Yesterday Nikon announced their new 200-400mm f4 ED VRII lens. It is a professional lens that you will probably never see in my camera bag–maybe as a rental but I highly doubt I could ever afford to own this $7,000 treasure. That doesn’t stop me from thinking about it. With a 1.4x teleconverter, this lens would have been glued to my camera body during my recent safari. Instead I bought the humble 70-300mm f4-5.6G and made do with it.
Photography is fraught with temptations. If it’s not a new piece of gear, it’s the latest software or yet another enticing workshop. Temptation comes in all shapes and sizes. I find it almost impossible to resist buying books even though I still have plenty to read. It’s one of the reasons why I like magazines and ebooks; I can finish reading them and lurch guilt-free into another justifiable purchase that won’t send me running into the jaws of loan sharks.
Lately I’ve been facing a new temptation–the urge to give it all up and head out on the road, just me and my camera. I see a photograph and I think about finding that place and the story it holds. Last week I saw a wide angle picture of a banana split taken at one of those old drugstore ice cream counters. In the background was an elderly man wearing a shirt and tie and behind him, one of those old cash registers probably from the 1930′s. All I wanted to do when I saw that photograph was to find one of those drugstores, spend a few hours getting to know the store owner, and tell the story of a disappearing part of Americana with my camera. The reality is that this temptation is as much out of reach as the new Nikon 200-400mm.
Temptation is a fact of life. We can’t avoid it but there’s always a way out or at least a way to cope with the impluses. This photograph today was proof to me that I could create images I love without giving it all up (it’s one I made during my One Mile time on the weekend). The story may not be as rich and compelling as the drug store banana split but it reminds me that my story is unfolding frame by frame and along the way, I am filled with gratitude for the things I do have.
What’s your story? What tempts you and how do you deal with it? I’d love to know!
I hear you regarding the desire for more, and fancier, gear. That’s why I love reading David duChemin so much…but then he makes me feel like I have so much to learn…;-)
So, today I’m really tempted to find some really beautiful blades of grass bathed in beautiful light, lie down in it, and take some pictures of its welcoming allure…
Brian
Welcome Brian!
Glad you’ve discovered David’s work because learning is so much fun, isn’t it? I’m moving away from the gear lust but the wanderlust is something that never seems to abate!
I think it was Mae West that said “Yield to temptation it may not pass your way again”.
I along with all of us have many temptations and dreams of things I’d like to do, I temper them by adapting my means and abilities to what it truly possible. Instead of traveling the world, I look for the same things in my home state. Instead of buying the longest lens, I learn to get closer. If something is really that important I find a way to attain it.
The image you mention as a temptation may be fulfilled as now you are in tune with that vision and at sometime the opportunity will present itself to you. The real temptation is impatience and wanting to hurry the process and opportunities.
It all depends on what we are willing to sacrifice to gain that temptation, if not enough it wasn’t the right temptation or goal.
(except for books, can never have to many books on all kinds of stuff)
LOL, I do believe Mae West might have a point there, Ray
I’ve been thinking a lot about living my dreams within my means, ever since our conversations in Skagit Valley. It’s sound advice. Slowing down is good too. I find that I appreciate the experience of image-making much more when I do.
I’m always tempted to buy some new gear: another lens, second flash, large monitor, bigger drive. It’s not just photography that temps me, I’m also tempted with a new car, travel, ipad, Dairy Queen Blizzards (any flavor), etc. My list could go on forever. Yes, we live in a world where marketing is always flashing some shinny new object in front of us. I’m learning to temper the temptation and live with what I have.
Ray hits on a good point as we truly are a microwave society rather than a crock-pot society. Lack of patience runs ramped in our world. As an example I have been saving to buy either the Nikon 50mm f1.4 lens or the 60mm f2.8 macro. The money was there last week but, alas, the car came down with a fever then started coughing. After a trip to the car doctor the money for the lens is gone.
Now comes the patience to save up again. 
I too, am tempted to quit this work stuff, pack up a small bag and hit the road. Not much pay and take a long time to save for a lens, but tempted just the same.
An excellent post.
Monte, we share the same temptations! I have a weakness for Dairy Queen too
Seriously, I love your crock-pot analogy. We are such an instant society but some of the best things in life are savoured on slow. Sorry to hear about your car but just imagine how much you’ll appreciate that new lens once you’ve saved up for it again.
My temptation is quite similar to yours. Not gear, but to just hit the road with my camera. I envy people that have actually done that. I just don’t have the guts to do it. But the more I photograph the more I want to do it. I guess it is like an addiction.
Great post. Love the picture.
Thanks Beate. I just love your honesty. If I had to be completely honest too, I don’t have the guts to do it either–at least not yet. I think I have to have some kind of safety net in place before I can make the jump.
I hope we can travel again together and at least jump in the puddles to feed our addiction.
I felt the same when the Nikkor 24mm f1.4 came out.
But it faded away. I’ve no desire to buy gear, as I’m presently completely consumed by the idea of giving it all up and hitting the road (theultimate goal in the master plan) and using what gear I do have.
