Phil Sedgwick
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Now explain to me...how do you lose?In addition, the more people like me that are encouraged to jump into the pro-photo arena, the cheaper YOUR equipment becomes.
In many cases they the lower the quality threshold.
I agree.If they can trust you as a human being and you work until they are happy, you will have a viable business
Because it's been asked and answered. Maybe 20 years in the PC biz is finally getting to me. ;-)Take a dive into ourselves and ask, "Why does it bother me?"
No it's not. In fact it is harder in most cases to do it in camera.Digital manipulation of photography is a whole different art and science. That stuff is hard and takes enormous talent and skill.
You have pounced upon the arrogance of other posters yet your comment belies your own. I could go off on a tangent about how HTML and web work is just cook book, cut and paste work that is routinely plagiarized but the truth is that neither photography, web site design or for that matter any artistic endeavor is not repeatable by anyone with a simple formula. They all require the knowledge of many disciplines and an 'eye' that can not always be learned.
Pardon me for paying attention, but you did, in this and another thread. mention your interest in sports photography.I appreciate your comments but I was asking for advice on lenses for the D-1 and general advice for studio equipment for portraits and table-top photography.
This was meant as a general lament and not directed at you, I am sorry if it appeared any other way.I don't consider any of my general inquires "lazy" or "numb-minded".
I mentioned "viable professional". Not award winning or even artistic.The folks at Art Center, Brooks and RIT might not agree with you.Don't over estimate the knowledge needed for your craft. Bright people with natural ability and hard work can learn everything necessary to be viable professionals in a year or two.
I guarantee I can sell my customers with a quality portfolio even though
I could tell them I have only 6 months in the industry. If they can
trust you as a human being and you work until they are happy, you will
have a viable business. Some artsy people, like my brother, never
understand that people want to buy from people. This is business. He
clings so tightly to his desire to make an award out of every product in
multimedia that production slows, budgets overrun, and clients leave
unhappy. An artist who is starving is an artist that will not look for
creative expression WITHIN the constraints of the client. I never want
to go down in the annuals of history as the greatest photographer. I
just want this equipment to pay for itself over time.
But
I participate in numerous Web development posts (my full-time work) andthey want to produce great photographers and as you stated there is a
huge market for average work.
I felt a kinship with Laurn's post, not because it attacked yours, but
because I too have tired of unresearched questions on the web. I visit
forums in my areas of interest - photography and auto racing being the
usual stops - and the number of lazy, numb minded posts can get to you.
never mind silly rookies. I usually don't comment to their post but
others who have the time and inclination, like to flaunt their hard-won
knowledge and enjoy the feeling of being an expert. We all get puffed up
when we can give superior advice. I've been to over 50 sites and read
just about everything of use. Before I came to this site I read over 8
books and was still not able to find answers on professional lense setups
with Digital pro cameras. Most of the information out there is either
outdated for film cameras or too thin on content for professionals. I
don't consider any of my general inquirys "lazy" or "numb-minded". If
Professionals don't wan't to be bothered by the simple questions, isn't
the best course to ignore them? I mean, to spend time responding with
negative comments on the simplicity of my post indicates to me there is
more going on here than is being admitted. Take a dive into ourselves
and ask, "Why does it bother me?"
I suspect people respond to stress poorly and react too emotionally.
Perhaps they are having a tough day. But in a forum, the old saying is
appropriate; "If you can't say something nice, don't say it at all". Who
knows, I may turn out to be an invaluable Web resource for you someday.
Investing in relationships, even online ones, is good business. In
addition, the more people like me that are encouraged to jump into the
pro-photo arena, the cheaper YOUR equipment becomes. (Mass production =
lower prices).
Now explain to me...how do you lose?
I did and am not to impressed. But thanks for the tip.There are great resources on the web that many overlook. Photo.net for
one has a large static content that address many aspects of photography
and a searchable forum database that answers many questions, including
some of yours. If you have not visited photo.net, I suggest that you
give it a try.
Illustration within photographs is not pure photography. It is art moreYes, but no. The ability to see the composition, color, mood etc changeThe only thing that changes in photography is the technology. People that buy from you are interested in the composition, color, mood, creativity, expressionism, and the sort.
with the times too and are as much a part of photography as the
technology. You can reproduce the works of others without expanding your
creativity or tickling the mind of the viewer but great photography
pushes the boundaries of both technology and creativity.
than photography. It's like baking cookies...Flour by itself is just
flour. Mix it with other ingredients and it becomes something much
tastier but to still call it flour is a disservice. Digital manipulation
of photography is a whole different art and science. That stuff is hard
and takes enourmous talent and skill. Hats off to those who can do this.
I appreciate your comments but I was asking for advice on lenses for theI photograph autoracing for print and web publications using the D1 and
film cameras. If there is ever a questions I can answer, drop me a line.
D-1 and general advice for studio equipment for portraits and table-top
photography.
Laurin,Does any of this thread bother anyone in the least other than me? I knowI am an amateur photographer but am interested in starting a part-time
business out of my home with table-top, studio, sports, and nature
photography. I am considering the Nikon D-1 and Nikon lenses.
My question is general in nature...Is the D-1 the best bang for the buck?
I need to provide quality to my business customers. Will the file sizes
generated in the D-1 be suitable for a Professional career in this field?
I realize the scope of my applications is great but I don't have more
than 20-30K to spare to start this part-time pursuit.
My bread and butter comes from strategic business Web consulting with
large customers but business analysis and technical documentation leaves
me with no creative outlet. (I think I might be left and right brained)
If I'm going to get into photography as a serious hobby, I might as well
get paid for it. At least if just to pay for the equipment over the
years.
