I think you are trying to say that Digital has made you a better
photographer because of the immediate feedback you get. So you can
learn the effects your settings - faster.
So, based upon your above, better equipment will help a person become a better photographer.
My point is that I think some of biggest challenges of cheap lens, cheap > flash, cheap body force you to learn how to make the best pictures.
I haven't a clue who filled your head with that sort of pond water.
Having a degree in Professional Photography, I've been through the training drills. There's a difference between using quality basic equipment to learn the basics of exposure and lighting as opposed to frustrating yourself with equipment that won't do the job because of inexpensive or limited design.
It's okay to assume and the assumption being made when comments about equipment are made is that a PHOTOGRAPHERS is buying the equipment as opposed to Grandma buying the equipment to take shots of her Grandchildren.
People that repeat and support these sorts of comments, to me, have chained their minds because some pseudo intellectual said that "Better equipment won't make a better photographer." Therefore, why buy the equipment, it's not going to help me improve.
Balderdash!
Buying better equipment will help image quality. Better printers will give better prints. A better computer and post-processing programs will allow for more digital-darkroom manipulation. All will help create higher quality final prints making for a better photographer.
Are you really saying that better equipment won't help a person with their composition? Are you really saying that better equipment won't help a person evaluate and understand the complexities of dynamic range of exposure? Are you really saying that better equipment won't help a person ferret out interesting images? Are you really saying that people don't have a chance of improving?
But won't better equipment encourage a person to go out and try and isn't that what it's all about?
So what I'm reading in this flawed comment is, in a studio, don't bother getting better lighting equipment because you'll just be wasting your time. You won't learn anything with this new lighting equipment and learning won't help you get better lighting. You're a loser and you'll always be a loser. Don't get the better lenses. Why? Image quality doesn't matter. You're a loser and your photographs really, really blow and you shouldn't use better lenses as a vehicle in your attempts to improve.
The way I read the better equipment quote is that the general person is just a pathetic excuse for a photographer and shouldn't even be allowed to look at images of better equipment because they'll never be a better photographer until they've mastered badly/cheaply designed equipment.
We're talking pond water here. And then the egotist makes their philosophical comment which really is another way of saying "Oh and by the way, step aside looser and let someone that knows how to capture images by so they can do their God given job of photographing this building." Well, I think the guys comment should cause him to lose his humbleness badge
Better equipment will help a person become a better photographer because it will encourage them to go out and take more images and learn from their mistakes. Everybody has admitted it in a backhanded way by pointing out that better equipment can improve image quality and that new equipment will encourage a person to get out and try.
Isn't that what it's all about..... trying.
