"It's amazing what you can do with a nice camera...."

While admiring the images on display at a photography exhibition years ago, one of the people I was with (who is not a photographer) made that comment. That is, of course, laughable. If a decent kit is all it takes, everyone ought to be Ansel Adams or Edward Weston.

Back in the real world, we know big cameras aren't miracle machines which magically create wonderful photographs all by themselves.

Still, Ansel had long since left his No.1 Box Brownie behind by the time he was pursuing photography as a profession. He had "nice cameras."

Let's consider what that means as it relates to the kit you're using. Does having a "nice camera" mean you need the latest technology to make good photographs? Are cutting-edge bodies and lenses prerequisites if you want to become a more accomplished photographer?

Short answer: no.

Photography has been around for a long time. Iconic images made in the early part of the 20th century are still studied and admired, many years later. Ansel Adams was using good quality gear for his day, but obviously he didn't have a mirrorless body or premium modern-day optics. Still, he's considered to be one of the greatest landscape photographers of all time.

Making good images isn’t about chasing every new release as soon as it hits the market.

While the newest bodies and lenses will equip you with capabilities you otherwise might not have had, and will make some things easier to execute, fancy equipment isn’t a magic pill that will instantly transform your work. Gear in and of itself won’t turn you into a better photographer. Head out today with a pricey new kit and the photographs you create with it won’t suddenly be markedly different than what you were shooting yesterday.

The camera doesn’t make the photograph. You do.

I'm not knocking the newest models to hit the market - far from it. But dropping thousands of dollars on equipment won't do anything to improve your eye - your ability to notice things, to observe thoughtfully, and to appreciate nuance. It won't help develop your unique style. It won't teach you to approach photography with mindfulness: to learn to be fully present in the moment.

The camera body and lenses are simply tools, the same way a tennis racquet is a tool. Purchasing a tour-level racquet doesn't mean you'll wake up tomorrow ranked among the world's top players.

Photography is a skill. You're not born knowing how to make good photographs; you learn. The more time you devote to it, the more proficient you'll become.

This is true both for the technical and creative aspects of photography.

First things first: know how to use your camera. The most expensive body on the market isn't of much use if you don't understand what it can do and how to operate it. Become so familiar with your camera that you can manipulate it mostly by touch, and can make adjustments instinctively. Once you no longer have to give much thought to the nuts and bolts, your mind will be free to focus on the creative.

The key components to making good photographs - the secret sauce - are your head, your eyes, and your heart, and experience is the key to fostering your growth as an artist. The more you shoot, the more accomplished you'll become, the more you'll see, and the more your style will develop and evolve.

Does acquiring experience require an investment? Of your time, yes. In the latest equipment, no. Put your credit card away for now.

Shoot more pictures. Shoot with intent. Analyze your work. Experiment. You will see results. You will become a better photographer.

You can make good photographs with the gear you already have. Use it.

Next week: When might it make sense to consider upgrading?

In Local News

Winter has been slacking off so far this year, delivering much lighter snowfall than normal, but grooming of Teton Park Road (the inner loop) in Grand Teton National Park finally began last Friday. The 14-mile stretch between the Taggart Lake Trailhead and Signal Mountain Lodge is open to cross-country skiers, snowshoers and pedestrians. Depending on weather, grooming will take place every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday through March.