If You Need More Than One Lens, You’re Not a Photographer!

I first heard this statement in an interview with Clyde Butcher, famed large format landscape photographer, and of course thought, “Wait a minute, I own 15 lenses, what does that make me—a hack?” but then I cruised over to Clyde’s website, www.clydebutcher.com, and saw that he owns 16 lenses and 6 cameras – aha! 

But even if Clyde’s statement seems a contradiction to his actions, his point is valid nonetheless. Many photographers simply have too much gear and they do not use what they own to its full potential. In particular, I find that zoom lenses are really misused—they are either zoomed all the way in or all the way out!The point here is that photographers should know the capabilities of their lenses intimately. And there is no better way to learn what your lenses can do than by leaving all your glass at home and just taking one lens out each time you go shooting. 

Trust me, taking only one lens out on a photo shoot is scary. All you seem to do is limit your options. If you take a wide-angle zoom, then wildlife appears everywhere posed in perfect light and waiting for you to dig out that telephoto lens that you left behind! If you take a macro lens, then every flower and bug in the universe has gone extinct! During your first few outings, all you see are opportunities missed. You will long for a bag full of lenses! “Curse you Wiggett, what a stupid idea!” 

But after a few outings you begin to understand how the lens you have sees the world, and suddenly opportunities for photos appear everywhere. It’s surprising how creative one becomes when using a single lens. You’ll try things that seem counterintuitive like flower close-ups with a wide-angle lens or landscapes with a super telephoto lens. You just might push and explore, and your results will be exciting and fresh. 

A side benefit of a single camera with one lens is that you’ll have tonnes of energy. Rather than being a pack mule, you’ll become a ‘creative stallion’. The more energy you have, the more creative you will be – the world is your pasture! 

Some photographers have made a career with one lens. For example, Henri Cartier-Bresson, the French Master of the “decisive moment”, photographed almost exclusively with a 50mm lens on his Leica. Rather than limiting his view of the world, using one lens opened up greater possibilities for him. Cartier-Bresson instinctively knew how the 50mm saw the world and he took this knowledge and made images that have stood the test of time. A bag full of gear and an arsenal of lenses would have been a hindrance to the creativity of Cartier-Bresson. It’s not the gear you have; it’s how you use it. 

I challenge you to go out with one lens, learn see as it sees, and let its view guide your vision. In the end, you will be a better photographer for it. Once you do the one-lens exercise, then Clyde Butcher’s quip, “if you need more than one lens, you are not a photographer” will suddenly make sense. By the way, any lenses you no longer use after this exercise, you can donate to me:  I want to have more lenses than Clyde Butcher! Happy shooting!