The Geeky Tweaker Conundrum

(I've told the first story before. Apologies for repeating myself.)

Case 1: Tony G., a master mechanic, owns a gas station in a prosperous Wisconsin suburb. Zoning no longer permits gas stations but he's "grandfathered in." It's a very lucrative business. (According to rumor, Tony eventually retired on an impressively large yacht in balmier climes.)

Tony spent three years restoring and rebuilding a beautiful old British sports car at his garage. Since it was a labor of love, he lavished time, patience, and craftsmanship on the car. The resulting automobile is better than new, perfect even in out-of-sight details, concours-ready.

A year after the project is finished Tony has it out for one of his infrequent drives. He's motoring down a residential road feeling...not unhappy, but listless, distracted, unfulfilled. Distinctly not enjoying himself as much as he thinks he should be. Up ahead of him, a truck kicks up a small stone. It hits the windshield, and with a loud TOCK! a small pockmark appears in the glass.

Instantly, Tony's mood brightens. Oh, good, he thinks, I get to replace the windshield!

Soon after, the restored car is put up for sale.

Tony has realized that he likes restoration work better than he likes owning and driving a fully restored antique, and that finishing his masterpiece was not the beginning, but the end. He's bought a new project car, another British roadster in very rough shape and in serious need of his expert ministrations.

Case 2: Bob S., a small business owner with a fastidious streak. As his company has grown he's gotten richer and simultaneously less busy, because the company can now afford employees to whom he can delegate some of the work that consumed all his waking hours in his younger years. A child of the rock era, for three years he has devoted nights and weekends to building the perfect stereo system. He wants the best, at which point he intends to forget about it.

He compulsively reads reviews, haunts dealers, tries, buys, sells, and refines. Each step is a journey; it's not just the "right" components, it's how they interact.

Finally he's gotten to the point that he's satisfied. He has the perfect amp, the perfect preamp, the ideal speakers. He's spent thousands on wires. His listening room is festooned with strategically placed pads and acoustic foam. Everything is in balance. Everything works together. And he loves it. It sounds just the way he thinks music should sound.

Bob feels "happy" that he's "all done," but at the same time vaguely discontented. As he listens to music, he fidgets, sometimes thinking, is this all?

A year passes, and Bob reads a rave review of a new amp...and feels an urgent need to know how it sounds...and can't help buying one and inserting it in his system even though it throws his entire system out of whack and ruins all his previous careful auditioning, system-building, and shopping.

Several years later, only a few details of his original system remain. Shopping has permanently recommenced, and components migrate in and out of the house. And yet often, Bob pines for his original, "perfect" system, thinking why in the world did I ever get rid of that?

Case 3: K is a photographer.... 

Mike

Illustration: System owner unknown. Nothing to do with Bob S. The speakers are Genesis Advanced Technologies 2.2's, at US$99,000 only the second most expensive speakers in the Genesis line. Photo nabbed from a forum thread, provided by Gary L. Koh, Genesis CEO.

Original contents copyright 2012 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved. Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site.
A book of interest today:

(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)
Featured Comments from:

Craig: "Right, and the details of case 3 need not be described because we all know what K is doing. One thing that can be said, though, is that unless K is a huge Leica fan, he is probably spending a lot less in his relentless pursuit of the Perfect Camera than Bob or Tony in their respective obsessions. In a way this sort of stuff strikes me as stupid and wasteful, but on the other hand, it could be argued that keeping the money in circulation is better than just hoarding it. Tony, at least, finally came to the conclusion that his real joy was in restoring cars rather than just having them, so I'd say his pursuit of his obsession has led him to a greater degree of self-understanding, and his restoration work means that some nice old cars will once again be usable rather than just ending up in junkyards."

Andy: "I find it fascinating the way in which the desire to create manifests itself, whether it be creating an ideal sound system, or creating the sounds to play through others' systems. I guess in a way writers have it lucky, in that they don't need to buy expensive things in order to create. Ideally, neither would photographers, but we all know what happens there ;-) "

Mike replies: But writers need readers, and the search for an audience can be exhausting too....

Andrew Molitor: "Something I tend to lose sight of is that there is nothing wrong with doing this. I tend to yell at friends to stop buying new gear, and just go make some great photographs with what you have. This is kind of missing the point, and I try to rein myself in when I feel the urge to do this. With the emphasis on 'try' unfortunately. Some people genuinely take pleasure in the gear, some people take pleasure in the results, and some people enjoy both. Horses for courses, and we should all just try to get along!"

