Skill in photography

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Bill16

Senior Member
This statement likely fits me, because when patience was being handed out I was in too big of a hurry to be born to want wait in such a long line. Lol :)
But I'll keep at it, enjoying little improvements in my shots while I satisfy my bad case of NAS! :D

Whiskeyman said:
A lot of photographers do need more patience than they exhibit in pursuing their hobby/craft.

​WM
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WayneF

Senior Member
dramtastic said:
'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.
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Seems true, Groucho must have known some things. But what will help even more is a photographer with a little experience actually thinking about things.
 
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Dave_W

The Dude
Moab Man said:
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.
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A new camera can indeed take better photographs, or maybe stated another way, a new camera can improve your photography by helping you improve your photographic skills. We all know the old adage "My car runs much better right after I wash it". Well, in a way a new camera can take better photographs if only by way of inducing the owner to push him/herself to the next level. The thrill of a new camera and the excitement of the new found functionality can induce the owner to shoot more often and to try new techniques that will in time produce "better photos". So in a roundabout way the statement does have some truth built into it - a new camera can take better photos....sorta. :)
 
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Rick M

Senior Member
I ran into this when I started manually bracketing shots with my D3100 for HDR. You can do it, but not quickly enough for fast moving clouds or leaves moving on a tree. I upgraded to a D5100 for the auto-bracketing speed, clouds and leaves captured without extreme ghosting. While it did not make me a better photographer, it did improve my results.
 
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mikeh32217

Senior Member
Rick M said:
I ran into this when I started manually bracketing shots with my D3100 for HDR. You can do it, but not quickly enough for fast moving clouds or leaves moving on a tree. I upgraded to a D5100 for the auto-bracketing speed, clouds and leaves captured without extreme ghosting. While it did not make me a better photographer, it did improve my results.
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When I bought my D5000 I had originally gone to purchase the D3100 and the sales lady talked me into the D5000 for the bracketing and I am so glad she did because I really liked the D5000 but after shooting for a couple of years I found that there were things that I would like in a camera that the D5000 either didn't provide or you had to go deep into the menu system to change, plus I had gained a lot of experience. As I became more confident I pushed the D5000 further and further until I feel I had outgrown it and had a little spare cash so when I upgraded to the D7000 I feel that a lot of it was my confidence but also a lot to do with experience. Of course the D7000 made a big difference but a lot of it was me.
 
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Rick M

Senior Member
mikeh32217 said:
When I bought my D5000 I had originally gone to purchase the D3100 and the sales lady talked me into the D5000 for the bracketing and I am so glad she did because I really liked the D5000 but after shooting for a couple of years I found that there were things that I would like in a camera that the D5000 either didn't provide or you had to go deep into the menu system to change, plus I had gained a lot of experience. As I became more confident I pushed the D5000 further and further until I feel I had outgrown it and had a little spare cash so when I upgraded to the D7000 I feel that a lot of it was my confidence but also a lot to do with experience. Of course the D7000 made a big difference but a lot of it was me.
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​Yes, we reach a threshold with learning and ability where we need greater capability, or at least a minimum capability to grow further.
 
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Ruidoso Bill

Senior Member
The equipment are the tools. If you shoot low light action frequently you need fast glass and high ISO low noise capabilities. In some cases the composition may not be any better but there is a point where without the right equipment you can't even get the shot. Unfortunately the equipment becomes more costly.
 
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WayneF

Senior Member
WJYPhoto said:
The equipment are the tools. If you shoot low light action frequently you need fast glass and high ISO low noise capabilities. In some cases the composition may not be any better but there is a point where without the right equipment you can't even get the shot. Unfortunately the equipment becomes more costly.
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Certainly there are cases when specialized gear can help. But of course, there are also other ways experience can work around the same problem, for example adding more light gear, or moving outdoors in sunshine, knowing what it takes to get the picture.

In the military, soldiers might use a k4 knife or a howitzer, but if generally discussing shooting skills in the field, surely reasonable men are discussing only the standard rifle tools. :)
 
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Don Kuykendall_RIP

RIP :(
​I have a friend that was always talking about how much he liked my photography so he decided he would start shooting. He went out a bought a Canon that was probably equivalent to the D3100. He shot it for about a week and decided it did not take good pictures so he went and traded it for the next model up and went through the process again. Again it would not take good pictures. Buy this time he had a camera that was probably close to the D7100 or at least the D7000. So he decided to ask me what camera he should get that would take good pictures. I told him to send me one of the original pictures from the first camera and let me look at it. Three minutes into post processing I had a technically good photo and sent it back to him. It took him all that time and money to figure out that it takes more than fancy equipment to get good photos. It takes work and training.

All that being said my new D7000 came in this morning. I will finally be able to get good photos.
 
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Ruidoso Bill

Senior Member
"Certainly there are cases when specialized gear can help. But of course, there are also other ways experience can work around the same problem, for example adding more light gear, or moving outdoors in sunshine, knowing what it takes to get the picture"

That's why I used low light action as an example, you're not gonna (be permitted) to add light in most cases and outside isn't what I was referring to. If you are shooting a Theatre performance, Sports, Dance most of the time you cannot use an additional light source, if you don't have fast glass and a decent camera you will be sol.
 
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Ruidoso Bill

Senior Member
Don Kuykendall said:
​I have a friend that was always talking about how much he liked my photography so he decided he would start shooting. He went out a bought a Canon that was probably equivalent to the D3100. He shot it for about a week and decided it did not take good pictures so he went and traded it for the next model up and went through the process again. Again it would not take good pictures. Buy this time he had a camera that was probably close to the D7100 or at least the D7000. So he decided to ask me what camera he should get that would take good pictures. I told him to send me one of the original pictures from the first camera and let me look at it. Three minutes into post processing I had a technically good photo and sent it back to him. It took him all that time and money to figure out that it takes more than fancy equipment to get good photos. It takes work and training.

All that being said my new D7000 came in this morning. I will finally be able to get good photos.
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Congrats on the new camera, hope you enjoy it a lot.
 
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WayneF

Senior Member
WJYPhoto said:

That's why I used low light action as an example, you're not gonna (be permitted) to add light in most cases and outside isn't what I was referring to. If you are shooting a Theatre performance, Sports, Dance most of the time you cannot use an additional light source, if you don't have fast glass and a decent camera you will be sol.
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OK, no contest, granted as true, there are a few very rough situations. But I would not bet on the novice with the best tools either. :)
 
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Don Kuykendall_RIP

RIP :(
I think you are both correct. A good photographer that is willing to work and study can so much better with better equipment. But a lazy photographer can only go so far no matter what kind of camera he has.

​Again, Dave W is the exception. He has a very good camera.
 
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Just-Clayton

Senior Member
I have the 3100 and the 300s. I use them in different ways. But, I got a question the other day that made me laugh. A friend asked what camera i used to get great pictures. Her son has the 5100 and can't get the same effect. I just told her it takes practice.I used the same 18-55mm he has. Just lots of practice!
 
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mikeh32217

Senior Member
Just-Clayton said:
I have the 3100 and the 300s. I use them in different ways. But, I got a question the other day that made me laugh. A friend asked what camera i used to get great pictures. Her son has the 5100 and can't get the same effect. I just told her it takes practice.I used the same 18-55mm he has. Just lots of practice!
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To be good at anything takes practice, it took me many years to perfect the art of being a smart a&&. :)
 
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