What makes a photographer?
- Thread starter Nero
- Start date
Michael J.
Senior Member
Love the work and no "I can't" in the mind
Respect the privacy, nature, creatures, etc.
Tolerance towards others opinion and work
No expectation get any thanks or likes ( Same a beautiful flower high on the mountain, it blooms beautifully but just few people will get a look at it, but it doesn't matter for its blooming an being, cos it knows it is beautiful only for some creature)
just a few thoughts
Respect the privacy, nature, creatures, etc.
Tolerance towards others opinion and work
No expectation get any thanks or likes ( Same a beautiful flower high on the mountain, it blooms beautifully but just few people will get a look at it, but it doesn't matter for its blooming an being, cos it knows it is beautiful only for some creature)
just a few thoughts
Don Kuykendall_RIP
RIP :(
I think all it takes is a true love of shooting just for the pure joy of it.
Now being a GOOD photographer is a different story. That takes work learning the craft,
Now being a GOOD photographer is a different story. That takes work learning the craft,
If you pick up a camera and start taking pictures, you are a photographer. To me the distinction comes as amateur and professional, or advanced amateur vs beginner. So I don't think in terms of real or not. That being said, I would think that once someone graduates from taking snapshots and actually starts thinking about composition, lighting, depth of field, etc., then they are a "photographer". It is too bad we don't refer to someone more accomplished in the art of photography as an artist of photography, as opposed to a photographer, or at least something to distinguish someone who places more emphasis on the art versus the process.
Nathan Lanni
Senior Member
Edit:
Unfortunately, it seems the word "photographer" is a generic, catch-all term, and in most people's minds applies to just about anybody that can use a camera - regardless of type, complexity, capability, etc. I disagree with this, of course. I also disagree with most official definitions the term "photographer" tends to be used for professionals.
We could also ask: What separates people that apply oil paint to a canvas with art brushes, and those we might call a true artist? This could be said for any art medium and not just painting.
Art is as subjective as the person appraising somebody else's skill.
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Did you mean to use the word "real",to me a real photographer is some one who makes there photographs,this can be done by hours spent in a studio arranging lighting, camera angle and back ground ect or by simply looking further than the family snapshot.
A real photographer is some one who deliberately sets out to capture an image,skill levels only decide the ability of a real photographer,now if your asking what distinguishes a pro from a wannabee thats a different story.
Just my opinion though.
mike
Nathan Lanni
Senior Member
xlDeMoNiClx, tell us your thoughts of what seperates the photographer from a wannabee
Horoscope Fish
Senior Member
I think you become a photographer when you care more about the picture you get than in simply getting a picture.
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Anyone with an expensive camera and lenses 
I think everyone has touched on key aspects. For me it's a desire to record a moment in time which I want to remember or share. The challenge is capturing that moment or scene as best I can and representative of what I see and how I want others to see it.
I think everyone has touched on key aspects. For me it's a desire to record a moment in time which I want to remember or share. The challenge is capturing that moment or scene as best I can and representative of what I see and how I want others to see it.
Agreed.
donaldjledet
Senior Member
Learn the craft. And be able to create a photo that says look at me. tells a story or memory. Captures history. read the light and be able to compose it.
To take a photo not just of what is in the scene, but to take photos to show your unique view of the scene. To me that shows that you're putting a little bit of yourself into every shot. A pro is someone who learned how to get his/her photos the closest to their unique view of a scene, and are always striving to improve even on this great achievement, regardless of how good others think he/she is.
Photographer = Artist
Pro photographer = great artist
Photographer = Artist
Pro photographer = great artist
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Don Kuykendall_RIP
RIP :(
The only difference is that I have seen people taking pictures and getting paid big bucks who really care nothing about photography. They are professional photographers but they are far from being artists.
Then they aren't truly pros in my opinion. They just know how to operate a piece of equipment nothing more. There is nothing of them in their shots, then they are not really photographers. They are just going through the motions and their work is empty of of heart and is not art in my opinion!
So I guess there are two types of photographers. One rich with heart and intent, and one without heart looking for nothing but recognition. The pro who doesn't love taking photos has a hollow victory at best for his/her efforts. What a waste of efforts!
In my opinion anyway! Lol
So I guess there are two types of photographers. One rich with heart and intent, and one without heart looking for nothing but recognition. The pro who doesn't love taking photos has a hollow victory at best for his/her efforts. What a waste of efforts!
In my opinion anyway! Lol
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mikeh32217
Senior Member
Exactly what I was thinking! I've been a programmer for many years and anyone can write code but not all are proficient or for that matter any good at it.
So on that note guess I'll grab my iPad and go out and get some shots.
Nathan Lanni
Senior Member
Use of the word photographer is used rather generically (unfortunately), sort of the way "artist" is used.
There are professional photographers and amateur photographers just like there are professional artists and amateur artists. Most official definitions of the word photographer will end with: "...especially one who does it professionally". It is misunderstood and overused, just like the word writer. Many people write, and some quite well, but do we necesssarily call them writers? We tend to think of a writer as someone who has successfully published a novel - then we call them novelists. I think this is true for any preoccupation that has an artsy aspect to it. On the contrary, if someone were to hear the terms "train engineer" or "house painter" they would automatically understand those are professions.
I think most people would recognize the name Ansel Adams as a truly great photographer, a person that over a period of many years pursued his passion and vision to create great images. But he also received monetary compensation for his work. Do people 1st think of Ansel Adams as a professional photographer, or do they think of him as a brilliant artist who used a camera?
So my humble opinion of the word photographer: Someone who strives over a period of time, to create a body of work using a camera and in some cases post processing techniques, to create images with passion and vision. Yes, they may even receive monetary compensation for their work.
There are professional photographers and amateur photographers just like there are professional artists and amateur artists. Most official definitions of the word photographer will end with: "...especially one who does it professionally". It is misunderstood and overused, just like the word writer. Many people write, and some quite well, but do we necesssarily call them writers? We tend to think of a writer as someone who has successfully published a novel - then we call them novelists. I think this is true for any preoccupation that has an artsy aspect to it. On the contrary, if someone were to hear the terms "train engineer" or "house painter" they would automatically understand those are professions.
I think most people would recognize the name Ansel Adams as a truly great photographer, a person that over a period of many years pursued his passion and vision to create great images. But he also received monetary compensation for his work. Do people 1st think of Ansel Adams as a professional photographer, or do they think of him as a brilliant artist who used a camera?
So my humble opinion of the word photographer: Someone who strives over a period of time, to create a body of work using a camera and in some cases post processing techniques, to create images with passion and vision. Yes, they may even receive monetary compensation for their work.
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