When it is about photography, not the camera.

elader wrote in post #5384138
I love ooking through pbase's 'popular' galleries. So many fabulaius photographs and no lens discussions. Most of these guys are out there making art, not argueing about 5D vs 40D

LOL Elader, I must check that place out!

00silvergt wrote in post #5384144
LOL Elader, I must check that place out!

Start here if you like..

http://www.pbase.com/j​urgentreue

00silvergt wrote in post #5383926
Funny, and not to offend anyone who has their gearlist on their signature, its your prerogative...however just making the quick observation that those who are inclined to think that hardware is second to the human factor(except Cyth0n, again no offense) do not have a gear list in their signature. I personally have amassed a great deal of photography equipment, may not be more than some of you, but certainly more than some who have listed their equipment, some who even added things like a Giotto Rocket Blower to add fluff and weight to their equipment list. But I don't, because albeit I care about my equipment, in fact I'm very anal retentive about it since it cost me some blood and sweat, but I won't publish because it is my pictures that matter, not what I use.

Yes, I've seen and sometimes participated in the debates of one camera over another ad nauseam. I'm inclined to be technical, since what brings home the proverbial bacon deals with the technical side of life, but I also have an artistic side which can easily be disturbed by the nitpicking of semantics. LOL

I keep my gear list in my sig, so that people can see what I have experience with, which occasionally is relevant to a discussion. It isn't there for any bragging purpose or anything. That you mention "fluff" and "weight" when talking about gear lists suggests that you are seeing things from your own skewed perspective...not to mention the tone of your writing...semantics aside.
I do happen to think that the artistic factor is more significant than the technical. However, I believe that an artist tends to have technique...and in photography most technique tends to involve a little bit of tech (among other things). Whether you're using a pinhole camera or a digital MF it would seem that it is generally beneficial (artistically) if some thought is put into the technical process at some point. It doesn't have to enter your mind during the shot...but it is there in the back of your mind.

I have one of those gearlist just like many others here do. Don't get me wrong, I am not offended at all, however I thought your commentary was rather interesting. (My head started to hurt after I read your original post.)

Yes, "Digital" complicates things. The fact is photography is much more accessible these days. You have all kinds of people with DSLR's. I am one of those people that entered the world of photography world "Digitally". I am a gearhead. I like computers. I like music studio equipment. I like photography equipment. Anything I do, I like to collect anything related to it.

Does that inhibit me artisically in any way? I don't think that is the case at all. Frankly, I don't see the connection between having something simple as a gear list and artistic ability. In fact a lot of us have gearlists so when we enter discussions about gear (yes...them things called cameras and lenses) b/c we can keep things relevant...talk about gear we own now or used to own.

Yes, it's what's behind the camera that counts...I have read that hundreds of times.

I think showing off gear is elitist thinking. I also think discarding the importance of gear is elitist thinking.

There is nothing wrong with discussing the technical aspects of photography and the gear associated with it. There is nothing wrong with having or not having a gear list. There is nothing wrong about debating about the 40D vs. 5D.

What's wrong is dimissing it all as "gear-head" talk, stereo-typing people on the internet posting in forums such as this on (and that includes every last POTN member here) as "more gear oriented than not"...

Ooops...that turned into a rant. I apologize.

And no...I have a gear list and I am not offended by your comments.

00silvergt wrote in post #5383926
Funny, and not to offend anyone who has their gearlist on their signature, its your prerogative...however just making the quick observation that those who are inclined to think that hardware is second to the human factor(except Cyth0n, again no offense) do not have a gear list in their signature. I personally have amassed a great deal of photography equipment, may not be more than some of you, but certainly more than some who have listed their equipment, some who even added things like a Giotto Rocket Blower to add fluff and weight to their equipment list. But I don't, because albeit I care about my equipment, in fact I'm very anal retentive about it since it cost me some blood and sweat, but I won't publish because it is my pictures that matter, not what I use.

Yes, I've seen and sometimes participated in the debates of one camera over another ad nauseam. I'm inclined to be technical, since what brings home the proverbial bacon deals with the technical side of life, but I also have an artistic side which can easily be disturbed by the nitpicking of semantics. LOL

bacchanal wrote in post #5384375
I keep my gear list in my sig, so that people can see what I have experience with, which occasionally is relevant to a discussion. It isn't there for any bragging purpose or anything. That you mention "fluff" and "weight" when talking about gear lists suggests that you are seeing things from your own skewed perspective...not to mention the tone of your writing...semantics aside.
I do happen to think that the artistic factor is more significant than the technical. However, I believe that an artist tends to have technique...and in photography most technique tends to involve a little bit of tech.

