architect Loc: Chattanooga

Gotta admit there are a lot of things to learn about photography, but nothing like a 747 jet. Good exposure is directly related to aperture, shutter speed and ISO (sensor sensitivity). Not that complicated. OK, there are other considerations like noise, white balance, contrast, saturation, blown out whites, blocked in shadows, etc. as you learn more. Still not brain surgery. These are the relatively easy to learn and understand technical issues.

Hard part is related to aesthetics. Composition, depth of field, format are all subjective with widely varying points of view and preferences. This is where a knowledge of the history of photography is valuable, to be able to identify styles, current and past cliches' and classic approaches to photography.

Personally, I enjoy doing it the hard way. Accepting the limitations of the equipment you have, making the most of it, and using every resource you have to make a great image. That is where the fun is for me. (End of lecture)

Ugly Jake Loc: Sub-Rural Vermont

Never say never !

Canon SX30IS ISO 200 1/200 sec f5.8

bobmielke Loc: Portland, OR

Mafia! :)

architect Loc: Chattanooga

Enjoyed your little quiz. You did fool me on this one, as your P&S shot was clearly the poorest of the bunch and I was sure you were trying to mislead us, as the others were clearly superior photographs. But it was worth $100 to someone!

Now a quiz for you PIXChuck (and others). Were these taken with a DSLR or a P&S?

DSLR or Point and Shoot?


DSLR or Point and Shoot?


DSLR or Point and Shoot?

gonate Loc: sacramento,calif

Too many people depend on big zoom lens, rather than relocate to a better location to take the same photo.
they also dont take the time to focus the camera and end up with a little blur or shakey camera.

OSusanna44

It's not the wand - it's the magician!!!
Just saying' :)

ddingo777

I used to know of a well known and talented photographer in the 1950's who was the Ansel Adams of his time and shot with what amounted to no more then a Brownie box camera. This scenario is not the usual, however. The photographer's eye is definitely important, but the cameras features are also important to accomplish what that eye sees. The quality and quantity of the pixel, the lens and how the camera accepts the light is necessary to marry with the eye of a photographer.
If you are looking for a good match, low res cell phones or pin hole cameras of today we know as "point and shoot," are not going to do anything, but a snapshot. In this day of easy shooting we must be careful not to loose the magic of a real genuine photograph.

ddingo777

I wish that I was as good an amateur architect as you are an amateur photographer. Oops, as soon as you accepted the $100, you became a professional. With the excellent leading lines you probably were one before that.

George H Loc: Brooklyn, New York

They all look like they are DSLR photos, but then again my G10 is 14mp so it is capable of substantial photos.

ShakyShutter Loc: Arizona

Very good analogy Bob however, unless the student does have a sharp razor he will be wearing a beard for ever wouldn't he??

The entire point I was getting at is that of course the camera does make a difference in the technical quality of the pictures it takes. As was mentioned earlier, garbage in garbage out.

So, shouldn't the general direction for new folks be to first determine their interest level and determination/commitment. And then suggest or advise them to buy the best camera system they can afford even if they have to grow into it ... buy the sharpest razor you can afford because some day you will want to give yourself a nice clean shave, hopefully be then you won't cut yourself any more.

johnr9999 Loc: Carlton, OR

The problem with many of the responses is that the original questions have been lost in the haze of interpretation. No one has defined what makes a picture great, and I doubt that any two opinions will exactly agree. However to answer the points as originally posed, obviously from my singular perspective, from the quotes above, : The photographer is always more responsible for the greatness than the equipment, with the rare exception of where pure luck enters the equation. People use the tools they can afford and that express their creativity, assuming that "great" means more to them than simply pointing and pushing a button. Great shots, great composition, great ideas, can come from a pin hole camera... and for that matter from a cell phone. To me this entire thread is no different than asking if a great book can emerge from a stub of pencil and a some pieces of paper.[/quote]

I tend to disagree. I have not seen a great pinhole photograph. I have not seen a great cell phone photograph. I don't remember seeing a great p&s photo. My brother, who does mostly large format photography, state after an Ansel Adams exhibit the he felt like he should throw his camera gear away. You know great when you see it, read it or hear it.

kevindcornwell Loc: Hilo, Hawaii

I just have to wade in on this because it makes me laugh... at myself :-) I shoot crap all the time. Or, better stated, my shots look like crap. In fact, I'm seriously thinking of publishing a coffee-table book of photos of crap - the working title is 'Deep Doo-Doo' (I shoot exclusively underwater. I'm really serious...)

While the camera doesn't make me better (I have proof) I will say that the quality (not composition or artistry) of my shots has improved with my upgrade from a good quality Canon P&S to the Sony Nex-5 (I know, some will argue that it's also a P&S - argue away when you flood your 5D and have to replace it, vs replacing my NEX-5.) I'm very happy with my purchase as it resolved issues with edge sharpness, chromatic aberrations, and other technical blocks. My pictures aren't any 'better', but I am happier with them. So, for me, the camera did improve something - my satisfaction. Does that count for anything?

ShakyShutter Loc: Arizona

:thumbup:

alaskan

All taken with a pocket p&s Panasonic TZ3,no tripod.

ndlaw

Very nice!