Just Because You Have a Camera...

**Cricket** · Share | #1 (**permalink**) 06-16-2011, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Just Because YOU Have a Camera DOESN'T Make YOU a Photographer!

I have been seeing the above quote around the net recently and for some unknown reason, it disturbs me a bit...

I am curious, what makes a person a photographer?

**Bob Barr** · #2 (**permalink**) 06-16-2011, 04:06 PM

I'd say that much of the difference is the ability to see things differently than most people do and then show them what they're not seeing.

Doing this could encompass a lot of things. A few of the more simple examples: controlling shutter speed to deliberately blur or freeze movement, manipulating aperture to expand or reduce depth of field. (There are undoubtedly many more that just aren't coming to mind right now.)

With modern cameras, yes, anyone can easily 'take a picture'. By contrast (sorry

), a photographer can 'make a photograph' out of the same scene.

**ScriptMan** · #3 (**permalink**) 06-16-2011, 04:26 PM

Bob pretty much nailed it down. To that I would add composition and lighting. There are still a few more for someone else to post.

That does not mean I can't enjoy taking pictures. I have no aspirations of being called an artist or even selling anything other than stock images.

It is a hobby, something I enjoy when it goes well and most times when it does not, I don't let it raise my blood pressure.

findyourartschool · #4 (**permalink**) 06-17-2011, 02:02 AM

According to me the person should have respect and passion for photography and then to be a professional he/she should join some good photography course.

lynxus · #5 (**permalink**) 06-17-2011, 02:34 AM

Just like adding oil to your car and replacing the wheels does not make you a mechanic.

Or writing a hello world app in php does not make you a programmer.

Haley · #6 (**permalink**) 06-18-2011, 05:34 PM

To be a photographer, you just need heart.
Your pictures shouldn't show a scene or a face, they should show the emotion that's trying to bleed through.
Learn that, and the classes won't teach you anything except for good ways to capture those emotions.

**Cricket** · #7 (**permalink**) 06-18-2011, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HaleyW

To be a photographer, you just need heart.
Your pictures shouldn't show a scene or a face, they should show the emotion that's trying to bleed through. Learn that, and the classes won't teach you anything except for good ways to capture those emotions.

I love what you said on FB...

‎"Lesson of the day: Having a camera doesn't make you a photographer, but having the heart to show emotion through your lens does."

joe-d · #8 (**permalink**) 06-18-2011, 09:16 PM

In my opinion, if you have a camera, you are NOT A PHOTOGRAPHER but just a CAMERA OWNER!

A photographer is an artist and his medium is photos. To become a photographer, you need to be one with your camera. You must visualize what image you want to capture and know how to capture it with your camera.

Dan · #9 (**permalink**) 10-16-2011, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cricket

I have been seeing the above quote around the net recently and for some unknown reason, it disturbs me a bit...

I am curious, what makes a person a photographer?

Sorry if I'm reviving a somewhat older thread, but I noticed that quote very recently after a friend actually showed me a website associated with it, where they put people's photograph's that they think are really bad, and then a community of people posts negative comments about the photo and the photographer (really nasty stuff).

I think a photographer is anyone that chooses to pick up a camera and take pictures. It's the term that defines them.

Is there a different term for an olympic swimmer versus someone that just goes to the beach for a swim? They are both "swimmers" per se. Perhaps it is the word "olympic" that differentiates the two, much as the word "professional" would differentiate a photographer who uses the medium as an art form or for business, versus an amateur that just likes to take pretty pictures.

That's how I look at it.

**Cricket** · #10 (**permalink**) 10-16-2011, 04:02 PM

I am very pleased you revived this thread. I love your input!

Dreamrage · #11 (**permalink**) 10-17-2011, 03:30 AM

I can agree with that really. I see a lot of people in art sites all over, and even a few at deviant art I'm afraid, that literally picks a persons photo to ribbons, either because they didn't use the right lens to their meaning, or it might have a little blur on it, or some other silly excuse to make them feel better about themselves.

