Yes there are times when in spite passing an advanced level in digital photography being in the beginners group at local photo club I wonder why I bother.

Photography is still skill and equipment balance. There is no question some one with an Olympus trip can still get better photos than some one with a Hasselblad specially if your related to the Queen and no one else is in a position to take those photos. But in the main equipment does matter. Be it the sports event and you don't have a 600mm F3 lens or simply you have never found Photomatrix equipment does count.

Spare time is also important thermometer shows at last less than zero and you know clarity will increase. OK for those in colder climes not a problem but in the UK having time off from work when the conditions are right is a big thing.

But add them all together and still you get the odd shot which is better than the rest.

I hear all the judges talk about rules of thirds and diagonals and leading into the picture but when behind the view finder all I think about is does it look good. After the event I may look at cropping to enhance the rules, but for me a good photo is in the main luck.

Well maybe not quite luck I like to think there is some skill involved but if one gets one good image in 100 than take 100 and only one good image. Take 1000 and you have 10. As to how many are taken by people who are acclaimed as the great one can only guess?

But one sites through a lecture where the photographer tells how he records the sites and works out what time of year and time of day is likely to produce the A1 image. He sits there day after day may be with the tripod set up in a stream waiting for the moment. He takes that one image large format film and sells that image for 10 years after again and again.

Do I have that time no, do I record times and places and work out where shadows will lie at each season no, Will I stand in a stream for 4 hours no, do I have a full plate camera no, can I ever expect to get pictures to his standard no. Well OK the lucky shot but in the main no. But also do I want £200 per print no. My photography is for me. If some one else likes it that a bonus but it's for me. And even if my tripod fits into the holes made by 200 photographers before me that image is mine and I am proud of what I have taken.