Stop Analyzing: Just Use It

Over the past year, I have switched digital camera systems twice. In my opinion, it’s not a healthy habit if the goal is to grow as a photographer. The art remains the same — however, the environment in which we create is continuously changing. If something catches your eye, capture it because it could disappear without warning. Quit worrying so much about the camera and lens. Just get out and use what you have. This is a lesson I relearn all too often.

Although I don’t post YouTube videos, I have enjoyed watching other YouTube photographers and videographers as I transitioned into adulthood. I began watching photography-related YouTube videos after stumbling upon the original DigitalRev crew, as many did in the early 2010s.

But I bring up YouTube for one main reason. When I am interested in a particular camera brand or lens or feature, I enter a search on YouTube to see if someone else has an opinion on it, probably out of habit at this point. For example, I wanted to know if a particular third-party lens hood would fit correctly and look a certain way on a particular lens I was interested in. I didn’t even own the lens yet.

But the algorithm had me.

Suggested videos started flooding in. I went down a path of endless opinions (many of which are from people who did not pay for the items) and ended up spending X amount of money on a lens and a lens hood all because of a desire to look a certain way or feel a certain way about myself while holding my camera.

Notice how I have failed to mention anything related to actually practicing and improving my photography.

This can take hold of even the most talented folks and distract from furthering their craft. All of a sudden, all that matters is megapixels, or autofocus, or compactness, or the feel, or whatever else seems to matter at that moment.

I urge all photographers to take a pause, maybe even refrain from watching YouTube videos and engaging in other new media sharing sites.

Grab the camera, one lens, batteries, memory card, and whatever else you need to focus on the photography. Let the camera disappear.

I am always surprised by how refreshing this experience is when I narrow down the gear and just take in the environment.