Picture Correct (picturecorrect.com) recently posted an article entitled "10 Things Successful Photographers Don't


The first bit of advice:

1. Waste time thinking about gear

This is one of the most important things a successful photographer avoids at all costs. Photography gear may be important for enhancing shots, however, it’s not as important as core photography when taking creative photos. In fact, creative shots often come out better when they are taken naturally, without extra gadgets.

Picture Correct (picturecorrect.com) recently posted an article entitled "10 Things Successful Photographers Don't Do."

The first bit of advice:

1. Waste time thinking about gear

This is one of the most important things a successful photographer avoids at all costs. Photography gear may be important for enhancing shots, however, it’s not as important as core photography when taking creative photos. In fact, creative shots often come out better when they are taken naturally, without extra gadgets.

REEEEEEEEEEEAAAALLY ????

WTF is a "Successful Photographer " anywho ?


Rhetorical question. No answer needed. You're not
someone I'd want an answer from. Don't take that
personally. I really meant "you and the other seven
billion earthlings". But, it does INCLUDE you ... and
whoever wrote the material that you read.

FWIW, there ARE other sections of UHH that would
be a less inappropriate venue for that sort of stuff.

Linda, I do very much respect and enjoy your thoughtful and erudite contributions to the forum, but I have to disagree that this topic doesn't promote "thoughtful commentary."

It seems to me that, given its prominent position in the quoted article, it is intended to instigate thought and reflection on what photography is really about, which would then hopefully lead to greater attention to and discussion of the creative specifics mentioned in your post. So its not just a criticism of GAS and gear obsession.

I agree with DaveO's sentiment re "beat to death," but for me it's more because this topic doesn't promote any learning or thoughtful commentary; it's just another "chit-chat" thread. Burkphoto recently wrote a similar topic here in which he linked a video to help aid wider discussion. Admin moved his from main forum to links/resources, which is where I expect yours will end up also because of the link you included.

Back in 2016 Sharpshooter did a series on composition. See several of those threads here - if you can get past the Naked Section topics on that page

Discussions on specifics of how to create impact (light, composition, depth of field, angle of view/perspective, how to draw someone into a scene and keep their attention) have been very rare in UHH's main discussion for quite some time, however. I wonder why? Is it because aside from gear specifics and tech talk, the majority who comment in main discussion are already where they want to be with their hobby? And those who are motivated to improve and learn are doing so in other sections of this site - and maybe connecting with a mentor via private message - or have discovered other resources, whether online or books or classroom?

Main discussion forum has become a dumping ground that includes sharing of Facebook photo-jokes, complaints about UPS, and much more that should have been posted to General Chit-Chat. For those seeking a different experience, I urge you to look through "all sections" at the bottom of this page. Examples:

In May and June of 2018, there was a 4-part collaborative effort in For Your Consideration section on the aspects of light. The last chapter, with links to earlier, is here.

The For Your Consideration section has also hosted topics on flower photography, black and white, still life and much more. But that section, like all volunteer-moderated sections, is invisible to new users. You must specifically subscribe and even then, if you are browsing via the emailed digest, you must be logged in to UHH to see postings.

There has often been excellent feedback/critique and discussion in several Landscape Forum topics since that section was created in December. PP Forum has a list of member-created tutorials here. The Commercial Photography section has a lighting tutorial here.

It is sad that most of the volunteer-moderated sections receive very little participation, but that may speak as much to the demographics of main discussion participants as it does to the lack of visibility of the other sections.

The reason I agreed with "beat to death" is because these discussions - frequent and predictable in tone (we have thumbs-up for Dave and we have thumbs-up for you ) don't lead to creative specifics, at least not in main discussion forum.

The last time I tried, someone immediately complained that the topic should be in Photo Gallery. Compare to Sharpshooter's composition topics of 2016/2015 - chock full of photos. And that was the whole point: to see and discuss

But it's a new world. All the best!

Picture Correct (picturecorrect.com) recently posted an article entitled "10 Things Successful Photographers Don't Do."

The first bit of advice:

1. Waste time thinking about gear

This is one of the most important things a successful photographer avoids at all costs. Photography gear may be important for enhancing shots, however, it’s not as important as core photography when taking creative photos. In fact, creative shots often come out better when they are taken naturally, without extra gadgets.