Don Kuykendall_RIP
RIP :(
"Skill in photography is acquired by practice and not by purchase." – Percy W. Harris
Skill in photography
- Thread starter Don Kuykendall_RIP
- Start date
Horoscope Fish
Senior Member
Unfortunately many people, it seems to me, confuse "repetition" with "practice".
Further, practice does not make perfect... Perfect practice makes perfect.
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Further, practice does not make perfect... Perfect practice makes perfect.
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Don...It's the old I need to get a camera likes yours so I can take nice pictures too. (just heard that again this week) Anyway here is another quote I like.
A lot of photographers think that if they buy a better camera they’ll be able to take better photographs. A better camera won’t do a thing for you if you don’t have anything in your head or in your heart. – Arnold Newman
A lot of photographers think that if they buy a better camera they’ll be able to take better photographs. A better camera won’t do a thing for you if you don’t have anything in your head or in your heart. – Arnold Newman
mikeh32217
Senior Member
I figured I had a D5000 and was pretty good so I bought the D7000 and I thought I would be 28.6% better, can't figure out what happened? 
my co-worker said this last week to me also, turns out she is using hers as a point and shoot, so i have showed her a few tips and told her to practice on them. They see your shots and figure they can get them also, maybe i should show her my "learning" black, white and shaking shots when i was trying to figure it out.
I don't think a better camera hurts a person's skill level and I think it can even help improve the end product some. And I agree that practice and learning and passion is what increases a photographer's skill.
But..........I will still try to get a D4 if I can save up the money, just to be sure! Lol
But..........I will still try to get a D4 if I can save up the money, just to be sure! Lol
One would have to purchase before he could practice.
I remember a saying from long ago.
"A complex photographer with simple equipment compares favorably to a simple photographer with complex equipment".
I think one has to consider the technical versus aesthetic merits of a photograph. Things like resolution, contrast, color rendition, shadow detail, depth of field all come out of the tech specs of the equipment, namely optics and the sensor. To me those are irrelevant when it comes to considering aesthetics. Do they contribute to better photographs? Sure, but what matters so much more is what the photograph conveys artistically than what it is able to reproduce technically. Many forms of photography do not require technical excellence (journalism, candid, certain forms of art photography, etc.), but some on the other hand demand it (industrial, architectural, still life, etc.).
Skill in photography is measured by how good your photos are. There was also another saying I remember:
"You are only as good as your last job".
I'm not sure about that but I think that certainly we all strive to continually improve both technically and artistically in our pursuit of great photographs. Whether it is with an iPhone or a Hasselblad, the goal is the same.
I remember a saying from long ago.
"A complex photographer with simple equipment compares favorably to a simple photographer with complex equipment".
I think one has to consider the technical versus aesthetic merits of a photograph. Things like resolution, contrast, color rendition, shadow detail, depth of field all come out of the tech specs of the equipment, namely optics and the sensor. To me those are irrelevant when it comes to considering aesthetics. Do they contribute to better photographs? Sure, but what matters so much more is what the photograph conveys artistically than what it is able to reproduce technically. Many forms of photography do not require technical excellence (journalism, candid, certain forms of art photography, etc.), but some on the other hand demand it (industrial, architectural, still life, etc.).
Skill in photography is measured by how good your photos are. There was also another saying I remember:
"You are only as good as your last job".
I'm not sure about that but I think that certainly we all strive to continually improve both technically and artistically in our pursuit of great photographs. Whether it is with an iPhone or a Hasselblad, the goal is the same.
While I agree with the camera doesn't make the photographer, there are certain minimums to get certain results. Sometimes ability can be held back by inadequate equipment. Depending on your goals, sometimes buying too much camera for your current level can be a good investment and help you learn/grow in areas you have not thought of. To the other extreme, If I was not in a business, I would be happy with just my P&S. It's also fun to see what you can do when limited by gear.
Thank you Rick! That is the way I see it! I admit I'm embarrassed to talk much about my camera goals now, since I'm one of the members with such a long way to go in skill level. I feel my choice is right for me in the long run, but I admit it might look silly to those of you whose abilities I look up to here. But all along the way I've had great advice from a lot of you real talented photographers I consider my friends that has lead me in what I believe is the right direction for me.
So yes I truly intend on getting the D4 or the new version if it fits my goals by the time I can purchase such a major and most likely a one time upgrade. I believe while I'm waiting for that I can get a D5100 to use until then.
I admit I'm embarrassed to talk much about my camera goals now, since I'm one of the members with such a long way to go in skill level. I feel my choice is right for me in the long run, but I admit it might look silly to those of you whose abilities I look up to here. But all along the way I've had great advice from a lot of you real talented photographers I consider my friends that has lead me in what I believe is the right direction for me. So yes I truly intend on getting the D4 or the new version if it fits my goals by the time I can purchase such a major and most likely a one time upgrade. I believe while I'm waiting for that I can get a D5100 to use until then.
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Thank you Rick! That is the way I see it!
So yes I truly intend on getting the D4 or the new version if it fits my goals by the time I can purchase such a major and most likely a one time upgrade. I believe while I'm waiting for that I can get a D5100 to use until then.
