In a childhood classroom, the teacher asked us, “What’s your favorite color?” It was the first time I’d heard such a question, and I was puzzled. Why would grown-ups care to differentiate colors? In a daze, I picked yellow, but later, as I mulled it over, I realized I didn’t dislike any color. Perhaps that’s how the habit of comparison begins—unintentionally sparked in moments like these.
Now, driven by material desires, I find myself comparing this lens to that camera, testing and reviewing endlessly. It’s overwhelming, cluttered, and exhausting. But I’ve come to believe every piece of gear has its own value. When we let go of comparisons and return to a childlike curiosity, photography becomes pure joy—like being a kid again.