Digital BW, The Print

(snip)
"This led me to ask in a previous post what other
people felt contributed
most to the 'quality' of their images.  Among the
good advice there was some
great advice: that I may be focusing too much on
equipment.  Instead of
buying a LF camera I bought a Holga and relaxed."
(end snip)

Someone once said that the difference between
painters and photographers is that painters can
get together for more than 3 minutes without
talking about brushes.
The problem seems to be that photography is so
equipment intensive that "art" often takes a
backseat to "craft". I too, have joined the "Cult
of Plastic Cameras". Not that I don't use my
"real" cameras, because I do. But it's changed
the way I approach images. Not only is camera
technique out the window with plastic, but more
importantly, it's an exercise in letting go. The
image you thought the camera recorded and what
you actually get may bear no relationship to each
other. So much for pre-visualization. It's made
me more open to the surprises. 
I'm not suggesting that craft can be ignored,
because it can't. Even with plastic cameras, you
still need the skill to make a decent print, be
it silver or digital. The trick is finding that
middle ground where craft not only doesn't take
over but is subservient to the art and is only a
means to an end.

OK, for what it's worth, there's my 2 cents.
-Alan

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