More than the latest camera body. More than most expensive lens. The photographer’s eye is the most important tool the photographer has to create compelling images.
You can buy the latest camera and a bag full of red ring professional but if you don’t see, compose and create something interesting with them, what’s the point?
Camera manufactures sell millions of camera equipment each year but it seems the difficult challenge in photography is not saving up the money to purchase the latest and greatest but rather where to point this equipment.
The photographer’s eye is developed through practice, observation, more practice and the development of one’s own passions and unique view of the world.
You probably own the same camera set up used by thousands of other people but what is unique about your particular camera set up is your unique set of life experiences, passions and viewpoint.
The beginner photographer gets excited about equipment. Learning how to use it. Looking around for subjects. Maybe looking at other photographer’s work. Booking vacations to the same spots to take the same photographs. Maybe taking workshops so instructors can guide one towards photo subjects.
Eventually if one sticks with photography as a passion, you’ll learn to see what really interest you personally rather than perhaps what other’s have deemed what is important. It is these personal interests and your personal view on the world that will set your photography apart.