Have you ever had a moment that changed your whole perspective? I’ve had a few, but one stands out—a random call I made to Kurt Markus’ studio
More than a decade ago, when I was still finding my way, I used to think, “If I had the right gear, my images would be better.”
Around that time, I read an article about Kurt Markus and saw a photo of him working in a portable studio tent, which grabbed my attention.
Maybe that tent was what I needed—the missing piece of gear that would take my work to the next level.
In my naivete, I called his studio, wanting to know where I could get a tent like that. His wife answered, and I remember her saying, “Hold on, he’s right here.”
And just like that, I was on the phone with Kurt. Although I don’t remember our whole conversation, one insight stuck with me that changed the way I approached my work.
Kurt told me something like, “If you’re looking for gear to solve your problems, you’re looking in the wrong place.”
That advice didn’t magically change my work—that was still up to me. But it did prevent me from going down a dead-end road.
I realized the answers I was looking for weren’t in the gear—they were in my curiosity and exploration.
One of the most important questions photographers have to answer is, “What does my work stand for?” No piece of equipment can ever answer that.
His words set me on a path to focus more on the human element of photography rather than getting caught up in the gear.
Over time, I noticed that my best photos were the ones where I connected with my subjects and told a story that mattered to me.
Kurt’s wisdom reminds us that the most powerful tool we have isn’t the latest piece of equipment—it’s our ability to see, feel, connect, and communicate what matters.
Kurt passed in 2022, but I’ll always be grateful for those 10 minutes he took to chat with me. It made a world of difference for a young photographer trying to find his way.