Rob: "I can't remember where I read it, or who even said it, but the phrase: 'Never ask a camera collector to show you his photographs' springs to mind more often than it should when browsing photography forums...."

David Dyer-Bennet: "I know one science fiction magazine collector who, shortly after completing his run of 'Amazing Stories' (I think, but anyway, one of the classic magazines) sold it and started over, because he figured out that it was the thrill of the chase that he really enjoyed. You probably even make a profit that way; a complete set sells for a premium to people who really know what they're getting, whereas he was finding individual issues in obscure little stores at low prices."

Robert Goldstein: "Both cases are examples of obsession, one healthy and the other unhealthy. In Case 1, the individual comes to the realization that he gains pleasure and fulfillment by a creative process and not by possession of material objects. In Case 2, the individual thinks that he will be made happy by possessing something rare and perfect, only to discover that he is not. Nevertheless, he continues his neverending quest for perfection. The analogies to how photographers relate to their craft and their gear could not be clearer. Case 2 is also an example of another truth: Perfect is the enemy of good."

Comments

[Del]

Hilarious, just what I needed about now. For a response, we now take you to Austin.

[Arthur]

I know this all too well. But take heart! There is a solution! It's called being broke.

[Richard]

Don't you mean "M is a photographer...."

[Bryce Lee]

Roadster restoration,
Musicologist madness,
Kamera Krazy.

Yep, it all fits!

Merrry Christmas...

a time for children and those who think they are still children, including the aforementioned three gentlemen of money!

[Gato]

Yep. Know the feeling, especially the first one. Been there with cars and camera systems.

Luckily I have reached a point where, for the most part, it is more about the pictures than the equipment. At the same time I had a major buying fit over the last month of so, a bit like the stereo story, where I decided to try out one new toy and that lead to an overhaul of the whole system.

[Chris]

You're not tired of your D800 already are you, Mike? ;-)

[Michael Eckstein]

Many audiophiles are also photographers. it's the same sickness looking for the perfect camera/lens combination or the perfect speaker/amp combination. But to tell you the truth, I've been through both and photography is more fun and music is more enjoyable.

[JBerardi]

Sounds like Tony has a healthy sense of self-awareness that Bob is lacking. Maybe Bob needs to start a new business in the high-end home stereo installation field...

[Andy]

I find it fascinating the way in which the desire to create manifests itself, whether it be creating an ideal sound system, or creating the sounds to play through others' systems.

I guess in a way writers have it lucky, in that they don't need to buy expensive things in order to create. Ideally, neither would photographers, but we all know what happens there ;)

[Paul P]

Has this got anything to do with a Nikon D800?

[Tom]

I feel for Kirk Tuck because I do the same things.

I just sold some Canon stuff to buy some Nikon stuff and I've promised myself to delete all forum and auction bookmarks.

I'll keep subscribing to TOP, as well as VSL.

[Nicholas Condon]

Case 3: K is a photographer who dumped all of her gear, bought one camera, three very good primes, and a half-decent midrange zoom for taking pictures of her kids on vacation. She uses the camera several times a week, loves working up photos to be "just right," posting them to her website, and sometimes having someone who knows what they're doing print a few of her favorites. She will probably buy a new body in a few years, if something strikes her fancy.

K is very happy with her hobby.

[Bruce]

So, what exactly are you trying to tell Kirk Tuck?

[Michel]

Mike, i don't see where you're going with this. Can you be more clear? I don't have a lot of time to figure it out. I have to go out to buy some SD cards for my newly arrived OM-D. ;-)

Michel

PS: nice book placement.

[Bob]

Mike,
I'm definitely K. I really enjoy trying new cameras and lenese. It costs me a few hundred a year and I use the equipment for at least a few months. In fact, I was getting ready to put my D600 and lenses up for sale this weekend. Then the "two day" sale was announced and the market for a used D600 collapsed and along with it a large chunk of my hobby funds which I greatly expanded for that purchase.

It used to bother me, this constant wanting the next new thing but I've accept it as a part of my photogrphic passion. Maybe someday the right (for me) camera will reach my hands and I'll keep it for a while. Or maybe my financial means will improve enough to have more than one system at a time.

This year I've bought and sold a Nikon V1, Olympus OMD, E-PM1, Sony RX100, NEX-5N, NEX-7 (there was a trade involved with the NEXes and I only had the 5N a few days). And the D600. Variuos lenses, bags, straps, and batteries also came and went.

When I either dislke a camera or something shinier comes along I start researching and comparing and scheming to distraction. My wife says that when I'm doing this I have COB. Camera on the brain.

I also feel my photography is improving.

