I'm so glad I stumbled across this post. I agree if, you want to be a good photographer you've really got to start in your backyard and it's true it doesn't matter about the quality of what you're using, it's the artist creating the photos. So just get out of there do what you want to do. Just do it and show and the world. Like Andy Warhol said, just keep creating art and while the public is deciding whether they like it or not keep creating more art! Especially for yourself if not for anyone else. It's a beautiful world out there and it's worth just starting with your own backyard. Then conquer the world!