I was asked "THE QUESTION"

[Colin Southern]

Unfortunately the problem of people being convinced that a certain make/type of camera will instantly make them a good photographer is just another manifestation of the power of advertising, particularly on TV. Advertisement after advertisement tells the viewer that if only they purchase this or that item they will be able to do a particular task, look beautiful, be successful etc. etc., with no mention of having to study, learn a skill, or work at it in any way, shape or form.

Amen to that. I'm of the personal belief that advertising has (in general) long since lost all sense of integrity & self-respect.

[rpcrowe]

Richard,

Erm, have you read the manual?

Gosh Mark... Don't be silly! read the manual? Why would I ever do that?

Sure, I have read the manual and also the many, many videos on using the phone. I can use it, but not to the very best capabilities...

[Colin Southern]

Perhaps you need an iPhone

[Inkanyezi]

Once, but only once, was I close to the core of the "good camera" topic, by mentioning the camera that I gave to my sister when I upgraded the first digital camera that I bought. And I certainly did not mean to diminish her part of the excellent images, it was just a comment because I was so happy that the camera in spite of being a very small and simple fully automatic one, indeed had the capacity to capture what she had been taking, a very good series of an old lady I too know in Cuba, roasting coffee. So I commented that I was happy that it really was a good camera.

It was my happiness that the camera had not let her down, that it had served her well. I was fully aware that she was the one taking the pictures, that the story they told was her story, and the story of Hilda, roasting her coffee beans in the backyard.

When my sister heard the comment she asked me if I really would think that the camera took the pictures, which I of course did not. But the story behind is that she never had a camera before, and after I had made several journeys to Cuba, I gave my first digital camera to her for the journey, because she wanted a camera and didn't have one, neither the money to buy one. So this was her first trip to Cuba, which she documented. The coffee roasting pictures as a whole is a masterpiece of documentation, so kudos to her really, and that's why I was so happy that the camera would not let her down.

[Andrew1]

Many years ago my wife mentioned how much she liked a photograph and questioned what type of camera I thought the photographer used. I tried to explain at the time about the creative talent but it pretty much went unheeded and came up again in later incidents. I like to think some of my own photos are pretty good but my ego knows I am not up to the standards of those posted in magazines or hanging on a wall. Rather than continue trying to convince her it wasn't the camera I let her go with the perception that Yes, equipment does make a difference if you want quality results. Why, just last month she said how much she liked a large photo for sale on the wall of a local coffee shop and wondered what equipment the photographer was using. I of course had to tell her that the fantastic results were probably due to the Nikon 85mm 1.4. I think the next really good photo she sees will have been taken with the new Nikon D600 when it hits the street. She is very supportive of my hobbies so coaching her rather than correcting her has worked out very well for me over the years. (this scenario also applies to woodworking tools)