We used to live on one of the oldest streets in the dead-center of Toulouse, a city in southwest France. In case you were unaware, the coffee in France generally sucks. Seriously, it’s not very good. But, in Toulouse, we were fortunate to have the city’s best espresso just a 5-minute walk from our front door. (If you’re ever there, go to Square Charles-de-Gaulle. You’ll find an espresso machine on a bike. Ask for “Figgy”—tell him I sent you.)
My field of study was mathematics. And, in mathematics, there is a high value placed on the elegance of a solution, rather than on the time or energy spent on one. I love this perspective—often the most valuable solutions take the least amount of time thanks to a clever flash of brilliance, leaving more time to unwind at the pub.
Photography, however, is an artistic medium often (and very unfortunately) obfuscated by its gear. There is a trap in this field to value photos because of the gear and complexity required to create them. Rather than searching for clever solutions, photographers often just buy more, expensive gear.
