lenses all purchased by people selling out. Sold the Nikon and recouped my money then dropped out for many years. Got into digital with a 60D , added another 60D, 70D and a 7D2, my largest purchase has been the Sigma 120-300 Sport lens to shoot Grandsons playing high school baseball and football. Was worth the price, the lens has performed great for me, captured one grandson breaking 2 all time school records in baseball and 6 other records by his team mates. Was able to share photos to other parents and made many friends, young and old in doing so. Never set out or wanted to shoot sports, wildlife and documenting travel was my interest.
Now, I'm wondering, how the heck did I get to this point?

I saw this thread and had to post my own "how did I get here" story.

I wanted to be a photographer since I was 9, we'd get a roll of 35mm on an old kodak and walk around the neighborhood with my cousin, taking photos of abandoned cars, piles of trash, and whenever we could we'd develop them, and send them into the City, asking that they do a better job.

Later during my senior year of high school, I was working at a very large photo store, and my father helped me get my own SLR, a Pentax P-30, with a 24-70 and a 70-200, and other stuff. I lived to take photos, and used my paychecks almost entirely to pay for my C41 development and prints.

Took back photography in the late 90s, already living in the US, had sent a Nikonos out to my family overseas, and in exchange I received my mentor's well used but pristine Nikon F90x, with a couple of lenses and a flash. I felt alive again. Not a year later (into the 2000s), I found and upgraded to the 10D. Starting to do some work for money, I needed (wanted) a backup, so another 10D was purveyed. Not for long, I believe within a few months I had sold one of them and gotten the new 20D, and within a few months the second body was also a 20D. I was the only guy around town running around press events with two cameras. Yes, I did it because I could, and I did think it would make me a better photographer. This was about the time in my life that for the next 5 years, I would have multiple models of cameras (20Ds became 30Ds, then I got a 1D2n and a 1D3, as well as a 5D1 that seemed slow by then.. Also was on the road one time and the 1Dn shutter died on me, so I ran to Best Buy and purchased a 40D.. Not to count the Videography incursion that got me a Canon XHA1 for a while).

And no, I could not fully justify it on the job. In fact at some point -early on- the whole thing was turning more about the gear, the features, than the actual craft. I would eventually enter a spiral and end up in debt, and a bad divorce leave me bankrupt and closing my photo enterprise. One of those moments that caught me having to choose between a blossoming career and my family life.

It took until 2018 to get the itch again and a solid 7D body, with a kit 18-55. Now I look into my bag and I am feeling worthy and proficient -yet a bit over geared- with two 7D2s, a few zoom lenses and couple of primes. I certainly don't feel like ever returning to crazy gear buying game again.

The moral of the story though, is I smile once more when I look at my camera bag, and realize all the sweat and mistakes and learning that went into getting me to this point.

Stay safe out there, best to you and the fams.

Grizz1 wrote in post #19045362
As to the OP's question, No, have't thought about it really.
Now if I were to ever become as organized as Trevor, than yes, I would wonder how I reached that point. I have more than one hobby/ pastime and more than one occupation.

I can relate to your history. I grew up in a military family, and from the earliest time my father made sure I was always organized and drummed into me "ALWAYS be aware of your surroundings." I began as a school teacher, soldier (where I had the same mantra repeated), engineer, photographer, IT trainer (concurrently becoming a fitness and personal trainer, rehab specialist, trainer of fitness leaders and life skills educator), IT engineer and finally finishing off as IT and systems consultant. In there somewhere I worked it military IT security too. I accumulated degrees in engineering, IT and education, as opportunities presented themselves and I changed careers. But photography remained a constant...

From early on I loved photography. After leaving NZ to go on my big OE (overseas experience) and working in Australia as an engineer and site photographer on a major project in the outback. I worked as a freelance travel, scenic and wildlife photographe: over three years travelling through Australasia and SE Asia. When I got married I needed a regular job but kept up photography in my spare time doing corporate, industrial, scenic wildlife and even some forensic work in my spare time - mostly in North America.

