Finally!!!!

[R_Fredrick_Smith]

I think you may have failed to read the paragraph following the last one you quote where I said:

But I happen to think that virtually anyone can take good photos that will eventually approach Pro level if they do the two main things I've stated above --- learn good technique and learn basic rules of composition. But to be a master photographer, they will have to add the magic ingredient of artistic ability (the photographic eye that has a vision).

Notice, I did say, "virtually anyone"! That would include almost everyone except the truly dedicated GWC.

And for the record, I've never seen any pro level photographer that didn't first learn the basics before they started experimenting with out of focus techniques, or odd exposures, or rule breaking compositions. You don't start with that type of work, but you may progress to that type of work.

And to comment on your following statement:

I'm of the opinion it's only a matter of time until software will be able to take any digital image and from it produce a sharp properly exposed image. And the software will probably be built into the cameras before too long after that. So what will your credentials be then?

The same thing will happen as has always happened when progress makes certain jobs and avocations obsolete. But the truly creative will move on to something else as history has shown over and over again.

Of course we have to go beyond what you suggest above to the cameras that also compose the photo for us and then snap the shutter at the critical moment.

The bottom line is that if we are photographers now --- with the current level of equipment we have now --- then we should try to be the best photographers we can be --- and that means learning the basics.

Cheers,
rfs

[jimmyd]

Originally Posted by Al_Nowak

I'm of the opinion it's only a matter of time until software will be able to take any digital image and from it produce a sharp properly exposed image. And the software will probably be built into the cameras before too long after that.

I'm of the same opinion. In fact, I recently wrote about that, HERE, on my blog. My most recent update is about rules, i.e., breaking rules. That update is HERE.

And yes. I'm using this thread to shamelessly pimp my blog.

[BenE]

Originally Posted by jimmyd

I'm of the same opinion. In fact, I recently wrote about that, HERE, on my blog. My most recent update is about rules, i.e., breaking rules. That update is HERE.

And yes. I'm using this thread to shamelessly pimp my blog.

I guess this thread has gone about 100 different ways.. Ok.

jimmyd,

I read the blog and enjoyed it, especially when I got to the part about "way worse". How true, and I have told a couple of my friends this for some time now. This is especially true in the "association world". A lot of photographers have now become professional instructors who tell a lot of new people how they became rich in photography and now they will share the "secrets" of how to get rich in photography, but they very seldom teach the basics.

[RSStory]

Originally Posted by Al_Nowak

Ya know, I look at a lot of the fashion magazines. And it's not unusual to run across spreads in major magazines where the images are out of focus, or improperly exposed, or composed strangely, and otherwise don't adhere to the "rules" of good photography. I can hear your reply now... "but it's an artistic expression...". Maybe, and maybe it's pros who can't take a good shot. Who is to know?



And just when did God bestow on you the authority to tell people with no innate ability that they can't take pictures?

I believe everyone has a right to do whatever they want as long as they play by society's rules. I don't recall ever seeing anything about having innate ability as a prerequisite to buying a camera.

You'd like everybody to have to learn some stuff in order to produce what you consider "good pictures". I've seen enough fuzzy, poorly exposed images that are absolutely treasured by their owners to make any judgements on what constitutes a "good picture" for the average joe.

You'd like to believe that your knowledge sets you above those who don't bother to learn your "rules" and techniques.

I'm of the opinion it's only a matter of time until software will be able to take any digital image and from it produce a sharp properly exposed image. And the software will probably be built into the cameras before too long after that. So what will your credentials be then?

Hey, you want to count clicks and feel good if you get an image that makes you happy in 15 or 20 clicks. Be my guest.

But don't knock the guys who take 21, 201, or 2001 clicks to get what makes them happy. They aren't hurting you, and they probably aren't concerned about the number of clicks. Finally, they're more than likely helping keep your new toys reasonably priced.

It's been fun, but enough...

Here is my take on this. I make my living with a camera although it is a meager living at this time. The beginning of December I had a local club ask me to shoot a calendar for them. I was then told that they would have 25 dancers at the club starting at 10am on a sunday and I had to be done with all the shots by 5pm at the latest. Customers would start arriving at the club at 4pm. So I had at best 7 hours to shoot these girls. The day came and 17 actually showed up but the first didnt arrive untill 10:30 and then had to get ready so we didnt actually start shooting til 11am. Now I am down to 6 hours. That means I had at most 21 minutes to setup and shoot a girl that I had never seen before and then be ready for the next one. Sounds easy enough right? The problem is that not all of the girls were there at ther scheduled times so I had times where there wasnt a girl there for 30-40 minutes which then further limits my time with each girl after that. It worked out that I had about 15 minutes with each girl on the average. Think I had time to take 100 shots each? Think I had time to take poorly lit or composed images? I didnt! but I got the job done and the girls and the club were thrilled with the images and it has gotten me more business. I will say that was the most pressure I have been under photographically speaking but because of the rules I learned and because I dont spray and pray I managed to get the job done and make the client happy. Was it ideal? no way. was it typical of a shoot like this? nope. So now for the total images shot. The most images I shot of any one girl was 25, many of them I shot 10-12 images. I edited and showed the client the best 4 from each girl.

So had I not been working toward a pro level all this time I would have blown that job and not gotten the other business I have because of it.

From GWC to working pro we should all be working to improve our craft and in so doing we will by nature slow down and "see what we are shooting" instead of "shooting what we see"

If you dont want to do that then you can continue to do what you are doing and continue to get the results that you are now getting. It is really just that simple.

Here is one of the shots from that shoot.

Re: Finally!!!!