The Shocking Truth About What Matters MOST in Photography

[@mmartel]

Great message. You'll see endless questions online that go like this: "what camera was used to take this photo?" when they don't realize it was the lighting, composition, and editing that made the photo stunning. Having a good enough camera matters, but beyond that the benefits are so incrementally small compared to the capture and post skill of the photographer, the subject, the lighting and the timing.

[@erickhernandezphotographyaz]

Absolutely! It's so true that the artistry behind the shot is what truly makes a photo shine, not just the gear used. 🔥🔥🔥

[@homesteadhandyman4481]

Hi Erick! Very good points. I needed to hear this. Thanks , Don

[@erickhernandezphotographyaz]

Hi Don, you are very welcome! I'm so glad that it was able to help you!

[@SniperPhotography]

Great video Have subscribed Sniper Photography Australia

[@erickhernandezphotographyaz]

Thank you! I really appreciate the support!

[@rickfinnstrom6376]

I always find it funny, the 50mm is now classified as exotic lens. In days of film that lens was standard lens that came with the camera.

[@erickhernandezphotographyaz]

It's interesting how perceptions change over time! The 50mm really is a classic lens that has stood the test of time, even if the label has shifted.

[@patrickmcmahon818]

This is so true on so many levels. I wish I had watched a video like this when I was getting into digital photography. I had gone through entry level all the way up to flagship cameras and gear trying to get the perfect shots. It wasn’t until I began to really practice and work on my photography that I saw improvements. Now I came from film shooting sports and had used mid level gear but got the shots I wanted because I practiced and knew my equipment. For some reason when I switched to digital I was always chasing the, “if I only had this camera” or, “this lens will make this better.” Now as a portrait and event photography, I’m more concerned with direction and quality of light, composition and framing, capturing moments more than a new camera or lens. You made so many great points I really hope more people will watch this video and learn a valuable ($) lesson. Learn techniques then worry about your gear. Thumbs up and I’m going to check out more of your videos.

[@erickhernandezphotographyaz]

Thank you for sharing your journey! It's amazing how much practice and understanding of your equipment can elevate your photography. I'm glad the video resonated with you, and thank you so much for supporting the channel!

[@Actionray]

I think all beginning photographers need this video and advice. Don't get caught up in thinking gear makes the photo. When I started my photography journey I was using a Samsung s23 ultra and I ended up gathering a good intaglio following and even paid shooting gigs with it, I now shoot canon and use an m50, which isn't a professional camera by any measure but again, develop your skills and you get better stills. 😅 I kill it with my m50 and my passion drives my results not my gear. Thanks for this content!

[@erickhernandezphotographyaz]

⭐️Thank you for your kind words! Your journey is truly inspiring-proof that passion and skill can outperform any fancy gear! 👏🏽🔥📸

[@karmlol]

I don't think I've heard anyone say that gear alone will transform your images. You're right that focusing too much on gear could hinder personal (skills) development. It can also hinder just going out there in the first place. If you feel like you need a certain piece of new kit to do 'high end' stuff, and as a result you're not even going out there in the first place, then it's actually the desire for new gear holding you back from pursuing your hobby. Personally I'm somewhere in the middle. I acknowledge that personal skill is a main area of potential growth for almost every photographer, no matter how skilled. At the same time, I also acknowledge that quality gear can make a big difference in the photos you're able to take. For learning, a large enough aperture lens (such as even a cheap 50mm) is really the only thing I'd say you should get to be able to explore that part of photography. Beyond that, camera and lenses won't matter until you need something specific, and/or have really explored the limitations of your current gear. Things like bird photography, handheld low light photography, or zoom flexibility come to mind; in those areas, gear CAN make a big difference (but equally, so can personal skill).

[@erickhernandezphotographyaz]

Very well said!

[@davep2945]

Few ever say that directly but the barrage of new gear reviews and the geeking out over features that never or rarely get used on new cameras by reviewers does suggest to the uninitiated that the latest and greatest gear is the only way forward. If you watch interviews with actual pros who don't make most of their living off KZbin ads they often don't have the latest gear and those that do have frequently said they don't use the supposedly greatest features that reviewers geek out about. Like 120 FPS. Most will tell you it's just too much to sort through and gets tiresome real fast. But reviewers act like such a feature is some sort of magic that makes the impossible, possible. Never mind they show you a photo as proof that has been taken countless times with old school cameras. The new features make capturing a moment slightly easier but it's still a crap shoot. You spray and pray then sit for hours sorting and maybe you got an amazing shot and maybe you didn't. Reviewers go through cameras like beer at Oktoberfest and never once has one of them taken a photo that hasn't been done before. They might not have done it before but someone else has and long before the latest cameras came out.

