I was discussing being a photographer with a friend the other day. Our exchange made me realise that there are certain things that I take for granted that other people might find excessive. As the Dutch expression "doe maar normaal, dan doe je al gek genoeg" or "just be yourself, that's crazy enough" goes, well, I guess it's too late for that. Without going extensively into what exactly normal or natural is I will assume for now that is it normal or natural for one person to own one proper camera or even just a mobile device to take pictures with. And there is nothing wrong with that.
However, as a photographer I don't want te rely on just one camera. I need to have a backup camera for contingenties and I want to be able to use different formats, be it digital or film. A camera is a tool, certainly, but there are different tools for different jobs and I want tools to fit my needs when I have a certain look or composition in mind. Modern digital cameras can do a lot but I can't help but feel that these all-rounders are like the expression "Van vele markten thuis, maar nergens een meester" of "Jack of all trades, master of none". I want specialist equipment. So instead of owning one, two, or even three cameras I own about ten that I regularly use and about twenty more for special projects. These range from top of the bill digital medium format cameras to simple forty year old single-lens-reflex cameras that still use film. Doe maar normaal? Muhahaha!
So, what else does being a photographer mean? Well, I live in my cameras' apartment for one thing. Guess who lives in the master's bedroom and who uses the spare room. Exactly! In addition to that, cameras haunt your dreams. When you're dreaming about the perfect picture they make sure you stop thinking about the composition and start to worry about what camera to use. Furthermore, they want to increase their numbers. Just when you think you've got enough cameras they somehow convince you to buy another one. This one is special, they would whisper. This one is nice. And before you know it, you're in the camera shop again.
When you enter the shop, the mood of the salesperson behind the counter improves markedly. She meets you with a beaming smile. She knows what is going to happen. Somehow I suspect that she is into it as well. She must have a secret connection with my cameras. After your purchase, your bank sheet is so red it looks like a violent horror scene but you don't care. Happy with your latest buy you get into your old Volvo. As you are leaving the parking lot, you notice a brand new sports car. Business is going well you think, before your thoughts return to your new camera.
So far, I've managed to stay out of trouble. After obtaining the one camera that rules them all in 2024 I really thought that'd be it. I never visited a camera shop again and I managed to visit the Doesburg outdoors photography market last year without adding a single camera to my collection. A proud achievement. But that was until last weekend.
