Are You A Photographer or are You A........

DigitalWolf · Dec 2, 2005

--There is a Great Thread here recently about "What is A Photographer?" If you have not read it yet please do. For those that have read it, I pose this question:

If we believe the following definitions:

A PRO PHOTOGRAPHER is someone who gets paid and makes a living at it

A GOOD PHOTOGRAPHER is if you try to think how to capture a Photography by using Composition, Quality Exposure, Strong emotional Impact, Quality of Light and you are trying to make a Unique Photograph. In other words you are trying to capture a "Photo" and you are applying techniques and succeding.

A PHOTOGRAPHER TO BE is someone who is interested in becomming better but is just starting out and shooting and loves photography and is trying to learn to become better.

A "SNAPSHOOTER" is someone who just captures "Pictures" by capturing family events or things that catch your fancy.

In the header of your post, jsut for fun, remember this is just for fun...let us know where you see yourself at this time??

PRO PHOTOGRAPHER
GOOD PHOTOGRAPHER
PHOTOGRAPHER TO BE
SNAPSHOOTER

Keep Taking Photos,
Jeff
The Digital Wolf

Spaz · Dec 2, 2005

--
Photos are not pixels.
Do you believe in chance, or f/8?

SFishy · Dec 2, 2005

LOL it's never simple answer, eh?

I'm lucky enough (or good enough) to occasionally get paid... but that's a small percentage of the time...

I hope I do apply technique and succeed, and I definitely give a lot of thought to the photos I take, from a technical, emotional and artistic standpoint (not necessarily in that order).

But I'm relatively "new" to this (only been at it a few years), I'm always learning, and am always striving to be better.

Amy
--

Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.

http://www.nyphotos.net ~ http://www.something-fishy.com/photography

DigitalWolf · Dec 2, 2005

--
Keep Taking Photos,
Jeff
The Digital Wolf

DigitalWolf · Dec 2, 2005

--
Keep Taking Photos,
Jeff
The Digital Wolf

MachuRoberts · Dec 2, 2005

-machu

DRG · Dec 2, 2005

DigitalWolf said:
A GOOD PHOTOGRAPHER is if you try to think how to capture a
Photography by using Composition, Quality Exposure, Strong
emotional Impact, Quality of Light and you are trying to make a
Unique Photograph. In other words you are trying to capture a
"Photo" and you are applying techniques and succeding.

These definitions don't include the case of someone who attempts to apply all of the above techniques yet doesn't succeed at capturing an image that would be judged as either technically good or artistically interesting. Not everyone who tries has the ability to succeed. Maybe we need Experienced Photographer in there, to mean someone who knows what he/she is doing regardless of the degree of success that applying those methods achieves?

Then I'd place myself somewhere between this new definition (I've been shooting with an SLR for 22 years, on and off, and reading about photography even longer) and Good, although friends try to tell me that they love my photographs (I'm not yet convinced that they're not just good copies of other peoples' cliche styles, however).

David

Leon Wittwer · Dec 2, 2005

DigitalWolf said:
A GOOD PHOTOGRAPHER is if you try to think how to capture a
Photography by using Composition, Quality Exposure, Strong
emotional Impact, Quality of Light and you are trying to make a
Unique Photograph. In other words you are trying to capture a
"Photo" and you are applying techniques and succeding.

While some good photographers meet your definition, there times when good photographers are not necessarily trying to generate a strong emotional impact or be unique. Perhaps, they are just trying to provide some pleasure to viewers or to well document something that they have seen. Good photographers can have different intents when doing photography.
--
Leon
http://homepage.mac.com/leonwittwer/landscapes.htm

Jason198448 · Dec 2, 2005

Taking snapshots now and wish I could devote more time to moving up to "shutterbug" status. Considered selling the 10D, 420EX, 28-135 IS, and the 50mm 1.8 for a Sony DSC-R1 and going back to snapshooter full time, but I decided I've eaten too much of the pomegranite now to get out of SLR hell.

http://www.nightyear.net/gallery/Favorites

--

--Laws alone can not secure freedom of expression; in order that every man present his views without penalty there must be spirit of tolerance in the entire population.
--Albert Einstein

charles schuler · Dec 2, 2005

How about some other classifications?

1/ A gear freak (must always discuss new cameras ... even when it is too early to discuss ... beyond mere and wild speculation).

2/ A critic (must always display negativity ... even when it was not solicited).

3/ A forum cop (must always remind others of their sins).

This forum used to be more enjoyable and useful.

As to your question, I'd say I am both a semi-pro (do make a few bucks, but can't feed myself) and a serious amateur (always want to improve).

John Sheehy · Dec 2, 2005

DigitalWolf said:
A "SNAPSHOOTER" is someone who just captures "Pictures" by
capturing family events or things that catch your fancy.

DigitalWolf said:
PRO PHOTOGRAPHER
GOOD PHOTOGRAPHER
PHOTOGRAPHER TO BE
SNAPSHOOTER

A photographer is someone who takes photographs, no matter what their motivation or skill is. I see no reason to only exclude those labelled as "snapshooters" from having "photographer" in their title. Even "snapshot photographer" would be better, or "family and vacation photographer".