[@karmlol]

It does also depend on what you're after, though. For me, for example, I don't necessarily want to take "photos that have never been taken before". For the regular events that I attend, I want to take photos that look good, and will serve as memories of those events (both for myself and the other participants). If the photos are nice enough, maybe I'll even print some. Composition is a big part of where I still have lots to learn. At the same time, it is not my intent to pursue the "perfect composition" or anything like that. Good focus, on the other hand, is important to me; so all these high end auto focus features ACTUALLY do matter for even my relatively simple use case. Same for low light capabilities, as I tend to shoot in somewhat low light frequently. And for my use, I very highly value the ability to zoom in and out (as opposed to using a prime). All those things have caused me to relatively quickly run into some limitations of previous systems that I use. In some cases I've upgraded after a year or two (60D), in others I've held off upgrading for years. I most recently upgraded to an R3 from a 5D Mk3. However the R1 definitely excites me a bit. I don't NEED all of the new stuff, but it does make parts of what I do a lot easier, and it can make me "not miss" shots I currently still sometimes miss (primarily due to autofocus in chaotic unpredictable situations).

[@jacobwilliams5115]

Thankyou Eric, perhaps i do not need that new wide angle lens after all 🤝

[@erickhernandezphotographyaz]

You're very welcome, Jacob! I am so glad this video was able to help you. G.A.S, or gear acquisition syndrome, sometimes gets the best of us all. Do you have a wide angle lens already?

[@jacobwilliams5115]

@@erickhernandezphotographyaz G.A.S. has certainly got the better of me on more than one occasion. The widest lens I currently own is an 18-200mm but I have been eyeing off a 10-24mm for street and landscape

[@erickhernandezphotographyaz]

18mm is pretty wide, although if you are on a crop sensor camera, it's more of a 24-27mm field of view equivalent so you're not getting a true wide angle.

[@Manabeasts]

I have a canon r6. I think I need a canon r5 mkII very bad to make better photos.

[@erickhernandezphotographyaz]

I haven't shot Canon for many years, but from what I can see on paper the r6 seems to be a good camera. I see that the r5II has not quite double the resolution of the r6, but what is it about the r5II that you believe would help you create better photos?

[@Manabeasts]

@@erickhernandezphotographyaz Sorry I didn't mean to confuse you. This was a joke. I know the R6 is a quiet decent camera. I watch a lot of videos about photography. I understand - at least I think - a lot about composition, framing etc. At least when I watch the videos. As soon as I go outside and try to apply my knowledge I can't see anything to get a good photo. I do it like about 8 years now, but can't see real progress. I had a Nikon D5100 before and managed to take really good pictures. But it's always luck. So you are absolutely right about the gear. It doesn't make good photographer. Good gear makes it a bit easier to take sharp pictures in difficult light conditions for example, focusing etc. But it doesn't help to make really good pictures (on purpose).

[@erickhernandezphotographyaz]

No worries, I was pretty sure it was but I didn't want to assume. If you have trouble when you go out, try going from wide angle to detailed shots. Sometimes, the grand scene has or is better when captured in smaller or detailed shots. I do an exercise where if I see something that captures my eye, I will take my camera and use the view finder to set up the framing. Usually 9/10 times it doesn't work, so then I work the problem by moving in closer, changing angles, zoom in or out, change sides and try from a different perspective. Basically, exhaust every possibility before moving on to something else. Sometimes it will take me an hour or so working a particular scene. It does help to have a mentor where you can get instant feed back to know how and what to improve.

[@totoroutes5389]

Has it been proven that whenever using a new Leica in public doesn’t attract more new clients?

[@erickhernandezphotographyaz]

😂 I believe the jury is still out on that one.

[@moishelande-se6sf]

Will you be giving weekly homeworks?

[@erickhernandezphotographyaz]

That will be my intent. I have started working on next week's, however I am traveling so I have to work off of my very slow laptop. I will get it out as soon as I can.

[@moishelande-se6sf]

@@erickhernandezphotographyaz ok, thanks, I hope it will level up my skills

[@macbaar6073]

firstly definition of better photos? i use a camera and lenses as a tool to get some good pictures...

[@erickhernandezphotographyaz]

That is true. Cameras and lenses are tools that artists work with in order to create images. By looking at your older images, or even ones you take now, study your image(s) and see if possibly the composition could be improved, or maybe the lighting, etc. I will also look/study other photographers'/artists' images and see how they compose an image, the lighting, the elements in the frame. Then when I go out next time to shoot landscapes or wildlife images I keep in mind what I have learned from those other images and then apply that knowledge while I'm shooting.

[@mikiethebikie]

Please remember, the photographer creates and owns the photograph: not the camera.

[@erickhernandezphotographyaz]

That is very true!

[@paulhenry7]

What about spelling? !! DOENS't !!

[@erickhernandezphotographyaz]

Thank you Paul, for spotting that. Late nights shouldn't be an excuse to not quadruple check my work!

[@rickfinnstrom6376]

People need to watch this video. the truth. I have seen someone who bought the highest price camera and take photos that could be used in the toilet. On the other side, I actually saw a 110 camera where the photos were better than the expensive camera.

[@erickhernandezphotographyaz]

⭐️Thank you for your comment! It’s so true that talent can shine through regardless of the equipment. I appreciate your support in spreading the word!🙏🏽👏🏽