A couple of years ago, I visited the Meirás Lighthouse (Faro da Frouxeira), located in the municipality of Valdoviño, to take some photographs of the area. The place has many features that make it especially appealing to photographers. Its rugged coast, small cliffs, crashing waves, rocks, wild vegetation, and of course, the lighthouse itself, all come together to create a unique and distinctive environment that offers endless possibilities for interesting compositions. It’s almost impossible to leave without a good shot.
A few months ago, I returned to the lighthouse, but this time the experience was noticeably different. Back then, I only had my phone with me; this time, I was accompanied by my M6. We’ve all heard the saying that “the best camera is the one you have with you.” Combined with the excellent quality of today’s smartphones, this often leads us to believe we can forgo dedicated gear and rely solely on the convenience of our mobile devices to capture decent photos.
While that argument certainly has some truth to it, I think it comes with important nuances. I don’t believe the best camera is necessarily the one you’re carrying, or even the one that’s easiest to use. If it doesn’t inspire you, if it doesn’t make you want to shoot, if you don’t enjoy the process, then it doesn’t matter how good it is. That was my experience with mobile photography over the past few years. I leaned into the convenience of my phone, but I found myself enjoying photography less and less. Of course, this is just my personal story, I know many people who create amazing work with their phones.
Since I got my Leica M6, I haven’t stopped taking photos. In fact, I’ve never felt this kind of passion for photography until these past few months. Now I truly enjoy the entire experience: the trip itself, the search for interesting locations, composing the shot, focusing, developing, scanning, editing, and, of course, sharing my work. It’s a full experience that goes beyond photography, it becomes a way of life. My personal motivator happened to be the M6, but it could be something else for someone else. In the end, what really matters is enjoying the process, regardless of the tool you choose to use.
