You have a very good camera

[Jesper]

When a long time friend of mine the other day saw my latest print he told me that I have a very good camera. It could just have been a comment slightly out of place if it was just the once, but it isn’t. If my friend is to be believed I have a bunch of very good cameras but what he thinks of my photographic skills are still a mystery after about 45 years of knowing him since he is always praising my equipment.

To me this is a bit peculiar and I wonder if anyone else has come across someone like my friend?

 

[Adam W]

I've gotten this. My friend who is a painter thinks it's funny. He says he's never had someone look at one of his paintings and said, "wow, you must have good brushes!"

 

[koraks]

Yeah, sure. Plenty of people are like that. Clueless. That's OK; if they compliment your work, just accept the compliment and move on. Who cares.

 

[Chan Tran]

When a long time friend of mine the other day saw my latest print he told me that I have a very good camera. It could just have been a comment slightly out of place if it was just the once, but it isn’t. If my friend is to be believed I have a bunch of very good cameras but what he thinks of my photographic skills are still a mystery after about 45 years of knowing him since he is always praising my equipment.

To me this is a bit peculiar and I wonder if anyone else has come across someone like my friend?

Don't you have very good cameras? Didn't what he said was the truth that you do have very good camera?

 

[AnselMortensen]

"That was a delicious meal...
You must have a very good stove!"

 

[Ivo Stunga]

but what he thinks of my photographic skills are still a mystery

Looks like you might want to speak kindly with your friend, educate him and ask: do brushes paint paintings, do bikes ride on their own, do cameras frame and take pictures?

 

[Jesper]

Had my friend been a stranger to photography and working in a darkroom it wouldn’t be weird but he has been taking pictures for longer than me and uses Leica and Hasselblad. The fact is that he has never complimented my work, just my equipment.

He is a close friend of mine and I’m not disturbed by it but I do find it a bit odd.

 

[koraks]

The fact is that he has never complimented my work, just my equipment.

OK, so a couple of possibilities here:
1: He in fact doesn't appreciate your skill and possibly regards your successful photos as lucky shots - in which case the quality of the camera helped to make the best of it.
2: He has a very odd way of expressing himself / confused view on how good images are made. His preference for the brands you mentioned may or may not be an indicator. Keep in mind that such a confused view can occur in an otherwise talented person; he may very well not understand how it works for him, let alone someone else.
3: Your friend has trouble handing out compliments as he finds it awkward or whatnot, and so he chooses to compliment your gear instead, which is less personal.
etc.

Either way, it's clear that he doesn't directly acknowledge your skill, but that his failure to do so apparently has not stood in the way of a mutually beneficial (I assume), because long-standing friendship. So personally I'd accept this as one of your friend's odd quirks that make him (together with countless other qualities) the person you appreciate.

Maybe one day (when we all grow up) you'll get to discuss the essence with him. I'm not of the persuasion that it's somehow necessary to 'educate' your friend. You're evidently both grown-ups; if he wants to be taught something, he'll ask for it.

 

[MattKing]

One other potential explanation is that your friend is one of those photographers who both is dissatisfied with their own photography, and believes that the solution can be found in improvements to their own camera equipment - i.e. "If only I had a HasselLeica 123, my pictures would be better!".
or,
to use some vernacular that might not transfer to Sweden, perhaps your friend likes "pulling your chain"

 

[Rick A]

Maybe it's your friend's way of keeping your ego in check.

 

[Chan Tran]

One other potential explanation is that your friend is one of those photographers who both is dissatisfied with their own photography, and believes that the solution can be found in improvements to their own camera equipment - i.e. "If only I had a HasselLeica 123, my pictures would be better!".
or,
to use some vernacular that might not transfer to Sweden, perhaps your friend likes "pulling your chain"

I thought he said that his friend does have Hasseblad and Leica.

 

[warden]

If someone compliments my camera they never do it again because that opens an entire nerd realm and I tell them everything they didn’t want to know about my camera - when it was made, by whom, why it’s so fun, etc.

 

[MattKing]

I thought he said that his friend does have Hasseblad and Leica.

But does he have the right Hasselblad and the right Leica?

 

[koraks]

But does he have the right Hasselblad and the right Leica?

Are you suggesting there are wrong Hasselblads and Leicas? Things may get ugly...

 

[runswithsizzers]

Maybe your friend genuinely does not understand / relate to your photography. He does not want to say anything negative, so he compliments your gear(?) Sometimes when I look at the the work of others -- and not just hobbyists, but those who are part of the profession in one way or another -- I have to say, "I don't get it. Why would you take that photo?" But I'm OK with that, because I am sure they are equally mystified when they see my photos.

I don't know what the culture is like in Sweden, but here in the Ozarks hills, it used to be that people believed in following the rule, "If you can't say something nice, then don't say anything."

OK, I just searched Photrio to see what kind of photos you take. I only found one photo titled "Watcing," posted back in April 2021 -- and I agree with your friend, you do have some nice cameras. ;-)

 

[MurrayMinchin]

Buying the most expensive kitchenware doesn't make one a Chef.

 

[nikos79]

I think more relevant to say in our digital days "you have very good Lightroom skills"
There are anyway worse remarks than this e.g. "where is this photograph taken?"

 

[nikos79]

Had my friend been a stranger to photography and working in a darkroom it wouldn’t be weird but he has been taking pictures for longer than me and uses Leica and Hasselblad. The fact is that he has never complimented my work, just my equipment.

He is a close friend of mine and I’m not disturbed by it but I do find it a bit odd.

OK then that is strange. How much better camera than a Hasselblad or Leica you might own? Perhaps you come from the future?

 

[nikos79]

Anyway these remarks I agree with all others show ignorance about photography. I could only understand it (and again maybe) in three cases:
1. Your friend wants to do professional photography and he needs special pro equipment.
2. He shoots analog
3. He relies extensively on aggresive cropping where he would need to have a high Mpixel camera

 

[nikos79]

If you are Swedish show him the photos of Sune Jonsson. Would he compliment his Hasselblad or the talented photographer?

 

[nikos79]

Are you suggesting there are wrong Hasselblads and Leicas? Things may get ugly...

 

[Chan Tran]

Maybe your friend genuinely does not understand / relate to your photography. He does not want to say anything negative, so he compliments your gear(?) Sometimes when I look at the the work of others -- and not just hobbyists, but those who are part of the profession in one way or another -- I have to say, "I don't get it. Why would you take that photo?" But I'm OK with that, because I am sure they are equally mystified when they see my photos.

I don't know what the culture is like in Sweden, but here in the Ozarks hills, it used to be that people believed in following the rule, "If you can't say something nice, then don't say anything."

OK, I just searched Photrio to see what kind of photos you take. I only found one photo titled "Watcing," posted back in April 2021 -- and I agree with your friend, you do have some nice cameras. ;-)

I must agree he does have good cameras.

 

[Chan Tran]

Buying the most expensive kitchenware doesn't make one a Chef.

No! But most likely a chef would have good kitchenware.

 

[Chan Tran]

If someone compliments my camera they never do it again because that opens an entire nerd realm and I tell them everything they didn’t want to know about my camera - when it was made, by whom, why it’s so fun, etc.

If someone compliments my camera I would be very proud but nobody does. They all think I use outdated dinonsaur cameras. Or in another word "JUNK".

 

[Chan Tran]

When your friend said "You have very good cameras" he said the truth. As for commenting on your skills he didn't say so he can't lie. He is your friend for 45 years and he certainly wouldn't want to hurt the friendship.