Put it this way.
When you felt that your skill's limited by lack of equipment (genuine feeling), then equipment matters.
However, assuming you had everything you need, but still can't produce the quality you're expecting. You lack skill & experience.
Luck also play an important part, as some scene only come once.

BUT, instead of waiting for the scene to happen. Some master photog would try to create the scene.

Eg. Like I saw a photog went around the lake in a canoe, identifying the lotus he wants. Then he spray some mist onto it & put a frog (fake) next to it. Finally, went back to his spot, set up his equipment & wait for the right timing for the shutter. The picture won prize in contest.

This post has been edited by scorgio: Oct 2 2007, 11:42 PM