If someone with little photographic knowledge and experience takes a picture of their family in front of The New York Public Library, half the family in the shade, and half blown out in the sun, the picture still has a photographer.

I've never understood this hijacking of common terms to denote levels of achievement. A photographer is someone who initiates photographs; the label is not a merit badge.

--
John

DigitalWolf · Dec 2, 2005

--"Snapshot Phototographer" To denote someone with basic point and shoot skills just taking "pictures" of their family or memories.

Keep Taking Photos,
Jeff
The Digital Wolf

MrDithers · Dec 2, 2005

I'm defintately a photographer to be. I get out all the gadgety talk at work where I sell cameras and computers. That way, when I go home, I don't have to worry about my camera being out of date in a few months, I just have to worry about how the heck I'm going to be able to afford those three lenses (okay four) that I'm constantly drooling over.

Justin

PS If we all start being positive together, the negative people won't have anywhere to go, because we won't want to listen to them. So lets just start being positive. I'll go first.

I'VE GOT A 20D, WHOOPIIEEE!!!

Now you try.
--

'I know you believe you understood what you think I said but I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.' -Anonymous

benfok · Dec 2, 2005

I take photos of most everything and try to add a different perspective on things that I see through my lenses. I am not making a living off of photography yet but that is my plan in one to two years.

Ben

rdspear · Dec 2, 2005

I think back on my last outing. I had this shot in my head from previous trips. I planned the time of year, time of day, location, where the lighting was, what I wanted in the fore- mid- back-ground, etc. Other than missing the light by about 10 minutes due to traffic, I'm pretty happy with what I got.

Other times, I look at what shows in in RSP and and think "what the heck was I doing there"? "Why didn't I realize that big ugly thing in the viewfinder?" If only I had....

But I wouldn't put myself back in the "just starting" phase.

I think there's a position in the middle there - Learning to be a Good Photographer.

I'm working towards Good, but I'm not sure I'll ever really get there - the "emotional impact" thing is probably beyond my engineering mind. It's fun trying though.

Joe Buster · Dec 2, 2005

the definition
Main Entry: pho·tog·ra·phy
Pronunciation: f&-'tä-gr&-fE
Function: noun

: the art or process of producing images on a sensitized surface (as a film) by the action of radiant energy and especially light.
so any one that takes a photo is a photographer.

FireEng833 · Dec 2, 2005

I'll get better.
--
Fitz
Salt Lake City
http://www.pbase.com/fireeng833

Hawkman · Dec 2, 2005

You tell me. I try my best to capture a feeling. I only publish nature photgraphy (because people require releases, and birds don't but are just as plentiful), but I think my people are comparable.

Gene

DigitalWolf said:
--There is a Great Thread here recently about "What is A
Photographer?" If you have not read it yet please do. For those
that have read it, I pose this question:

If we believe the following definitions:

A PRO PHOTOGRAPHER is someone who gets paid and makes a living at it

A GOOD PHOTOGRAPHER is if you try to think how to capture a
Photography by using Composition, Quality Exposure, Strong
emotional Impact, Quality of Light and you are trying to make a
Unique Photograph. In other words you are trying to capture a
"Photo" and you are applying techniques and succeding.

A PHOTOGRAPHER TO BE is someone who is interested in becomming
better but is just starting out and shooting and loves photography
and is trying to learn to become better.

A "SNAPSHOOTER" is someone who just captures "Pictures" by
capturing family events or things that catch your fancy.

In the header of your post, jsut for fun, remember this is just
for fun...let us know where you see yourself at this time??

PRO PHOTOGRAPHER
GOOD PHOTOGRAPHER
PHOTOGRAPHER TO BE
SNAPSHOOTER

Keep Taking Photos,
Jeff
The Digital Wolf

--
Gene - Walk softly and carry a big lens

Please visit my wildlife galleries at: http://www.pbase.com/gaocus/

beerguy · Dec 2, 2005

I didn't shoot for a number of years, mostly because large format is a hassle to shoot and is expen$ive, but digital has re-inspired me to begin shooting again. It's taking some time to to re-train my eye, but I'm getting there. And Photoshop is way more fun than the darkroom;-)

--
Cheers,

bg

'I have always wished that my computer would be as easy to use as my telephone. My wish has come true. I no longer know how to use my telephone.'

Bjarne Stroustrup, inventor of the C++ programming language

Check out my gallery at http://beerguy.smugmug.com

(See profile for the gear collection)

Shutter. · Dec 2, 2005

Can I be all of the above?

I do know that there are a lot of good photographers that aren't pros and there are a lot of pros that aren't good photographers.

It's most fun to be a good photographer but most important to be a snapshooter.

Jim

--
Jim Fuglestad
http://www.fuglestadphotography.com
http://www.pbase.com/jfuglestad/galleries
http://www.pbase.com/jfuglestad/366

You're not in third grade anymore. Take as many recesses as you want!
Why simply live and let live? Live and help live.

Are You A Photographer or are You A........

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