I could compose a symphony with this lens.

I could compose a symphony with this lens.

Oh, that sounded deep. At least to me it did. I was editing images from my most recent photographic walkabout. That’s when this hit me. A symphony from a $50 Soviet lens? Sounds pretty bold, and doesn’t entirely make sense as I’ve crossed visual with auditory.

As soon as I thought it, I also realized that it was pretty much bullshit! Like a lens of any kind is going to be solely responsible for something so magnificent!

It’s only gear in the long run. And damn it, the gear doesn’t make the art. It’s just a tool.

Sometimes I refer to my camera as an “instrument” and I truly believe that it is. The lens is a part of that instrument.

So I really had to dig deep and try to figure out what I meant by the above statement. Could I really compose a symphony, a photographic symphony?

Yes! But would anyone want to listen to it? That’s another conversation for another time.

Really, it’s not about the gear even though I love the gear. After spending years on this journey, I’ve learned a ton. What I’ve learned the most is that I have so much yet to learn. So my statement, though inspiring, is also a little juvenile. Cool, I can live with that.

What I guess I meant was something like this; a 40+ year old, Soviet-made, well used lens is more than capable of creating some very impressive images.

Forget specs, numbers and graphs. Just looking at the finished images, could I tell that they were made with this particular lens? What if I told you it was made with $3000 Leica glass? Would it make a difference in how you perceived the images?

The truth is none of that matters. I was grooving with whatever I was using at the time. As much as I love those vintage lenses (and I do). I don’t need them. I realized that I am past a certain point. That being a point where I can take a camera and lens and compose a story.

For that, I am eternally grateful, because it’s something special (at least to me). Talent is one thing, and every one of us has some kind of talent. But developing those talents is a whole other animal.

It takes a lot of time, dedication, practice, frustration, failure, trauma, successes, letdowns, experimentation and a ton of other elements. Above all it takes a hell of a lot of time. Oh and not quitting.

Years, decades, an entire lifetime? Yes, but I think a lifetime devoted to developing talents in a positive way is a great use of one’s life. This is something that I need to concentrate more on.

I sometimes (ok many times) post the camera and lens that I used for a particular shot. That doesn’t mean that I “had” to use the exact combination to get what you see. And it also doesn’t mean that you have to use it.

For every photographer I know, I can say that we all use different combinations of equipment and different processes for creating an image. And it all works. Doesn’t matter the make or cost, it works.

So please realize that my intentions aren’t to push gear or vintage lenses. Those things have meaning for me and I don’t expect you to gravitate to my process or equipment. This is art!

I do hope that you find some connection to my photographic work. If it makes you feel something, then I’m happy.

The journey continues.