Taking better pictures is not about updated technology or complicated equipment. Sure, those things are fun. And polarized photos are unbeatable in clarity and brilliance. (If you're into equipment, buy a polarized lens.)
But, no matter how expensive the camera, the real work in composition and design comes from the mastermind behind the lens. (Often photographers claim that their most famous photos came unexpectedly from cheap automatic-focus cameras that were in the right place at the right time.)
So, use a camera you’re comfortable with. And don’t leave home, car, or hotel room without it. If your equipment is valuable, buy some disposable cameras and stash them in your fanny pack and pockets for rainy days or unburdened hikes.
Remember, the worst pictures are always the ones you missed. So, get clicking and, please, don’t tell people to say cheese.