Have you bought anything that made you a better photographer

[hrstrat57]

Nikon D300 and D700 with Nikon AF-S = the hit rate on action shots blows me away....it is really hard to miss a shot.....esp with Nikkor AF D 80-200 f 2.8 doing the tracking.

This gear is sooo good sometimes it is hard to believe.

Maybe it is more like target shooting than the actual old school (1959 Nikon F with no light meter) photography I grew up shooting.

 

[Eduard]

Upgrading froma D70s to the D300 as soon as it was announced and then attending a Nikonians 2 day Mastering the D300 class totally transformed my ability to capture images that I wanted. Adding the 17-55mm to the mix was the icing on the cake. I used that as a base for my kit for about 6 years.

 

[wev]

Seriously? Those of us who have followed your work already think of you as one of the better photographers on this forum. I would give a great deal to reach your level of profiency. But feel free to continue to improve.

Thank you, @RON. I feel I take way too many shots and rely too much on luck, shooting by instinct. At least I am persistent, so who knows what will develop over time?

 

[Marcel]

For me, the improved split focusing screens with fresnel have improved my shots with my manual focus lenses tremendously. I've replace the focusing screens on all my Nikons except the D90 that I've sold. The 700, 7000 and Df all have focusing screens that I can use with manual focus lenses. Before them, it was just hope for the best, specially with the 1.4 85mm and 1.2 55 mm lenses.

 

[Blacktop]

Taking a baseball bat to my hot shoe flash has made me a happier ,calmer and therefore a better photographer. (I didn't really take a baseball bat to my hot shoe flash, but it is collecting dust on the shelf)

 

[mikew_RIP]

So looking through the answers buying something new (if its the right something)can open your eyes or make you work harder to utilize it fully,this in turn can let you create better images,i will avoid saying make you a better photographer but its looking a bit like it certainly could help.
I could after seeing the answers have expanded on the question by splitting it into three areas,Education,PP programs or equipment.

 

[Prefrosh01]

I'm still in the learning phase and the one thing that has helped me the most so far is a book recommendation I found on these forums...Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson. I am almost through with the book and topics that I didn't fully grasp before now make total sense.

The other thing was not a purchase, but joining these forums and coming here daily. The amount I have learned is amazing and they provide inspiration. I hope to enter one of the Weekly Photo Contests at some point in the near future!

 

[sonicbuffalo_RIP]

lynda.com has helped me become a better photographer. Not an end all, but it definitely sheds new light.

 

[skater]

For us, it was the classes and practice.

But new gear has allowed us to do things that we hadn't been able to in the past. For example, aircraft and other large objects in museums were extremely hard to photograph if we wanted the entire thing in it (the Concorde in the Smithsonian's National Air & Space Museum is a good example - it's difficult to get a good angle, far enough away, that you can get the entire plane with the usual walkaround 18-105). But the Tokina 11-16 wide angle lens gives us shots that weren't possible before.

 

[Horoscope Fish]

Maybe I'm just being pedantic, but while I'm willing to concede a correlation, perhaps, with new, or upgraded gear and better photography but only because that new gear is facilitating new, creative experiences, or providing us with a different perspective and that, in turn, is what truly improves our photography. IMO, there's still a critical difference summed up in that old saw about it not being the tool, but the hand of the Master. The tool can aid what is inherently there, and looking to be improved (!), but the tool itself, again, is simply the facilitator of our creative impulse. Could I not say if not for my car taking me to cool locations to shoot I wouldn't have some of my better shots? But how many of us give credit to our cars for making us better photographers?

I'm not trying to sound argumentative, these are just some of my thought's on the matter.
...

 

[mikew_RIP]

Maybe I'm just being pedantic, but while I'm willing to concede a correlation, perhaps, with new, or upgraded gear and better photography but only because that new gear is facilitatating new, creative experiences, or providing us with a different perspective and that, in turn, is what truly improves our photography. IMO, there's still a critical difference summed up in that old saw about it not being the tool, but the hand of the Master. The tool can aid what is inherently there, and looking to be improved (!), but the tool itself, again, is simply the facilitator of our creative impulse. Could I not say if not for my car taking me to cool locations to shoot I wouldn't have some of my better shots? But how many of us give credit to our cars for making us better photographers?

