Gear or the Photographer?

Now that is the question! (My old Nikon FM sitting in London)

I believe in the vision of a photographer first and foremost. The passion, the energy, the inspiration, the pure drive...that comes before any gear. But, IT IS a little of both. I look at how much 'better' my images are SOOC of my D300 vs my D70. So, of course, gear helps you realize that vision, however, if you don't have the vision in the first place you might just come up with a very sharp and clear snapshot with that fancy smancy super duper expensive camera (and there's nothing wrong with that if you've got the money, knock yourself out).
(Taken in NYC Late 90's with above camera! Excuse the quality, it's a photo of a photo!)

Of course if all the stars are aligned and you have your vision, your style, you equipment. Yes, absolutely, you are going to rock that gear and work it for all it's worth! But, you don't need a super duper expensive all newest camera in order to shoot and that's my point. Don't let the fact that you don't have the latest and greatest gear spoil your love of photography... (Photo by daughter April in Little India, Singapore with her point and shoot. Not bad!)

The camera companies are businesses and they will ruthlessly market their product to make you think that you NEED to have the newest upgrade, even though a few mths ago that there camera you have that you now think you should upgrade was being marketed as the next best thing since sliced bread. It's a psychological game that could leave your wallet empty and creativeness squashed in the endless pursuit of following the crowd and the keeping up with the Jones mentality that is everywhere. It's like the argument Nikon Vs Canon, photoshop vs lightroom. blah blah blah. Everyone thinks differently. You just do what is best for you and YOUR vision. Don't follow the herd if it doesn't feel right otherwise you will just look like everyone else. Follow your heart and your VISION and what I always say to myself when I feel I am swaying away from my true self 'To thy own self be true'. Brings me back to centre. (Go, April!)

The other thing to remember is: if you aren't there, you can't shoot it. So, get off the computer and get shooting LOL even if it's 'just' with your iphone!
The PhotOkinawa group on Okinawa is very active on FB, so come out and join like-minded people and shoot what you love with what you have! (Macro of Okinawa shells) “Beauty can be seen in all things, seeing and composing the beauty is what separates the snapshot from the photograph. – Matt Hardy

A quote that rings true for those of us 'stuck' on Okinawa:
“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.”
Marcel Proust

One more quote that one of the group members posted. So true. Note the date!
"The fact is that relatively few photographers ever master their medium. Instead they allow the medium to master them and go on an endless squirrel cage chase from new lens to new paper to new developer to new gadget, never staying with one piece of equipment long enough to learn its full capacities, becoming lost in a maze of technical information that is of little or no use since they don't know what to do with it." - Edward Weston 1927