Carl D wrote:
Once your satisfied with what you see in the viewfinder and push the shutter button the camera doesn't know the difference between "take" or "make". The camera merely records what you want it to.
"To take or make" can have multiple interpretations. Many years ago, during a Camera Club outing in the Ken Lockwood Gorge, we were exploring the interplay of water, rocks, and the special lighting filtered through the golden fall foliage, Jimmy and I took many photos. My best, of golden hued water falling past black rocks, was carefully composed and exposed. I am quite proud of it. Jimmy's exquisite entry in our following photo contest was of a rock and some wet leaves, but as Jimmy explained it, he was dissatisfied with the original arrangement and moved, removed, and supplemented those leaves until it exactly met his preconceived ideal. THAT WAS A MADE IMAGE! Mine was of the scene as I found it, no matter how precise my composition and exposure, in comparison, Jimmy MADE his image; I TOOK mine.
Similarly, later when we both were doing wedding photography, we would each arrange the the bride, the groom, and various groups to create, to "MAKE" photos to preserve their memories. Then, during the ceremony and the reception we would "TAKE" the pictures of the scenes as they developed.
My favorite (and maybe best) photographic endeavor has always been in sport. Again, under the criteria set out above, there I stood, waiting for the athletes to do their thing and then "snapping away". "TAKING", not "MAKING". But that completely ignores my efforts, expertise and the artfulness required to be in the best place to record that action, allowing for and exposing for the lighting, composing the image even as I followed the action, timing the release of the shutter, et al!
What I am saying is that it is not a question of MAKE or TAKE, it is always a combination of both and none of us should ever denigrate another's efforts to CREATE an image.