When I was a teenager I learned how important it is to have a hobby. The father of a good friend of mine, a dynamic, intelligent and engaged man in his late 50's, was retired from his work - that had been his life. He had nothing else in the world and when I saw him some months later he had aged terribly and six months later he was dead. I knew then that I needed something to keep me active: physically and intellectually, when it was my turn to retire.

Photography is what keeps me (relatively sane), and keeps me looking actively - the greatest gift. It has the wonderful blend of technical and artistic aspects. As Dorothea Lange said " A camera is a tool for learning how to see without a camera".

These days, except for a lucky and very talented few, professional photography is not what it was. Too many people with talent and tech are giving their images away to sites where they hope to get a gig. We are saturated in imagery as a commodity. If I was in marketing I would save my budget and take those royalty-free images rather than hire a pro - and, many do.

There has been, of course, the rise of the influencer, a perversion of the travel photographer, who makes their living posting images of themselves looking sexy in beautiful places. They develop followings, and use their influence to get deals and income from product and service providers and they encourage hoards of followers to do the same, often violating the places they visit and sometimes putting themselves in risk of serious harm. I consider I was lucky for the period I was working full time.

Today, being retired, I have come full circle. I take images mostly for my own interest, but I teach photography, write and run a couple of local photographic groups. My gear is the investment over decades and I doubt I shall need to go into the mirrorless realm more that the gear I have.

I have seen one country degrade, then new one came and degraded. Tanks on the streets and million people demonstrations. I was in Europe before it became EU. I have been in old Vegas hotels. I remember British pubs without Stella, but each with its own ale and bitter.
I had two cameras back then and took next to none pictures of it all.
Now I have two dozens of cameras and family, friends to photograph. Some nice streets.
But I regret I was not into photography then as of now.

shutterguy wrote in post #19041033
I can remember starting out digital with a Olympus 3mp camera from work, best friend put me on to a Canon 10D he was looking at. Here I am like " why in the world are you going spend $1,500 on a camera?" well he showed me samples and that was it. I bought a Sony 828, returned it the weekend I bought it and got the Digital Rebel. Worked with that for a long time using it for portraits, events, and landscape, moved up to the 30D it held its own for awhile, moved up again to the 7D, was blown away by the FPS, processing speed, and features, last but not least just picked up a 5D Mark IV, and I am speechless, a month in and I can't put it down. Over the years I have added numerous lenses, Alien Bee strobes, backdrops, multiple backpacks, tripods, etc.

Share your story....

Never wondered. I know every step, and have no regrets, no issues. I have a good amount of gear. I've spent time and money learning how to make photos. I've spent time and money traveling to make photos. I've bought high performance equipment. I've also looked at equipment, shrugged my shoulders with only the slightest disappointment, and said, "Not in this lifetime."

I do it for me or I go mad. This is a hobby, albeit a serious one. I grok Tronhard as we have some similar background elements. I work in engineering R&D. I'm also a bit of a gear head, though the bottom line is The Bottom Line™; I'm a bit cheap. However, I have a background and interest in art history. My photography is more about art and less about the mathematics, physics, chemistry (for film), and technology of photography. I could do those things, but it would detract from what I want to create. (I know the fine details of making the 5DMkIV AF system sing. In contrast I've deliberately not gone into the physics of optics, other than basics about exposure.)

I work full time. I have a family and make time with them. I schedule 15 hours a week on photography. I do it for me because I can and because it doesn't materially take away from anything else.

Not so much. It’s been pretty much a deliberate journey, involving a bit of blatant consumerism ( which I’m not proud of but must own up to), but more so the wish to see what I could do with “the good stuff”, pushing personal creative boundaries, and attaining some degree of recognition (for me this was accreditation for large racing events).

Tronhard wrote:
"Photography is what keeps me (relatively sane), and keeps me looking actively - the greatest gift. It has the wonderful blend of technical and artistic aspects. As Dorothea Lange said " A camera is a tool for learning how to see without a camera".


This. I constantly worked towards that, constantly thinking about, researching, and adding to my gear as I discovered new and better ways of doing things. This has led me to reflect on the knowledge I've gained on many different subjects, as well as how photography has led me to that point.

So, yes, I constantly think about photography and how it's allowed me to grow in unexpected areas.