motivations

The revived interest in my online space coincided with (and has been propelled by) a recent new purchase. I got a small Fujifilm camera (an X-T30III) which is scratching an itch I had for a long time: being able to achieve great photographic quality with something that can fit in a jacket pocket or, if not, hang around my neck with very little discomfort.

Stepping back just a little. I do love my Nikon D700, it has been my first fullframe (after film cameras, the OG fullframes), and it has given me great joys. But its weight has meant leaving it at home far too often and far more than I would have liked to. Consistency is the key to building a habit and achieving longevity, and leaving the “main” camera at home once, twice, five, ten times, while lazily taking more and more photos with the phone, created a path that took me out of photography for a solid 2-3 years.

It is a delicate topic the one of “thirst for the new gadget” vs “actually getting things done with the tools you have”. I think any creator can easily get seduced by the promises of the new shiny toy while post-poning what can be done right now with the available means. That said, there are practical factors to take into consideration and the jump from a tool made for professional use in 2012 to a delight-giving little marvel created in 2025 cannot be ignored. I plan to talk a bit more about the Fujifilm camera another time, but for it suffices to say that marvel is not a euphemism.

Also, a sane dose of guilt for a purchase can be a powerful motivator and I would argue it can be the right way to direct the energy towards good outcomes