I can't say what makes a photographer, they're all artists in one form or another, but I can tell you what makes a bad one. IMHO its the kind of person that squashes a new photographer's creativity, and makes them wish they had never picked up a camera in the first place.

I know this sounds like a rant,(its not really) but I see so much of this in artist circles, where an artist thinks themselves so superior to others that they say things like that just to make themselves feel good because they knocked one more person out the competition by killing their will and love for photography, and knowing that they wouldn't carry on learning, taking photos, just because someone with a professional title decided their work sucked.

Just my two cents.

WildRose · #12 (**permalink**) 10-17-2011, 11:18 AM

I think there are different calibers of what a photographer can be.

Personally I feel that statement would be more true if it said "Just Because YOU Have a Camera DOESN'T Make YOU a professional Photographer!" I think anyone who takes a photo is the photographer of that photo but I don't feel everyone has the ability to consider them self a professional.

aeneas · #13 (**permalink**) 10-18-2011, 03:46 AM

Everyone has an own opinion about these definitions..

A professional photographer imo is just someone who does photography as a profession - he gets paid for what he does. Nothing more, nothing less. He can be a lousy photographer (technically) but be active in a niche that still pays well and be able to continue to work as a pro photog.

An amateur photographer is someone who does it as a hobby. Some amateurs suck, but some are better than some professional photographers.

Then about owning a camera and being a photographer.
Imo you need to make the difference between a snapshot and a photograph.

Everyone can use a camera and make a snapshot (photo). You just register what you see, maybe even on auto/P setting. The camera makes almost all decisions for you.

The difference with a photographer, is that he knows in advance what he wants the photo to look like, even before he takes it. He will influence/manipulate the scene/camera/.. to get this. He'll change camera settings, change things (add lights, ..). That's what a photographer does.

Biarwala · #14 (**permalink**) 10-25-2011, 08:45 PM

This is a hobby, I am very pleased and enjoyed when it is running properly. With modern cameras,...anyone can easily take pictures with good results.

noelagnote · #15 (**permalink**) 11-06-2011, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HaleyW

To be a photographer, you just need heart.
Your pictures shouldn't show a scene or a face, they should show the emotion that's trying to bleed through.
Learn that, and the classes won't teach you anything except for good ways to capture those emotions.

This is true. A real photographer is the one who have the heart for this craft.

jeresteem99 · #16 (**permalink**) 11-08-2011, 12:13 AM

A photographer is Profession while Photography is a passion.

In my own though's

atomic2797 · #17 (**permalink**) 11-09-2011, 04:58 PM

If you spent a lot of money on a professional DSLR (Canon/Nikon) and you shoot on automatic youre not a photographer. =)

**ScriptMan** · #18 (**permalink**) 11-09-2011, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atomic2797

If you spent a lot of money on a professional DSLR (Canon/Nikon) and you shoot on automatic youre not a photographer. =)

For the benefit of those who don't know any other way, please explain how to do it better than the camera software.

You must have some tips or you would not bait us with a post like this.

atomic2797 · #19 (**permalink**) 11-11-2011, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScriptMan

For the benefit of those who don't know any other way, please explain how to do it better than the camera software.

You must have some tips or you would not bait us with a post like this.

The post was meant as humor, but with that said most DSLRs are packed with features and control. People starting out in photography should learn their cameras, play with the ISO, shutter, apeture, focus points, depth of feel, etc so they get the most out of their cameras. You will never really unlock the full potential of your camera or your pictures on auto mode.

**ScriptMan** · #20 (**permalink**) 11-11-2011, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atomic2797

The post was meant as humor, but with that said most DSLRs are packed with features and control. People starting out in photography should learn their cameras, play with the ISO, shutter, apeture, focus points, depth of feel, etc so they get the most out of their cameras. You will never really unlock the full potential of your camera or your pictures on auto mode.

That was a nice down payment on the reply.

What are the effects of different shutter speeds, ISO settings and what the heck does aperture do? Where do those fuzzy backgrounds come from?