What wins in photography: eye or equipment?

Two influential UAE shutterbugs share their opinions

The kind of equipment you use for your photographs will matter depending on the purpose of your use. If you're an influencer looking to blog about food, phone cameras can do the job just fine. But if you're looking at nighttime or travel photography, you'd probably do better to invest in a professional camera.
When I joined JW Marriott Marquis, I had to use my Nikon D5000 to create content. Unfortunately, the camera had
drawbacks in terms of noisy photos; it didn't meet requirements for high definition either (especially if we wanted to share the images with publications). I decided to take up a low light camera (the D500 Nikon) instead, which now serves my purpose much better, as the resulting imagery is very sharp - even for night photography. I also bought a Drone DJI Mavic Pro and will be using it during my trip to Mauritius in a couple of weeks.
The difference in using a variety of cameras can easily be seen in image quality. I see this best while trying to capture my favourite blue hour shots: that period of time after sunset, when the existing light takes on a predominantly blue shade and I have to use long exposure mode to get the shots I want. DSLRs, in this case, have better image clarity and work well for nighttime photography. GoPros are more compact and can be used for rooftopping, where it would be otherwise very difficult to place a DSLR with a tripod - like if you're trying to take a picture from, say, the 100th floor of Princess Tower in Dubai Marina. iPhone cameras are really good too, but I would opt for them only during the day and for any behind-the-scenes photos I wish to capture during my rooftopping escapades for my Instagram stories.
I think capturing the best imagery is a combination of having the right camera and being at the right place at the right time.
-Sidharth Vithaldas is Social Content Creator at JW Marriott Marquis Dubai. Follow him on Instagram @sidharthvithaldas
On the surface, this question appears to be fairly straightforward. But as with most things in life (photography included), there is always more than one perspective! My first response is that a photographer's eye is much more important than equipment used. This is best showcased through my friend @whitetrashtyler's work with one Kanye West. He has been using old VHS recorders and hand-held video cameras to create some brilliant content with what most consider out-of-date equipment. This raw aesthetic can only be produced through the use of vintage equipment but, more importantly, a vision and eye for detail.
In some aspects of photography, equipment is vital in capturing the moment too. Take astrophotography; the quality of deep-space images depends on the photographer's technical capabilities and the equipment used. Or sports and action photography; here, frame rate, auto focus and additional technical finesse enhance a photographer's ability to invite the viewer into the moment.
My personal challenge  comes from being a travel photographer and having to constantly analyse the necessity of each piece of equipment I take with me on adventures. I usually limit my bag to carry-on, but this challenges me to visualise the environment I will be shooting in, so I can prepare the right tools in advance. A good eye applies to post-processing and editing too. I often crop or tweak the aesthetic of a shot, only to end up with a completely new photo. In fact, one of the best things you can do as a creator is to revisit old content. Being able to appreciate past images with a fresh set of eyes is one of the most exciting parts of the process.
- Dennis Stever is a landscape and travel photographer. Visit www.dennisstever.com or follow him on Instagram @dennisstever.