Pretty sure I'll lose more on the D600 than I've "lost" on all my recent equipment trials put together. But I'm off this morning to handle a Fuji X-E1.

Bob

[PWP]

Many years ago I realized that I enjoyed operating a camera and experiencing the photographic process as much or more than I enjoyed the end photograph. I've made many satisfying pictures in my life and I love all of those, but I love cameras, too. I don't give a hoot about possession or ownership of equipment, but I crave the experience of learning and using different cameras as precision mechanical (electronic) devices. I'm the same way with cars, having owned fifty or so different ones during my 65 years. A lot of this is because I'm ADD and need the intellectual stimulation of constant change. I do admire those who can ignore the equipment and concentrate on the photograph alone, I'm just unable to do that!

[Manuel]

K is a photographer. Actually, he was a photographer (more on that later). It all started a few years ago, when he felt this urge to translate the way he used to see things into pictures. He had a good eye, but no knowledge of cameras or lenses; he thought digital cameras were all the same, it was all about 0s and 1s and pixels; so he bought a little Canon Ixus and at the start it was exciting: he was actually photographing, thus fulfilling his need for creativity.
Then he started reading articles in photography websites. He looked at his photos, and then he looked at the photos people published on said websites and thought: "God, my pictures suck".
And then he delved some more into those websites. He blamed the little Ixus as he got information on noise and dynamic range issues. Soon he was buying an entry-level DSLR with kit lens, but it wasn't just right. One year later he upgraded again. His pictures were becoming more technical, devoid of emotional content, but he went on and, after some more readings, bought Photoshop Cs. Later on it was time for another upgrade: there was just not enough resolution. And it was time for some "serious glass", too. He bought a full-frame camera and three top-drawer lenses.
His enthusiasm for photography was dwindling, however. He couldn't look at the pictures he posted on 500px anymore - they were meaningless, had no expression or emotional content. He realized his best pictures were the ones he took with the little Canon Ixus. They were noisy, highlights were blown and there wasn't too much in the way of detail - but those pictures actually meant something to himself. Disheartened, he sold all his gear for one tenth of what he had spent on it. He never photographed again.

[Steve L]

A lot of people probably discover that it's easier to buy gear than it is to take good photos - provided you have the funds to support this pursuit, of course. Personally, I find myself in a number of states of mind at various different times: 1) Photographer, 2) Gear Head, 3) Computer/Software Geek. The ability of photography to satisfy all 3 of these interests at different (or the same) times is why I enjoy it so much. Who am I to judge what makes someone else happy.

[Bob]

Update: After I posted my comment I received an email from B&H about the Nikon V1 two lens kit on sale for $399. That's crazy cheap for such a fun little outfit. I used your link and bought it. Now I'm not as upset with Nikon. It's almost like we're even.

[Kenneth Tanaka]

K is a photographer who has documented the ongoing gyrations and permutations of Tony G. and Bob S. for nearly 15 years. K's upcoming photo-essay book, "Guys, Lies, and Stuff", will be published by OCD Press in Spring, 2013.

[Jeff]

The difference here for me is that I unfortunately can't create (or play) my own music; my sound system exists solely to listen to others' music, regardless how its creator might have intended it to be heard. With the camera gear, though, I can produce my own work, and I get to decide how it should look and whether the instruments used are satisfactory and pleasurable in the process.

[Richard Tugwell]

Craig: "One thing that can be said, though, is that unless K is a huge Leica fan, he is probably spending a lot less in his relentless pursuit of the Perfect Camera...."

I have a friend who has just totted up the amount they have spent on camara upgrades, crossgrades, "next new thing" etc. in the last few years. Would've been cheaper buying an M9

[Softie]

I was almost Tony. I started printing for other people in my home darkroom, because of the pleasure of pulling the right print from a completely new negative. It always felt like a critical function, like rendering a reading or a view on a new, half-formed thing.

It still seems attractive to me, but I became disenchanted with it: if you gave someone options, they always chose the print with more contrast, even if it had no subtlety. Maybe when no commercial labs prints silver gelatin anymore I'll start doing it again for other people.

As far a being a gear hound, I buy new stuff when it breaks, which is often enough.

[Eric Rose]

Mike thanks for the link to the stereo gear forum. Wow has speaker design changed since I was into audiophile stuff! When I quit chasing he dragon The Absolute Sound Magazine was still and "underground" magazine.

As far as photography is concerned I really don't obsess over gear. I am just as happy using a Nikon D800e as I am a Leica Monochrom.

[Bear.]

Life is about the getting not the having - spouses and children excepted.