Gear avoidance syndrome
While reading different blogs on street photography I came across an interesting article orginally by Marius Vieth and Martin Dietrich on a mental attitude they call “gear avoidance syndrome“. Most certainly other photography blogs thoroughly discussed this topic as well.
The opposite of this mental attitude is the “gear acquisition syndrome” and I think this is something every passionate and ambitious photography enthusiast already experienced. It’s the incessant and subliminal presumption that a new camera, new lens or any other shiny new piece of camera gear will give you more options to capture vivid moments and as a result improve your photography. And isn’t it a good feeling to know that you can choose from a huge variety of lenses, camera bodies and additional equipment that you carry with you in your backpack? At least I had my personal experience with both, the “gear acquisition syndrome” and the “gear avoidance syndrome”.
My experience with “gear acquisition syndrome”
I started with a snapshot camera in 2003 and progressed rapidly, buying a beginners DSLR, spending money on additional zoom lenses, fixed focal-length lenses, flash, tripod, monopod and additional equipment. At first I put all my camera gear in a shoulder-bag that very soon became to small for all my stuff. It was then replaced by a bigger bagpack. But already after a short time I started to feel limited by my entry-level DSLR. When I picked it up I had the sensation that this camera was not offering all the options that would be necessary to further enhance my pictures and develop my personal style. So I finally got myself a semi-professional DSLR and the whole story of replacing lenses – now buying the more advanced ones – started all over. And this story does not even include my side trip to analogue photography with a borrowed Nikon FM2. So I finally ended up with a lot of gear, less money in my wallet and was still not satisfied.
But why wasn’t I perfectly satisfied with all this gear and the opportunities it offered? The reason is simple: I obviously just had too many choices. Vieth and Dietrich in their article correspondent to the “analysis paralysis” and the “paradox of choice“. The “analysis paralysis” refers to over-analysing a situation, especially with too many detailed options at hand. Rather than making a simple choice you try to seek the perfect solution but end up with an erroneous outcome. By reducing photography to the technical part the true aspect of it – composition, exposure, lighting, capturing the moment – has taken a back seat. Instead of refering to the “paradox of choice” – basically a description on consumer behaviour – I rather mention “choice overload“. It simply describes that people have trouble making decisions when faced with too many options and that a lower number of choices leads to a higher satisfaction and reduced regret. In photography terms and a more practical example this means: I take a photo-walk with a lot of gear in my backpack, constantly thinking whether I am using the right camera and lens to capture a particular moment. But with so many choices at hand I am over-analysing the situation instead of just capturing moments and seeing photography as what it is: art. I finally end up with mediocre shots on my memory card.
My experience with “gear avoidance syndrome”
At some point I finally realised that all those options and carrying this heavy backpack was exactly the reason why I was not enjoying photography that much any more. I was taking pictures that were fairly okay in technical terms but I was not developing my personal style. I wasn’t even aware which type of photography I was mostly interested. It was that time that I realised that the pictures that I liked the most where those of strangers passing on the street. I started to sell my camera equipment, reducing my equipment to only one DSLR camera body and one fixed focal-length lens. Since those days nearly three years ago the only camera I owned was a Canon EOS 7D and a 50mm f/1.4 (75mm full-frame equivalent) with a really nice and smooth bokeh. To make it three I also owned a flash that has been already useful in many non-street-photography situations and that I just couldn’t stand to sell.
Not being spoilt for choice made me instantly happier and I have never regretted to have less equipment. My mind was finally free to return to the essence of photography: capturing moments on the streets. Of course there are still technicalities involved – aperture, exposure, lighting – but with only one lens you focus on different things than before. Rather than taking mediocre pictures like before I now put more emphasis on those things that I can influence without a change of the lens, e.g. composition and design. After I spent so much time taking pictures with this camera and this single lens my camera nearly feels like an extension of my arm. And this is just the start of my personal journey with still a very long way to go – after all I am still just a photography enthusiast and not an expert or professional. I just know for sure that rather than buying additional gear I will replace it and keep the number of choices down to one.
My resumé
Of course a lot of people seem to be happier with a lot of gear and more choices. And it also totally depends on the type or types of photography you are into. I also still like to read camera reviews and do the tech talk. But the difference to my former self is that I now would only replace and not increase my gear and the subsequent choices. In the end I switched my camera again as I felt the Canon 7D was too bulky and intrusive but kept my gear at the same level: one body, one prime lens and a flash. If you are someone who already owns – or your type of photography makes you own a lot of gear – I just recommend the following: consider to take a single camera and a single lens on a photo walk. You will still think about a certain lens you could have used in a particular situation but the choice is gone. This way your gear at home won’t distract you the same way as if having all your gear with you. And next time, you can use that particular lens you missed so much on your prior walk.
