There's been some talk about this in many forums and blogs lately. I thought I'd post some of my thoughts on the subject just to get it out of the way. By that I mean I need to analyse my own thoughts on my own GAS. As I see it, this problem really exists where people think that buying the latest and greatest will improve their photography, making up excuses and needs that really don't exist to justify their purchases.
This problem (I won't call it an illness because it isn't) will exist until people realise that it's not the equipment that matters. You've probably heard that argument a hundred times either in magazines, on blogs or books or just by word of mouth. It won't make a difference for a lot of people because they just don't want to hear it. All that matters to them is that next lens or the newest camera. The only solution is to think differently not only about your photography but also about how you live your life. Until that changes then there will be no solution to G.A.S.
Olivier Duong (www.f-stopeight.com) posted some interesting articles about his own GAS and how he solved it for himself. Part 1 can be found here. Just read that one and keep going. It really is a great read and will certainly get you thinking. At the bottom of the first article are links to part 2 and 3. Do yourself a favour and please do read the article.
I certainly have a lot of gear, many cameras and a hoard of lenses. But, I know that more equipment will not improve my own photography, I just love collecting. There's only one thing that will improve your photography and that is to train your eye. Practice, practice and more practice. You hear a lot about taking more photographs, which could be interpreted as meaning holding your finger on the shutter release button. That would be foolish of course because all you get is a lot of images of the same thing. Try looking at it this way; work the subject. Look at it from different angles and work the subject. Go high, go low, get closer to the subject or put a telephoto lens on your camera and see what you get. All the equipment in the world isn't going to help you improve your eye, I should know.
This problem (I won't call it an illness because it isn't) will exist until people realise that it's not the equipment that matters. You've probably heard that argument a hundred times either in magazines, on blogs or books or just by word of mouth. It won't make a difference for a lot of people because they just don't want to hear it. All that matters to them is that next lens or the newest camera. The only solution is to think differently not only about your photography but also about how you live your life. Until that changes then there will be no solution to G.A.S.
Olivier Duong (www.f-stopeight.com) posted some interesting articles about his own GAS and how he solved it for himself. Part 1 can be found here. Just read that one and keep going. It really is a great read and will certainly get you thinking. At the bottom of the first article are links to part 2 and 3. Do yourself a favour and please do read the article.
I certainly have a lot of gear, many cameras and a hoard of lenses. But, I know that more equipment will not improve my own photography, I just love collecting. There's only one thing that will improve your photography and that is to train your eye. Practice, practice and more practice. You hear a lot about taking more photographs, which could be interpreted as meaning holding your finger on the shutter release button. That would be foolish of course because all you get is a lot of images of the same thing. Try looking at it this way; work the subject. Look at it from different angles and work the subject. Go high, go low, get closer to the subject or put a telephoto lens on your camera and see what you get. All the equipment in the world isn't going to help you improve your eye, I should know.