Unless your goals include death in the very near future, a one time upgrade statement regarding photography equipment ignores reality. I thought the F2A Photomic was "All I'd ever need". The mirrorless world is here and who knows what that technology might present.
Alright, let's say not say forever, but it will likely be for a long time then. Coming up with this amount of money won't be easy or fast. But you're right, who can see the future.
Coming up with this amount of money won't be easy or fast. But you're right, who can see the future.
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I got the, "you must have a really nice camera" compliment last week. I started to laugh and said to the ladies, "did you want to insult me more before I head off to my class?" This was all said in a way so that they knew I was playing with them and not hurt, but they had no idea what they had said. So I told them that while my camera is really is really nice, I'm sure I had nothing to do with taking the great pictures they were raving about. They were quickly doing some playful backpedaling. I explained to them that if you want to insult a photographer tell them that they must have a really great camera and explained why this was an insult. They had never really thought about it prior to me explaining it.
Disclaimer: All of this is true unless you're Dave_W. He has a really nice camera and I can tell by looking at his pictures. I figure most things are rooted in some shred of truth and Dave_W must be that shred of truth in this one.
Disclaimer: All of this is true unless you're Dave_W. He has a really nice camera and I can tell by looking at his pictures.
I figure most things are rooted in some shred of truth and Dave_W must be that shred of truth in this one.I believe a great amount of people fall back on the excuse of nice cameras. They assume that because they have a nice/expensive camera, they will produce great results. It may be the P&S mentality initially, but eventually they may outgrow it. I learned through my experience and growth that it is not about the price of your camera but more about the knowledge and practice that you put into improving your skills in photography. If you know what it takes to produce great results, then you can do it with ANY camera you have. If you know the basics and then some, you can apply it to any camera you pick up. The skills you acquire does not remain with the camera body. It is up to the user to create such results.
A good friend of mine works at best buy. I sold her my Sony a330 (lower end, beginngrs model) when I moved to Nikon. (best decision ever) Her coworker is a Canon user. My friend does not have much money in general but loves taking photos. I help her out as much as possible. Her coworker believes that because my friend does not have pro gear, she cannot and should not be considering anything pro related. Her state of mind is completing close minded. She believes my friends work will never be good enough because she does not have professional gear. She had the audacity to tell my friend she was not good enough to shoot in manual or RAW yet. Her main reason for saying such things was due to the fact that she just started studying photography and because of the price of her gear. Eventually my friend will know more and her skills will improve. Photography is a skill and passion that we grow with... and yes eventually our cameras and the price of them grow with us but skills is the most important.
At the end of the day, gear does factor in but it is not the main factor. It is more about improving your skills and applying it in your settings.
A good friend of mine works at best buy. I sold her my Sony a330 (lower end, beginngrs model) when I moved to Nikon. (best decision ever) Her coworker is a Canon user. My friend does not have much money in general but loves taking photos. I help her out as much as possible. Her coworker believes that because my friend does not have pro gear, she cannot and should not be considering anything pro related. Her state of mind is completing close minded. She believes my friends work will never be good enough because she does not have professional gear. She had the audacity to tell my friend she was not good enough to shoot in manual or RAW yet. Her main reason for saying such things was due to the fact that she just started studying photography and because of the price of her gear. Eventually my friend will know more and her skills will improve. Photography is a skill and passion that we grow with... and yes eventually our cameras and the price of them grow with us but skills is the most important.
At the end of the day, gear does factor in but it is not the main factor. It is more about improving your skills and applying it in your settings.
Michael J.
Senior Member
I got from D80 to D5100 and my skill improved 100%. No not because of the camera 'cos when I got the D5100 the first time I read the handbook - camera manual with the camera beside me and tried what I read. I watched movies, looked at photographs and so on.
Yes, a good camera makes a good photographer - just kidding. A NEW camera motivates you to read the camera manual.
I am happy that I made the choice to read and practice and not just only Auto - point shoot and hope that some shots would be stunning and the other O.K.
Yes, a good camera makes a good photographer - just kidding. A NEW camera motivates you to read the camera manual.
I am happy that I made the choice to read and practice and not just only Auto - point shoot and hope that some shots would be stunning and the other O.K.
Horoscope Fish
Senior Member
I work at a college in the Fine Art department which gives me regular access to some pretty amazing professional photographers. One of them once told me anyone who thinks equipment makes them a better photographer is welcome to bring their entry level gear along with her on a shoot.
Donna (that's her name) will use whatever entry level gear they bring while giving this other person full access to her full-on, pro-level gear. Same shoot, same exact opportunities and access, same everything. And then, as she puts it, "At the end of the day, we'll see who took better shots."
.....
Donna (that's her name) will use whatever entry level gear they bring while giving this other person full access to her full-on, pro-level gear. Same shoot, same exact opportunities and access, same everything. And then, as she puts it, "At the end of the day, we'll see who took better shots."
.....
Whiskeyman
Senior Member
A lot of photographers do need more patience than they exhibit in pursuing their hobby/craft.
WM
WM
dramtastic
Senior Member
'A better lens helps more than a better camera body' - Groucho Marx. Though I may have made that up.........the Groucho Marx bit that is.