If you're nothing without the camera, you shouldn't have it.

Welcome to CONTAXSheet, a space where my inner and outer selves interact and I project my thoughts outward, attempting to articulate them in the best way possible. This is first of many and also some of these are rewrites of previous CONTAXsheets on my Instagram

As a photographer, I can talk endlessly about different camera models and their specifications. I'm sure many of my colleagues can do the same without hesitation. From XPAN to RB67 to Fuji GW690III and more, at some point in my career, I've had GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome), feeling special and accomplished when I acquire new tools for my trade rather than having that through the work itself.

At the end of the day, cameras are just tools and in most cases, they are expensive, blind, and plain stupid light-capturing boxes. A camera cannot take a photo to save itself. All it knows is how to capture light. It doesn't understand the concepts and techniques that we, the photographer, have developed and evolved over the past century or so.

In the words of Tony Stark, "If you're nothing without the suit, then you shouldn't have it." Similarly, if you're nothing without the camera, you shouldn't have it.

I recognise this and often need to snap myself out of my GAS and remember that I don't necessarily need the latest and greatest camera model. Having a Sony A7V, LeicaSL2, Hasselblad X2D, or Canon R6 would be mind-blowing, but for what purpose? Where is the purpose? These cameras are amazing technological masterpieces, but do they provide me with a purpose to continue and push forward with HOW I capture rather than what I capture?

To be fair, cameras are clever at a few things. They are superior when it comes to estimating light over humans.

When I previously wrote this I was still trying to figure out the purpose of my photography, and today I’m certain none of these cameras can help me achieve it.

I won’t be buying a Holga anytime soon but it’s still a good idea I think!