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[JMPerona]

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It's not the camera: it's me.

Background: I've got the dream camera: the Leica M11. I went out today in the gray, boring dark Sweden winter weather and took okayish pictures. Then I began wondering what I've done. I took the same kind of pictures with my old x-pro2 for a fraction of the price (€5000 less). I'm a little tired of changing systems of thinking that the camera is the problem. I have my dream camera already, all paid. Why can't I be happy? What should I do?

[Tux4711]

I don't use a Leica M because it takes better photos than other cameras. For me, the basic requirement for using a camera is that it produces high-quality images. Because it's not about the camera; it's about photography. I use a Leica M because it makes photography more enjoyable for me: slow, manual, full control, high awareness, and concentration. For me, it's a conscious decision to use this type of camera, independently of what photos I take.

The other thing is photography. It's my hobby, my passion, a way for me to express myself and a balance to the rest of my life. From this perspective, the Leica M is the perfect tool for me.

Maybe you should ask yourself why you take photos, what photography gives you, and what role the camera actually plays in this context. The more you engage with photography and its meaning for you, the less important the equipment becomes. Just my two cents.

[Tseg]

Time to read and watch You Tube videos about photography technique and editing vs. equipment, I guess.   But more importantly, go out and take more pictures.

Today, most equipment can make very good image quality and decent dynamic range.  I use my equipment to motivate me to go out.   It was not until I heard stories about "the great" photographers of old that it finally clicked for me.   Many of them went to the same settings for months or years, taking thousands of photos.   Then they edited and culled them down to a few handfuls and produced them and everyone oooohd and aaaaahd over their result.   

In summary, if you take 1 photo with any camera there is a very high probability it will be pretty crappy.

[jaapv]

Go into town in the evening (got plenty of it in Sweden at this time of year. ) Photograph the lights, the shiny roads, people going about their pre-Christmas stuff, whatever. Foggy leafless forest and so on…Step out of your usual photographic habits.  

[jakontil]

I got the M because i choose the M to go out and shoot 

that is the camera that makes me go out everytime

[PhotoCruiser]

vor 44 Minuten schrieb JMPerona:

What should I do?

Next time you buy a expensive camera then rent it for a few days and go there where you can take photos you usually take to be able to throughly test the camera under known conditions, it's wise invested money.
Don't be afraid to accept that another brand feels better and excite your lust for experimenting or just shoot what you usually do with the new camera .
Grey, cold winter days are not very exciting for me too, you may wait till a sunny day comes, or as suggested by jaapv, use the colours of then night, xmas decorations and happy faces in the town/city and you will see that your fotos will look better to you.
Chris
 

[Eoin]

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3 hours ago, JMPerona said:

What should I do?

Trust me... it's you, not the camera🤭.

Seriously though, grey boring dark days are not generally conducive to good looking photos.
In times of artistic drought, set yourself a themed project, concentrating on a subject matter that is omnipresent in your general environment.
Personally I find that more fun and challenging than just taking the camera on an aimless walk.

Any camera can take a good image, There are many reasons why people choose one type of camera & lenses over another, The beauty of the M for me is that I grew up using my Dad's Leicas, I learnt photography on them in a manual way and when I am in that mindset, I enjoy the whole manual and tactile experience of using M cameras and lenses.

That being said, it's not my only camera system and I often switch depending on the situation I find myself in.

Don't loose the faith, the Christmas season is upon us (fairy lights, though mainly LED now), plenty of wet days (reflections) and crowds on the high streets, you have a costless roll of film loaded, shoot & shoot some more. Be ruthless in the cull and if you get a few good shots, spend some time in post processing to "lift" the image to your desired results.
Start downloading, or creating your own presets to enhance your raws, out of camera they need work to coax the best from the image. Shoot Jpeg at the same time just for a reference.  

Lastly... I think this is important, display your photographic results in your home, on the walls, screen savers or picture frame TV, it can be a conversation starter that builds confidence in your work and abilities. If you're not having fun... you're doing it wrong😉. 

 

[steve edmunds]

what you need is a hasselblad then everything will be fine maybe???

[Elliot Harper]

You need to move to somewhere lower latitude.

No camera will make you happen if you live in Sweden.

Edited 2 hours ago by Elliot Harper

[earleygallery]

5 hours ago, JMPerona said:

Why can't I be happy? What should I do?

Concentrate on your photography, you know, the photos. Stop thinking about the gear.