Rongnongno Loc: FL

Not so fast here

First off a photographer is not a push button critter. It is a trained individual that knows his field, his subject and his equipment. That individual can use any camera and get good results but that same trained individual given a choice will select the best tool for the job.

A naturalist or wild life photographer will need to be aware of his surroundings, know his prey and basically become the prey in order to get THE picture. If an individual does not have the intimate knowledge needed to capture the image mentioned, forget it. Any amount of equipment will be wasted. By the same token if the equipment is ridiculous (like using a wide angle to take a close up of a tit on a branch 50 feet away) there is no point even with a FF mega pixel camera.

A wedding photographer needs to know his equipment first in order to react to the chaos surrounding such an event. He also needs some people skill and understanding to catch the fugitive expressions in folks face as this is a highly emotional event for a few guests. Attention to details, quick reflexes and control is paramount. Here again the equipment is key and knowing how to use it efficiently a must.

A portrait photographer is a dying beast. Not only does he need to know what he is doing and his subject he also must be able to transcend the person onion like personality in order to reveal the 'true person' in front of his camera.

(Any)scape photographer worth his salt knows that a tripod is a must and use filters more than any other photographer. He also has to be patient to wait for the 'ultimate light'.

All this to say that Photographers* are highly trained individuals who have learned technical and other intangible talents enhancement (awkward phrasing here) in order to produce Photographs*, not mere snap-shots. These same individuals are well aware that post processing is a must in order to create the best output from the best possible Photograph that reflect their vision and talent.

These Photographers are few and far between.

IWACs** are not photographers, just pale pretenders who want to believe 'it is the guy with the camera' because THEY are behind it.

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* Capital 'P' to denote the professionalism and quality
** Idiot With A Camera

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
--Bob

chaman

I will like to add that there are IWACs that have been doing that for YEARS (some more than 30 years) and are still IWAC.

Great post from the OP.

Quixdraw Loc: x

No disagreement on many points.

Just one question, who sits in judgment and awards the accolade of the "P" and the condemnation of the "IWAC"?

Post processing essential? An individual choice.

Until there is a Caliph of Cameras, photographers will be able to satisfy themselves with their interpretation of their art & craft.

My opinions and response.

n3eg Loc: West coast USA

Tomorrow it can be not the camera, not the lens, not the photographer, but the guy who wrote the code for the camera microprocessor who makes the photo what it is.

Wilsondl3

There is nothing written in stone that defines An Idiot With A Camera and a pro. And who are we to make up the rules of who is or is not either. The Famous Weebee (look him up) took all his shots at 1/200th - distance 10' and a Press Flash not sure what film he used. I had a Wedding Photographer that did a similar thing. She would have her husband set up her camera and flash (auto) and change the film for her. She got great pictures and charged above average prices and had all the business she could handle. Maybe a camera idiot but she didn't. Some time ago we had a new Hog ask a very basic question and one of our resident trolls looked up some pictures he was selling on the net. One of our other hogs looked up the info on his pictures and they were all taken on Auto. Another Idiot With A Camera? I know others that are very knowledgeable about how cameras work - Know all about exposure = rule of thirds - etc -etc. But don't take pictures worth beans. Time to stop putting folks in pidgin holes and just enjoy their work - Help when we can- Learn when we can. - Dave

Wilsondl3

Sorry double post = Dave

Quixdraw Loc: x

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

chaman

Perhaps an IWAC is like porn, you know what it is when you see it...

:)

Quixdraw Loc: x

Not into porn -- just reluctant to judge learners by others standards. The IWAC is a stage through which Every Photographer passes, or doesn't. That he / she gets enjoyment from what they do, and may advance in skill, or not, gives me pleasure. No closed doors!

Mr PC Loc: Austin, TX

Right on, Ron. I've taken some pretty amazing photos over the last year or two with whatever was handy, sometimes, GASP, even a cell phone. And got asked how I did it, what kind of camera I had, etc. The only thing worse than the IWAC, is the person that looks at one of your pride and joy WOW photos and say "That's a great picture. You must have a REALLY good camera." Argh... I love good equipment, and it does help, but it can't help you stalk that bird or bride as you mentioned.

Wilsondl3

Thanks to those who sent Private post to tell me that the photographer "Weebee" was wrong. It was a typo the photog I was writing about is Weegee you do need to look him up. - Dave

chaman

When you get the great camera comment just say, "yeah, and you now all those great classic paintings? Those guys must have had some awesome brushes!" They will get the message!

WessoJPEG Loc: Cincinnati, Ohio

Well said. :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

Good post Ron... I have had this or similar discussions with my wife about tools in general. I buy good woodworking tools and good mechanic's tools and good photography tools. I am not the best wood worker but I do good work and demand tools that will retain their sharpness or whatever throughout the job. I demand that my 15/16 inch socket be 15/16 of an inch and not approximately so. I spend good money on good tools and expect them to last. Yes, I do sometimes buy at Harbor Freight or some of those places when I need an item that will just "do the job" and I can be done with it. But, a table saw or router or anything serious I want good tools. I expect my torsion wrench to be however many foot pounds or inch pounds that I stop it at and not a general plus or minus 25 lbs. In photography, I am the same way. I want cameras and lenses that do what I expect them to do when I point them at a target and take the photo. It is similar to when I was in the military. When I was in the field, I expected that my weapon would put the bullet where I pointed the weapon when I pulled the trigger and not just get close. I realize that the military subject is an extreme case but it is a case in point of my thinking. I wouldn't think of going in to a combat zone with a toy weapon and I don't do it with carpentry, auto mechanics or photography. Am I great photographer because of the tools I use? No, but I am a good photographer that wants predictable results when I set the aperture, shutter speed and ISO and not generalizations of them. I am not a great woodworker or mechanic either but I also don't want my failures to be because I worked my tail off with lousy tools. Good tools and the right tools make good work easier and predictable. Bad tools just make the worker have to work harder and more precisely to get average results.