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Looking over my photographs and comparing them with others, especially with those of pros, makes me wonder wether I really have the right equipment. My hardware is basic but sufficient. I´m an amateur and I don´t have to make a living with photography. For my serious pictures I use a Fujifilm X-T1 with the kit lens Fujinon 18-55mm and the Fujinon 1.4, 35mm. For my Instagram account I still use my Apple 5s (!) smartphone, taking all pictures in a square format with the Hipstamatic App, sometimes enhacing the pictures minimally with the free Snapseed App. And just for fun I sometimes still use my 11 year old Lumix DMC-TZ5. My philosophy is to make the most of with what I have, without joining the frenzy pressure of always having to have the up-to-date stuff. This leaves me relaxed and I can learn via trial and error along the way. Not just learning about digital photography in general, but also how to compensate the low-tech equipment with ideas and creativity. While I regularly ask myself about having the right gear, I always come to the conclusion that I don´t need more or better equipment. What I have is really sufficient and still fun, working with my above mentioned picture-taking-philosophy.

The following pictures are taken with that vintage smartphone in the Old Town and Clybourn/North neighborhoods of Chicago. There is one thing they all have in common apart from the black and white and square format: it´s that they´re all taken around noon time. The harsh light gives them a grainy touch almost reminiscent of analogue days.

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