Side question...I checked into some Nikon lenses...why are some 400mm
lenses 8-10K while others are 1-2k? I assume is has something to do with
speed of adjustments with AF and other variables. This application is
sports photography.
I appreciate any help here.
--
Geoff Kirkwold
I'll get slammed but thats ok. I still want to throw my two cents in. It
seems strange that someone with such a lack of knowledge(see question
posted in the above thread about long lens) is preparing to start
charging the public for photographic services and is seeking advise from
pros in the field to accomplish this. Heres a website consultant who
wants to shoot sports for web pages,do studio work and charge clients for
it. It also means some else isn't going to be hired for the work. I have
a good business and don't feel threatned by this but I do feel insulted a
bit. I have worked long and hard for many years to refine my photography,
to respect both the craft and the work that others have done. Inherent in
this question I believe is a lack of repect for the work that
professionals do day in and day out. It seems to imply that photography
is equipment and little else and that with a little basic knowledge most
anyone can do this . Get the tools and I too can build a house. I think
most anyone who does this for a living has seen it may times over.
Reminds me of a story about a writer who was at a party. A surgeon was
speaking to the writer saying that he would also like to write a book
about a very similar experience that he had that the writer had based his
story on but that he, the surgeon "just didn't have enought time" to
write it.
The writer replied that he too wanted to do surgery but that he was also
to tied up in his workto find the time to do it.
I wonder what typerwriter Hemmingway used and if this gave him an
advantage over Steinbeck.
OH well, I feel better now. Take care everyone.
Regards,
Laurin
You seem like an articulate and thoughtful person so I will go easy on
you. In response to your post to my request for advice on the ProDigital
forum:
Do you feel Web consulting and photography are worlds apart as are a
writer and a surgeon? I think not. I am drawn into photography as it is
a natural compliment to Web development and communication as a whole.
For me to justify spending tens of thousands of dollars on camera
equipment, I am putting my feelers out into a larger world of
photography. I will never make the kind of money in photography that I
do in Web but I need a creative outlet and have the opportunity to shoot
college level sports with a press pass. Just in the right place and the
right time. FYI, I only charge this client $25/hr because he is first my
good friend and second my client. There is no way you or any other pro
would ever work for him because he's too thrifty. I do it for a hobby
and he pays my car gas and beer money.
Now, since you feel your advice is worth big bucks and therefore persons
should not share knowledge in a forum, what is a forum for? Really smart
people to get smarter? Or do you oppose rookies like me getting smarter?
If it makes you feel better, I would be happy to share my Web knowledge
with you or any other Pro Photographer in an equal amount that is shared
with me. We all have something to gain then.
Nobody lacks respect for your photography skills or the years it took to
refine them. But being selfish with that knowledge implies that I will
abuse your trust or otherwise harm your business practice. I have been
in the Web world since the beginning and I do not remember a time when I
was NOT personally training a young college-age "Webbie wannabe" into
the art of building Web sites and running their own professional
business. It takes me at least a year of energy on each one and I do it
for free most of the time. Other times, they help me paint my house. I
know they are being groomed to be future competitors, but mutual respect
will handle most conflict. Besides, they could be a great ally in times
of need as well.
As to your comments on the difficulty of photography...I agree there is
much to the art and it is an art. But the fundamental concepts of
photography are simple, tried and true. The only thing that changes in
photography is the technology. People that buy from you are interested
in the composition, color, mood, creativity, expressionism, and the sort.
I suspect most clients care less about what lense was used as long as the
final product is what they need.
Don't over estimate the knowledge needed for your craft. Bright people
with natural ability and hard work can learn everything necessary to be
viable professionals in a year or two. I suspect you view your
photography more as art and less as business. That's fine. I'm an
entrepeneur looking to cost-justify a large equipment expense by taking a
year or two to learn the finer art or photography and make it a business
add-on. I have a brother who is a fine-art grad from a state u and he
owns his own business in multimedia. Terrible businessman...excellent
artist. His snooty attitude toward everything being art has destroyed
numerous relationships with good paying clients. Now he's looking to
sell his business that's worth nothing. People still buy from people.
There is a huge market for photography that will never win awards.
My skills with the Web came too from hard work...even graduate school in
software design. Trust me when I tell you, learning about photography
provides my brain with a break, not a stress. I have also helped to
build houses from scratch, and trust me, they're not that hard to build.
With a basic set of knowledge, you too could build a house. Don't be
afraid to learn about building houses.
I am curious what you think of Leonardo DaVinci? Was he too trying to be
a surgeon and a writer? Did he aim too high and try too many new things?
I'm only 31. Am I a fool to think that when I'm 35 I will purchase a
woodworking shop for my home and build my own beds, tables and dressers?
Am I unrealistic that when I'm 40 I want to write music (a hobby from my
youth) and try to publish some of it. Am I a freeking lunatic to think
that age 45 I might take up painting as hope to sell some of it! Kudos
to those who want to be stuck in the same career their whole life. It's
just not for me. A true artist sees their life, knowledge and
experiences as the canvas to be explored...not just the physical canvas
in and of itself.
Well Lauren, your lack of depth and ignorance of human understanding
leaves me feeling sorry for you. Not in a smug way but as a fellow
travler on the same road. Sad to see you stuck in a mud puddle and claim
no others may enter with ease. In the bigger picture of life,
photography is so insignificant as is any other career pursuit. Careers
are our mud puddle. Next time, defend your family or religion with this
type of overreactive vigor, but don't make photography a battleground of
ill will. How many homeless people will you help today?