I am sort of a cynic naturally, again I don't mean to offend, but when you look at some gear list that includes things like a rocket blower and a SB724...that's just silly. But I apologize again if you are offended, I don't mean to strike just because you have a gear list, again that's your choice, I don't disagree nor agree I was just making a quick observation, no need to get bent out of shape. It is not not that serious, brother. I wasn't commenting about bragging rights or anything like that I just wanted say that listing your gear was somewhat indicative on what are your priorities. Maybe?

I have no idea what you just said, but it sounded about right.

You sure you don't agree or disagree?
It sounds to me you already have a pretty strong opinion on this matter.

Frankly, I don't see anything wrong with listing something like a rocket blower in a gear list. There are going to be people who have never heard or used such a thing and to that person it might be very relevant that the person responding does own one, is using it often, and knows whe he or she is talking about.

To me, that is the importance of a gear list.

You want to talk about SanDisk Extreme III CF cards? Bam. I've got them. what do you want to know.

Very relevant and useful to me...but again, I am a gearhead...and I am not offended by your comments.

00silvergt wrote in post #5384401
I am sort of a cynic natural, again I don't mean to offend, but when you look at some gear list that includes things like a rocket blower and a SB724...that's just silly. But I apologize again if you are offended, I don't mean to strike just because you have a gear list, again that's your choice, I don't disagree nor agree I was just making a quick observation, no need to get bent out of shape. It is not not that serious brother. I wasn't commenting about bragging rights or anything like that I just wanted say that listing your gear was somewhat indicative on what are your priorities. Maybe?

I don't mind the gear obsession except when it's in the context of, "I can't get any good pictures, so I need to upgrade/get new gear in order to improve my photography." I'm all for having the best and latest, but for the right reasons. In my opinion, "getting more expensive/better gear will improve my ability to get good pictures" is not the right reason.

I also don't like the way other people with SLRs strain to look at what kind of camera I have or stare at me when I'm taking pictures. It wouldn't have bothered me one bit, but after being here a while, I feel self-conscious because I wonder if they're doing it to make sure my gear isn't as nice as theirs. I'm probably wrong about that, but before I got here I never would have imagined the depth of the gear obsession.

And then there are those of us who've had a tremendous amount of gear - three maybe four times - who will NEVER live it down. I am passionate about photography. Have been for ages. Started as a pre-teen. For me, it's more about deciding on the right focal length, etc., etc., etc. and not being able to DECIDE. Once you've had it, you sometimes want it back... or you wonder what else is out there. It's not always about bragging rights, or about sucking as a photographer and assuming it's going to turn your world around. Gear does make a difference. Different strokes for different folks. If I couldn't have afforded what I have, I'd still be doing photography. No question about it. I pushed the limits with my gear, but feel I've learned a great deal more about what it has to offer. When I first started out with film, I had no idea what a "fast" lens was, or why I might prefer a prime to a zoom. I've never been a "gear head" either. Perhaps because I'm a female... who knows. But I've enjoyed the ride and plan to keep on shooting regardless of where I am with buying/trading, etc. I couldn't give a crap what anyone thinks about it as a 40-yr-old stay at home mom. The less conspicuous, the better to be honest.

If it makes you happy, it can't be that bad.

(Wait, someone said that already)

I have a gear list and I appreciate that other do as well. I personally like to look at what other lenses, etc. people use. That is the best form of advertisment and I use it when determing what gear I want.
When I see a photographer on here that I think takes great shots, I look to see what gear they chose (because they obviously know what they are doing).

Well the true elitists would be showing this right?
http://www.largeformat​photography.info/deard​orff/deardorff2.jpeg

www.larajade.com

She uses a Rebel and a couple of lenses (60mm and 18-55 if I remember correctly).

She definitely has an eye that can overpower any gear any day of the week.

Totally agree. I got caught up in it for a while, then took a step back and now I don't go near the gear forums :P

I keep a simple gear list to let people know what I'm using. If they ask me why I didn't zoom in farther with my 70-200, its probably because I don't own one.

i didnt have a gearlist until i posted a question and someone replied "perhaps you could list out your gear in your signature...". regardless, no offence taken. but its useful to have a gearlist, esp when going thru the gallery section with no camera/lens details captioned below the photos.