I'm sure I am the exception to the rule here. It's great to have awesome equipment, and even better to have a lot of patience, but to be honest, I have neither. Perhaps my photography reflects that, I don't know. Now, whether I should even be responding to this thread is an arguable point, I am not a pro, and do not consider myself one. People who ask me for advice about photography would walk away more confused than ever. I am much less into the technical aspect than I am the spiritual. I photograph what pleases my eye as best I can, and that is all. I have always felt that far more important than the equipment is the eye of the photographer. Ansel Adams said, "You don't take a photograph, you make it." I take photographs, yes lots, I only need one, and I delete the rest. What I don't get right in the field, I adjust in Lightroom, just as Ansel Adams did in the darkroom. I hardly ever carry a tripod unless I'm doing night or early morning/late day where I know I'll need it. My equipment is mid-range, though I am getting better equipment piece by piece. Until a few years ago I shot almost always on the setting on my camera that said "flower" and seeing as I have sold many of those images I guess they weren't too shabby. I find that the biggest problems I have getting good images are not stepping on other flowers, kneeling in the mud, laying in the mud, harsh light and wind, black-flies and mosquitos and even worse, ticks. I hardly consider the equipment at all. Some of my best images I have shot in the rain, with dull, overcast skies. I find that the most important thing about photographing wildflowers is to be out there each day looking for them as they appear and disappear, learning where they'll be and when. Their time is short. I know this isn't really what you asked about, but just my 2 cents, I hope it helps...
