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Last Updated 23rd March 2014
There is a darker side to photography in the 21st century and it
could affect you or your children, especially if they are just starting out.
The world has come a long way from
the days when a young person who is
taking up the hobby of photography walks into a local store for advice
and spends their hard earned savings on a camera. Today the dark side
exists, a dark side that every
photographer should be aware of and especially those who regard
photography as a hobby. The dark side can draw you in very quickly and
it usually commences
when you are seeking
information and perhaps advice
on purchasing a new camera - sadly it starts on a home computer.
Many people call themselves photographers and for the professional who
is earning money from the profession the term 'photographer' is correct,
 even if their work is of a poor standard. However the person who is a
hobbyist may call themselves a photographer but may be far removed from
that analysis. The hobbyist may start out with good intentions of
becoming a photographer but is led away into a different direction, even
an established photographer can be led down that same dark path. Invariably
a photographer's quest for information on cameras and lenses leads
them to the internet and inevitably they end up visiting review sites and photographic
equipment (gear) forums to decide
on what
gear to purchase.
A gear forum or a review site with an inner gear forum or comments
section and often with direct links to suppliers is a 'honey trap' which is designed ONLY to draw in
potential customers, to promote the sale of
photographic products and to receive advertising revenue including click/link commissions from suppliers.
It is primarily a social website and encourages discussion and debate on
cameras and lenses.
It may appear to be a good source of information and in fairness, some
are excellent. However, a photographer's
interaction in gear forum
discussions
and even the comments section can lead, in a large number of
cases, to a deep desire to be recognised within the forum social group. This
interaction can lead to the photographer actually sacrificing their true
direction and forward development in their photography to follow the
social side and interests of the
forum. Staying indoors, to post and pass comments can become addictive
and can lead to anxiety and even depression, especially if there is an
inner circle of 'good buddies' that you are somehow excluded from
joining.
Is the
'Purism in Photography'
lost when you become distracted by gear and
photographic forums; is it wise to devote so much time to reading
up about cameras and lenses and to participate in endless discussions on Facebook and Twitter regarding gear? How many photographers become
distracted and even lose direction and development through continually
changing their camera system in their pursuit of 'acceptance' amongst
forum members? Is the elaborate post processing by dodging, burning and
layering of your chosen image for forum submission worth the time and
effort for that one day of fame or even regurgitated in black and white
for a further submission? Recognition of your photography and your
skills as a photographer can prove a fickle pursuit and dilute the
'purism' of the vocation.
This infatuation with forum posts often reaches it's most rampant form with the announcement of new
cameras or lenses and there is invariably a rush by some members to
pre-order a new camera or lens and to write a mini-review regarding it's
use thereof. A photographer will reach the darkest level in a gear forum
when they suffer from 'gear acquisition syndrome' (GAS) and in the advanced stages,
will purchase a new camera or lens simply to remain one of the herd. A
(GAS) sufferer will even jump
forums and purchase a new camera akin to the new forum, simply to become recognised
within a new social group and quite often pass remarks about how bad the
previous forum group
were in their debates
and their analysis of the camera equipment they used.
Gear Acquisition Syndrome (GAS) is a very serious condition where a
photographer habitually becomes 'hooked' on purchasing new photographic
camera and lens equipment. It should not be confused with a person who
has genuinely used a camera for a number of years and is seeking to
purchase a new camera with the latest technology.
The GAS sufferer receives no sympathy from the members of the gear
forums or the owners of those businesses who are in the business of
drawing people to their websites. The business reviews on gear are designed to
appeal, to encourage discussion, debate and to maintain an interest
within social forums that suck in the potential purchaser of the next
new camera or lens for their sponsors. Every review site with a comments
section is doing exactly the same thing! It's a bit like drawing a mug
to the gambling table, handing out free chips and then sitting back and
watching him become a gambling addict who eventually loses (spends) a lot of money.
The GAS sufferer is no different, he thinks that he gets social standing
and the gear forum and the business reviews encourage him to purchase more gear! If you pay close
attention to some gear forums, you will discover an army of moderators
standing by to shutdown and remove or lock any post on a camera or lens that may offend a
manufacturer or a supplier or sway the buying decision of a potential
purchaser.
A GAS sufferer is not just any regular poster on a gear forum, a GAS
sufferer is purchasing cameras and lenses on a regular basis. They may
be selling them on and purchasing more but nevertheless there is a
serious problem.
GAS sufferers are not dissimilar to gamers, drug addicts, gamblers,
alcoholics, Facebook and Twitter addicts and dare I say even bloggers
who write for no financial or fathomable reason other than to interact
within a social 'cyberspace' group and draw in subscribers on the internet. Each
faces the stark reality that their addiction brings them no solace, no
real recognition and to a certain extent consumes their time, effort and
their life as well as adding financial stress.
Photography blogging, especially regarding 'gear' is perhaps the
greatest threat to improving and establishing your skills as a
photographer.
It can start out innocently enough with a comment or a small review on a
camera or lens and quickly become a 'full blown' addiction. The
blogger's perception is that they are creating a
social 'cyberspace' group and their subscribers on the internet
are genuinely interested in following their site. The need to blog
becomes overwhelming and if there is no vocation or financial reward driving it forward, the motivation
is invariably one of seeking recognition. In old age, especially a person
who is infirm and unable to leave the house then blogging is
understandable but in a young person who is fit and healthy it is a
waste! The photographer becomes a blogger and photography takes a
backseat.
You very rarely read or hear
about a professional photographer that
suffers from habitual posting, gear acquisition syndrome or blogging as
they are far to busy making money and living their life. If they do interact in a post or a
comment it could be because there is a financial hook somewhere and
usually they are either promoting their website or acting on behalf of a
third party who kickbacks a percentage to them! A professional blogger
(including video reviewers) is usually working for a camera
manufacturer, a supplier or as an individual they have their own website
which
is designed to draw in punters, to plea for donations to support their
review work and to receive advertising revenue including click/links to
suppliers with a commission per click.
So to conclude and for peace of mind, when you are considering
purchasing a new camera, lens or perhaps after a few years upgrading
your old one, read the internet reviews and browse the posts in the gear
forums but interact only if you can avoid the darker side!
"I'm joking, although it is true, anyway have a good one"
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