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Photographer’s envy

One of the worst things I find myself falling victim to is what I like to call "Photographer's Envy". It's similar to road rage where everyone else on the road that is faster or slower than you is an idiot (and never you), except now it's in terms of gear or what pictures they can pull off.

How do you know if you've got Photographer's Envy, or PE? (Sarcasm alert!)

1. You compare the size of your, er, equipment. Anyone that shoots with a kit lens is obviously inferior and without a clue. Of course, those guys shooting with expensive red-ringed gear just have too much bloody money and probably don't know how to use it, right? Of course.

2. You pixel peep to make yourself feel better. At first glance you might think, "Wow. Fantastic shot!" but hey, they have similar equipment! Better check out the rest of their EXIF data. Oh yeah, they so could have lowered their ISO here. Look at all that grain! Yup, I could've done better.

3. You forget your roots. Those guys with the consumer lenses and anything that doesn't say Canon or Nikon are misguided, misinformed and, well, a mistake. They still take great photos? Well, that must've been a fluke, a mistake. They just happen to do it all the time. Yes. That must be it. Maybe they're just copying the "rest of us".

4. You blame your equipment. The only reason pro-photographers get such good pictures is because they have enough money to buy equipment that pretty much takes the photo for them. I mean, these days with technology, it won't be long before they'll automate pressing the button. If we all had their equipment, we'd be pros too!

5. You don't actually shoot anything. Of course people that shoot a lot get good photos. I mean, shooting thousands of frames a day, they're bound to have at least one "keeper" in there somewhere, right? Who wants to carry their camera around with them and be ready to capture that unrepeatable moment? If we all did that we'd be super-pros!

If any of these relate to you, don't fret - it's quite normal. I think at some stage or another, everyone experiences a twinge of PE, even if mildly. Then again, road rage is apparently quite normal too, until you run someone off the road. Just know, I feel your pain.

Now stop taking better pictures than me!

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