wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

Unfortunately, learning all about and everything about one's camera is only the starting point. Learn the art stuff of photography, like the rule of thirds, etc. and how to successfully break all those rules, that will take a lifetime to learn. That why artist and photographers do what they do.

CatMarley Loc: North Carolina

Never mind, and don't feel bad. You have the enjoyment of handling your beautifully engineered expensive, elegant gear: gleaming glass and metal so exquisitely joined to make optical magic! As a surgeon, I can tell you I love to handle really good instruments - regardless of what I can do with them. Be happy!

Paul J. Svetlik Loc: Colorado

It looks to me, that sophisticated cameras today, with too many bells and whistles make us lost in the number of choices?
In other words, we can't see the forest because of too many trees?
Sometimes even reading the camera manual five times (printed who knows where) doesn't seem to help?
Operational simplicity might be the reason for Annette's better images and not some unidentifiable "art"?

anotherview Loc: California

Study and apply the principles, concepts, rules, and techniques of image composition. Your photographs will improve dramatically.

jaycoffman Loc: San Diego

This is one if the eternal questions of photography. It depends on what you like ti shoot but I think that in general and over a wide series of conditions a good technician with a better camera will capture more keepers. Yesterday I was out on the ocean shooting dolphins--I had my Nikon D7100 with a Tamron 16-300 lens and my wife and sister both has P&Ss. I came back with more pics that were sharp and in focus and properly taken against the light, rocking boat and glare from the water. Also burst shooting really helped with the sudden appearance of the dolphins.

BUT, generally in general conditions the person with the eye for composition, even with a technically inferior camera, will get more really great and interesting pictures. My wife didn't get as many pictures as I did but several of hers were truly amazing as they captured not only the dolphins but the skyline of San Diego and the mountains behind it as a setting for the picture.

As a last thought--post processing can make up to a certain extent some composition deficiencies but there is really no substitute for really nailing the composition.

CatMarley Loc: North Carolina

I am not so sure of that. Years ago I gave a cast off slr to my 14 year old daughter, and she came home with some wonderful images, beautifully framed and composed and with some unusual lighting. She saw beauty and captured it with the camera without much understanding of optics or perspective. True she is a natural artist with various media since she was very small. I think some of us just naturally SEE things that others don't.

MW

This is quite a long thread and if I missed some and am therefore repeating, I appologize. Composition is more difficult than all the technical bits. I think photographers who studied art before grabbing a camera might have an easier time. Going to art school at this time is probably impractical but you might want to check out book by Michael Freeman called "The Photographer's Eye". A number of people have found it helpful

cambriaman Loc: Central CA Coast

Shoot, shoot, shoot! Practice, practice, practice! Read the manual with your camera in the other hand. Try every button and selection. Find out how the menus work. Digital film is free. Shoot a thousand, then shoot a thousand more. Have your wife critique your images. Don't be afraid to ask and listen. A natural eye for composition is a gift but you can learn by looking.Don't give up. The joy of a good image is not to be forgotten.

royden Loc: Decatur, GA

Me too.lol

anotherview Loc: California

Yes: "some of us just naturally SEE things that others don't."

A competent teacher can explain to others what he saw in a given photograph, even if his artistic sub-consciousness swayed him at the moment.

The difficult part for one without this natural eye involves trying to sense a subject in a manner which mirrors this more natural approach.

A gut feeling beyond words will influence the photographer with this eye to sense that subject which compels him to take its picture. Later (sometimes much later), he will detect the elements and their relation which first caught his eye as worthy of a photograph.

The diligent photographer without this eye will struggle for knowing what a worthy photograph should look like yet his mechanical approach may overwhelm or confuse his awareness with this and that do or don't.

All the same, I believe that with useful instruction and plenty of practice, most all photographers can develop at least a second sense of a good photograph.

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

You are right about some people just have the "eye" and can "see" without a lot of training or learning. And some will have to work hard to develop that ability to "see". It's a talent and a privilege for a photographer to "see" the many things around them that many poeple fail to see or just take for granted.

Mr PC Loc: Austin, TX

A wildlife photographer friend of mine accepted a 365 day photo a day challenge from another friend of hers a couple of years ago. When I got interested in wildlife and birding, she paid it forward. I am nearing the end of that year of posting a minimum of a picture a day on my Facebook page. Getting out nearly EVERY day and looking for something beautiful and unique has made me a much better artist and photographer. I'm a computer geek by trade, so I've got the technical chops. I could read all I wanted about composition. Getting out and making a daily discipline of doing it has been a very rewarding experience. I'd highly recommend it to any of you techies out there with the best toys and the worst images to show for it. Good luck!

Lionel1954 Loc: Brampton, Ontario, Canada.

If your though are getting the exposure right, then how much though are you giving to composition and colour? Ask your wife what she see's when taking an image and learn to see with your third eye as she does. Learn how to create an image as opposed to taking a picture.

Photoninny Loc: Monterey Bay Area

I had the same problem with my GF. But I found the solution:
1. Set my 70D creative filter to "vivid"
2. Set mode to "greenA"
3. Shoot over her shoulder.

:thumbup:

Lionel1954 Loc: Brampton, Ontario, Canada.

Funny...;-)