Why You Must Fall in Love with Your Camera
I’m currently in Tbilisi, Georgia, the country that’s widely regarded as the birthplace of wine. I tell you this because I’m a couple of glasses deep, which is a lot for someone who doesn’t normally consume alcohol. Feeling my inhibitions loosen, rather than jump on “the apps”, I find myself looking at my camera, thinking to myself “I love you so much…” and that every photographer should love theirs too.
I don’t envision myself being the focal point of a documentary any time soon: “Man marries his camera…” type of deal. But I do think we can share more love for the cameras that allow us to document our life.
It’s the same deal with my Macbook M1 Air. It’s five years old, bumped and bruised and definitely needs a new battery. It would be easy to throw it in the trash and be done with it. But, then I think of what we've been through. I built Them Frames on this laptop, I booked all my travels and watched many, many things on this laptop (calm down).
I love this laptop because it means something to me. I’m the same with my Fujifilm X-T camera. I’ve had it for almost two years and it’s been the connector between so many moments and so many subjects.
I write this now because as many of you will have seen, Fujifilm just launched the X–E5. It’s a beautiful little camera and naturally there’s that part of me that has the urge. You know how it works - first you see the camera, then you fantasize about having it and then you begin to allow your brain to convince you why you need it.
Even though logIcally speaking I know the X-E5 won’t offer me more than my X-T3, a part of me flirted with the idea of abandoning my stable relationship to begin a rendezvous with that fresher, newer model.
But what type of photographer would that make me? One that only wants the latest and greatest and has no appreciation for what my longstanding system can still offer me.
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When I hear “the camera is just a tool” I think of how much we’re belittling it. We’re reducing it to a meaningless object and not appreciating how much it can do for us the more we form a connection to it.
From my experience, the deeper the connection I have with my camera and the more history we have, the more I feel inspired to make the work. New cameras give you that dopamine hit but then it fades and then there's not much of a story to tell.
Look, I’m not advocating for human/camera relationships here - but I do think there are real benefits to truly appreciating - and loving - the camera you have. You're less inclined to have G.A.S. and act on impulse purchases, you’ll be fighting against needless upgrade culture and, most importantly, you’ll have a long lasting love for making images.
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