The camera for an artist is just another tool. It is no more mechanical than a violin if you analyze it. Beyond the rudiments, it is up to the artist to create art, not the camera. - Brett Weston
A fellow photog posted this to his Facebook Wall today. This is what I am striving for in my photography. To get past thinking about f/stops and shutter speeds and become more creative. I hope that time comes soon.
Khurt, it is important to get a good understanding of how your camera works. Understand photography and the effects of certain settings. Once you are comfortable with that, then let go. Approach a project or shot with what you want to do with it creatively. Then setup the camera to give you what you want. At that pont, the camera becomes a tool to express your creativity. As technical people, we tend to get too wrapped around the axles on the science and technology parts. Most creative folks don't worry about those bits too much.