I get the curiosity, really. But sometimes, I think people put too much emphasis on gear and not enough on the thought and process behind creating an image. You’d be amazed how often I’ve heard someone say, “If only I had that camera, my photos would be just as good.” I kid you not.
That said, I won’t pretend I don’t wonder what other photographers are using. But my curiosity isn’t about rushing out to buy the latest gadget—it’s more about seeing if I’m missing something or if I can get similar results with what I already own.
I firmly believe that “cameras don’t take pictures, people do.” But let’s be honest—gear does have its limits. No matter how good my camera is, I won’t be capturing stunning aerial shots of New York like Vincent Laforet unless I shell out $2,500 an hour for a helicopter. And even then, why bother recreating something that’s already been done—and done brilliantly?
The same logic applies to those jaw-dropping shots of climbers dangling off cliffs. Without investing in some serious rock-climbing gear (and, let’s be real, some serious courage), the closest I’ll get is photographing my granddaughter on a 25-foot climbing wall.
That’s not to say these images don’t inspire me. They absolutely do. They push me to explore my own creative boundaries—even if my feet are firmly planted on the ground (or, at most, on a stepladder).
But I digress. Back to the question: equipment.
One huge perk of driving instead of flying is that I don’t have to worry about airline baggage limits. With airlines constantly tweaking their rules and tacking on extra fees, I wouldn’t be surprised if we’re soon forced to document our travels with pencil and paper. And even then, pencils might be classified as potential weapons and sent to checked luggage. Imagine the dilemma: extra underwear or extra pencils?
Even with the luxury of road-tripping, I’ve learned that less is more when it comes to packing gear. Over the years, I’ve realized that too much equipment can actually be counterproductive. If I were flying, I’d scale my kit down to a single bag. The only time I lug overweight baggage onto a plane is for commercial assignments—because someone else is footing the bill for those outrageous fees.
• Small power bar
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