Useless brushes and whatnot.
Concentration
So! Tell us about your cameras!
I had to smile when I received a reply similar to this. I was looking on the web for photo groups in the Charleston, SC area. I figured that it would be a good way to meet people and find some off-the-beaten-path photo locations … you know, those not already flooded with tourists. So, I ‘joined’ one and said that I would be at a photo meet that they were having soon.
It certainly looks like a friendly group of folks that I’d love to meet with. I got a quick reply from one of the members asking me to upload my picture and post a comment telling them about my cameras. 
Interesting. Not what type of photography are you interested in, etc. Tell us about your cameras.
I’ll admit, I like gadgets and shiny new cameras as much as the next guy. Well, unless that guy is Earl Moore over at Meandering Passage. Now that guy is a self-proclaimed gadget junkie! Also, I will admit, and have admitted, that the camera does make a difference sometimes, depending on what you want to do with it. Perhaps that is just an icebreaker. A curiosity. I like to know what kind of cameras people shoot with, just for the knowledge itself. Beyond that, it doesn’t matter one bit to me.
Historically, I’ve shied away from photography groups that seem to be strictly interested in the purely technical aspect of photography, finding them as boring as the endless discussions about lens resolution, sensor capabilities, and which is better, Nikon or Canon. For me, discussing the technical aspects of cameras seems to be akin to asking a painter what types of brushes she uses. If you have a good brush, but don’t know what to do with it, well, it’s just a useless brush, now isn’t it?
That said, though, I’m looking forward to meeting them, having a nice dinner, and a good discussion.
Ouch, I’ve been outed!
No doubt that gear plays a major role in photography, especially with digital where the technical aspects have been magnified. But I am also usually disappointed by the majority of conversations between photographers being mostly about gear. Perhaps because it is so ‘easy’ to talk about versus the more esoteric aspects of the art.
Absolutely easier to talk about the gear than talk about the content. Gear is concrete. Next level: easier to talk about technical aspects of content eg blown highlights, tilted horizons, lack of pop. To address content you have to accept the photographer got what they were going for ie what you see in the photo is what the photographer want you to see even if it’s “technically flawed”.
Great capture. Hope the photography group works out or you find one. I don’t care what your equipment is just show me the pictures.
That is a bit sad actually. There are a lot of folks in my camera club that spend more time talking about gear than they do making photos also. Some people are more fascinated with the gear than what they actually use it for. You can see tons of that in the Fred Miranda forums. I think a lot of those people’s photo portfolios consist of nothing more than hundreds of photos of rulers
We call them measurebators 
Anyway… check them out. Chances are you will meet some great photographers 
Whoa…there seems to be a little “holier then thou” attitude in some of these comments.
I prefer the artistic side of photography myself, but that’s just my personal preference. It doesn’t mean that my interest and opinions are superior to those who enjoy and explore the technical side, it just means we have different priorities and focus.
@Mark: Yep. It’s sometimes difficult to talk about subjective things like one’s personal preferences. Equipment is easier to talk about as long as it doesn’t slide down the road to which camera is better, which lens is better, etc. That is a wholly subjective conversation in itself.
@Stan: Nope. I don’t think that it is “holier than thou”. It’s just a matter of personal preference. I’m somewhere in the middle, actually. I like the technical aspects, for a limited time. I like seeing no gadgets, etc. However, I really like to learn about interesting places to go shoot. What I’ve found is that people who are seriously interested in cameras, only, don’t usually know about these places because they’ve not been.
@Paul:
Let me clarify, I didn’t think your original post showed that attitude, but a red flag goes up for me when comments are made about “it being sad” and that we have “names for those folks.” We (and I include myself in this) all tend to lump people into categories and label them.
I’m not trying to call anyone out on this, only to point out the danger of making general assumptions about others or to take the stance that your own personal preferences are superior in some way.
A good friend of mine is so technical oriented that sometimes it drives me to tears and I’m certain my waxing on concerning the artistic impressions of photography does the same to him.
But, we put up with each other and I have to say that I’ve learned a lot from him. The other day he made the statement that he’d never looked at it that way before so I’ll assume I’m having some impact on him as well. 
My father use to say: “If you only hang around with those who think just like you then you’ll never learn anything new.”
Cheers
@Stan: Well, your father was a wise man. We learn so much from people who are different than we are. If I listen, I learn a lot about myself.
On the flip side, I was at a dinner a few weeks ago when I got a question that really stumped me: the woman next to me asked, “what kind of photography do you like to do?”
I was honestly at a loss for words, because I’m still exploring it, and the kinds of photography I seem to like don’t fall into the standard categories (street, landscape, etc.).
It would have been a lot easier if she asked me about my cameras, but I wouldn’t have had to ponder it so much.
@ Ron:
“what kind of photography do you like to do?â€
That really is a difficult question. I need to think more about that myself….
@ Stan:
It’s sometimes difficult to portray a ‘tongue-in-cheek’ comment line as text
I’m a firm believer that a photographer becomes an artist when she (or he) learns to dissect a scene. I love my Canon, but I would love a Brownie camera if I came upon a breathtaking subject with great macro potential.
Food for thought here, Paul. Thanks.
ENJOY your meeting. I think you’ll bring a great perspective to the table.
That is interesting. I hope like you said that it is just an icebreaker.
I thought of these lyrics and thought they can be applied to the camera you use. “If you can’t be with the one you love, love the one you’re with.”
It’s about the love and the passion more than the camera.
The photo is so amusing. She is oblivious to the desires of the dog and the dog is very intent on her lunch.