I'm not trying to sound argumentative, these are just some of my thought's on the matter.
...

I think that is the trend that is showing,many people have said new gear has opened up new doors and pushes there creativity to new heights.

 

[Horoscope Fish]

I think that is the trend that is showing, many people have said new gear has opened up new doors and pushes there creativity to new heights.

And I guess that's my point: Opening a door is one thing, which I believe new gear can do; but I don't think the gear is doing any pushing. Facilitating, yes. Pushing, no.

I also think it's easy to confuse correlation with causation.

Just my take.
....

 

[mikew_RIP]

And I guess that's my point: Opening a door is one thing, which I believe new gear can do; but I don't think the gear is doing any pushing. Facilitating, yes. Pushing, no.

I also think it's easy to confuse correlation with causation.

Just my take.
....

I think i could have worded that better,pushing was the wrong word to use there.

 

[Pretzel]

*SNARK ON*

--Author's note: I've been thinking this for a while, every time I see this thread, but I held back on saying it until I posted my real answer and gave opportunity for more useful conversation to occur. Today, though, I just HAD to throw it out here before I burst from holding this "inner chuckle" all to myself... My apologies if you are offended in any way.--

I made a donation to Ken Rockwell, and ever since, my pictures have been AMAZING!

*SNARK OFF*

edit: also, no offense intended to Mr. Rockwell either, if he happens to have a search crawler or something similar. I don't know him personally, but I'm sure he's a nice guy. I throw out my snarks just because I know there are those who have angst in general with the guy, and it spurs some funny comments. I, personally, have looked over his reviews and taken them into consideration alongside many other sources. End disclaimer. Cheers. Have a beer. No animals were harmed during the creation of this edit. Habeus Corpus.

 

[Lradke]

The only thing that I may have bought to make me a better photographer was a cheap 99¢ remote for my camera, for when I take long exposures. Aside from that any gear simply enhances my photos.

What has helped me the most was the years of photography I took in junior high and high school. When I had to load and develop my own negatives and then develop photos. The theory learned in those classes, and experience with vintage manual cameras in invaluable. In today's work I could simply throw the camera into Auto mode and go from there, even if I do that...the understanding of light meters, white balance, ISO, apertures, shutter speed, etc. is where the true value (for me) is. Better equipment (for me) just makes the dream shots a reality.

Sent from my SGH-I337M using Tapatalk

 

[Horoscope Fish]

​

*SNARK ON*
...
*SNARK OFF*

 

[Lawrence]

Heaps of stuff ...

Books, books and books
Remote control
Tripod.
Speedlights (have made a huge difference)

Prime lenses - no doubt the ability to utilise DoF improved my images
LightRoom and PhotoShop

And still buying ...and improving

 

[Blade Canyon]

Taking classes and watching the B&H Photo Youtube videos has certainly helped. For equipment, however, getting a real Speedlight made a HUGE difference in taking people pictures. First, I realized that great light really helps with great photos. Second, being able to turn the flash head and bounce the flash off the ceiling, the side wall, or even the wall behind me has made party "snapshots" so much better. Here are some from our Christmas party last year, plus a multi-light shot of some watches. They may not look like much compared to the pros, but if you were to compare these to a phone pic or the built in flash, or to my pictures from before Speedlights, these are worlds better.

 

[Blade Canyon]

I made a donation to Ken Rockwell, and ever since, my pictures have been AMAZING!

You didn't have to defend yourself for that. It's funny.

That said, I do like his product reviews, so whenever I buy anything from Amazon or Adorama (even stuff that's not photo related), I go to KR's website and use his links so he gets a little credit. Doesn't cost me anything, and his website is a good resource, especially about older used equipment.

 

[Bob Blaylock]

Simple question,ime [sic] sure many still feel new gear will make them better photographers,i guess something you have purchased opening your eyes to new possibility's [sic] could loosely be considered a yes,your thoughts please.

anything you bought made you a better photographer

I've bought a number of cameras over all the years.

I have to say that having even one camera makes me a much better photographer than I'd be if I didn't have any camera at all.