It’s helped along by my already having pretty good gear. This post made me think that for a good couple of years all I did was want gear. Now that I’ve gotten all this gear that makes my pseudo working life much easier and keeps it to a particular standard, all I’ve been doing on a personal level is slapping a cheap 50mm on my camera, no matter what I’m shooting.
Funny how that works!
Imagine the sisterhood we’d have if we actually did give it all up and hit the road?! I think I’m subconsciously following your plan as I’ve started to acquire some decent lenses too.
I’m still drooling over the images on your website
There’s an idea for a project! Can you imagine a global exhibition of women on the road?
We might need to up the timeline!
Ouch! $7K for a 200-400mm lens. Time to sell that Nikon stuff from the dark side of the force and join the “White Canights”. You can get a 400mm f/4 IS USM for less than $6K (great lens) or a 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 IS USM for less than $2K (hate push-pull zooms). And I’ll throw in a slightly used Jedi Lightsaber to beat back those Nikon Sith masters.
You’re so funny Jeff!
It’s a little known fact that I started out my journey with Canon but I was bewitched along the way by lenses my father already had so my fate was sealed…for now.
At least if I switched I know I could count on you to share with me, right?
Something clicked within me recently, and suddenly the gear temptation was gone. While this may be a temporary thing, I’m kid of thinking it isn’t. What changed? I was planning my trip to Africa, dreaming of gear. Putting together an Ultimate Wildlife Kit (Nikon D3S, etc) it came to more than $10,000. Yep, I could spend my bonus on that and be happy. For a few months until Nikon introduced something else, like this lens.
I think my switch to mainly film helped tremendously too. I realized that I can achieve the “look” that I saw in my mind with inexpensive gear. The key was that I had to get out there and shoot many rolls of film, and really get back into the creative process in order to feel that way. Now when I look at the slideshow of images on my site, I smile inside. I’m finally making the shots that I want.
There is no magic bullet. The newest model will not make you a better photographer. It will make you a better snapshooter. Art happens from the inside.
Mark
I was wondering about your switch to film and the side benefits. I hadn’t seen too much of your work BF (before film) but what I see now resonates with me. I look forward to seeing more of your work.
I always say that you do things that inspire me so thank you for sharing your story.
Hi Sabrina! I randomly stumbled upon your blog the other day, and I am in LOVE with your work. I actually like your photographs more than a lot of the “professionals” out there. So beautiful, well crafted, and inspiring! I love your one mile pictures, but I do hope you can hit the road sometime soon! There is nothing like an adventure with your camera. And the stories that photographs tell are the best part!
I just started playing around with photography, and I really appreciate your guidance and inspiration. Thank you for sharing your beautiful artwork as well as your insights.
Hello Stephanie,
You’re much too kind but thank you. I just visited your blog and the thing that strikes me most is your authenticity. The exhuberance you have for your photographic journey is so clear through the images and stories you’re sharing. I have no doubt that soon you will join us in this battle with temptation–if you haven’t already
Thanks for visiting; hope to see and hear from you again.
I think everyone is tempted to just up and go, be it with a camera or not. It’s inheirent into us as people. The cave men didn’t just sit; they roamed. They took spears. We hang a little computer that captures sight around our neck and go. As you know, I”m pretty fortunate to get to travel with my job. And usually when I come back, I seem to get in a photographic rut. It’s easy to shoot in NYC or in the markets of Bombay. But in my little town tucked in Central NJ, where I pass the same stuff every day…not so easy. Or is it? We as photographers look at the world with a different eye. We “see” things others don’t capture them and share them. While we may lust after travel or gear…I’m sure others lust to have our eye. That’s why your OneMile project is brilliant. The adventure doesn’t have to be on the other side of the world.
You raise something very interesting, Mark. I was reading the other day that photographers don’t “see” with their eyes, they actually see with their brain. That’s why when we look at others’ photographs, we respond with more than just our visual sensibilities. It is much more an emotional response.
And as an aside, I am lusting after your Noir Eye
Guess what Sabrina, I have never been to a photography workshop and I don’t buy books that often, but I was tempted to switch my whole camera format when micro 4/3 came out. I made the switch. Every time summer swings around I hit the road though. That is the best way to enjoy and treasure photography and grow into your own niche. I like to learn about two dimensional design and using different rules to compose a photograph. Sometimes those rules are made to be broken too. But hitting the highway for a few weeks and exploring can be one of the best things you can do fr your photography!
If you want to capture those places where America’s history still lurks, give me a holler. I’ll take you around at no cost and show you what’s in my back yard. Every year a take off on the road for a month to explore the Southwest.
Nathan, that is such a generous offer and one that I just might take you up on…soon. I am exploring ways to spend more time on the road photographing and I know you are right–my photography would improve.
Thank you for sharing a little bit of your story. I am intrigued by someone who can create compelling images like the lone tree on the opening page of your web page without any workshops and few books. It is an idea that I am pondering so don’t be surprised if it shows up in a future blog post.
[...] some time with my little girl. Earlier this week, my friend in Vancouver, Sabrina, wrote about not leading her into temptation, be it gear or travel. (Sabrina, btw, WILL be a Sunday Focus…and soon. If I can just get her [...]