Why do we photographers.......? I have, too many times, read the question," why do we call ourselves photographers but still use post processing to edit our pictures. JIMHO this is a...

shadow1284 Loc: Mid-West Michigan

I have, too many times, read the question," why do we call ourselves photographers but still use post processing to edit our pictures. JIMHO this is a good example. many great photographs come from photographers who. cannot, most of the time, control the enviroment we are shooting in, Many times cannot control the subject we are shooting. Cannot be in the perfect place at the perfect time. And many of us cannot afford the best glass and other equipmet money can buy.
But we still can present an image worty of out time effort and luck in being in the right place. We have the oportunity to present an image that can still impress the viewer and give them the moment to pause.
An example; An eagle I just happenned to come across, while on the beach along Lake Michigan. The weather was great,but the eagle was high up on a dead tree branch among many other trees. I didn't have a monopod nor a tripod. I had a Tamron 18-270 on a Canon 7d.
I present to you a picture of what I came across and the picture, from PP, I enjoyed creating.

What I came across

What I present, PP, as my picture to you

sarge69 Loc: Ft Myers, FL

I, for one, am not a Photographer. Picture taker yes. I make photos, yes. I process some of my photos, yes. Some of my pictures/photos are good, Yes.

Would that make me only a picture taker?

Please show the definition for us to aspire to for the title Photographer.

Sarge

ecobin Loc: Paoli, PA

Photography has continued to evolve just like any other art form. As our equipment improves (cameras, computers, software, etc.) our inner creativeness finds new outlets. It all depends on what we enjoy doing and sharing. We can call ourselves photographers, picture takers or reality twisters - it doesn't matter. We share a common bond and that what UHH is about.

PhotoArtsLA Loc: Boynton Beach

Ten Ways to KNOW You've Become a Photographer

1. Your lighting costs more than your car.
2. You can overpower the sun with ease.
3. You use the flat disc on your flashmeter.
4. You know the psychological effect of lens placement.
5. Your in-house printing doesn't stop at a little 16x20.
6. You find yourself having to get more 4TB drives, often.
7. You have to pull shooting permits for your shot.
8. You have $1,000,000 in liability insurance for your photography.
9. Your photography has been published on every continent.
10. You realize you still have a lot to learn.

birdpix Loc: South East Pennsylvania

Do you represent that any Post Processing isn't a part of Photography?

richnash46 Loc: Texas

sarge69 wrote:

I, for one, am not a Photographer. Picture taker yes. I make photos, yes. I process some of my photos, yes. Some of my pictures/photos are good, Yes.

Would that make me only a picture taker?

Please show the definition for us to aspire to for the title Photographer.

Sarge

I detect you are being a bit facetious Sarge, I have seen many outstanding photographs you have posted and you are indeed a photographer versus as you say a "picture taker!" ;)

hiker60 Loc: Northern Idaho

PhotoArtsLA wrote:

Ten Ways to KNOW You've Become a Photographer br ... (show quote)

Darned. Guess I just have to keep grabbing clients. Only got 3 out of all these. O well.... Where's my Brownie?

Danilo Loc: Las Vegas

I agree with PhotoArtsLA insofar as this would be a photographer able to shoot an Atlas Missile lift-off on Monday, and a blast-furnace in a steel mill on Tuesday. This would be a "Professional Photographer". Ansel Adams would not meet these qualifications, but he was a Photographer.
Our Professional Photographer would load his equipment on Sunday night to shoot the Atlas Missile and be back to the studio by Monday afternoon for post process. Adams would begin scouting a location and studying the lighting a month ahead of time, take meter readings and Polaroids, and finally shoot the final product on lift-off day. Then there would be weeks in the darkroom. Would Ansel's photo be better? Maybe, maybe not.
Our Professional could do his photo for $3.5K-$5K, Adams would have to get $65K-$75K. Now his photo must be 20X better, if that's even possible!

BboH Loc: s of 2/21, Ellicott City, MD

I would suggfest this possibility:
In my mind, I reserve the title "Photographer" to one who earns an income from the images, i.e.: there are willing buyers and or students. Those who don't earn, for whatever reason, I think of as artists, image makers, hobbyists, whatever.

profpb Loc: Venice, Florida

I'm also a golfer but do not do it for money and I don't follow all of the rules.

Georgia Peddler Loc: Brunswick, GA

Great Eagle shot - PP made it possible, eh?
I think most "photographers" still possess some of the basics of the profession. So many "shooters" simply go to Best Buy and make a purchase and then they too are "photographers"
Is the person on UHH who asks the question "How do I make my photos sharp all over", or "Why is everything all white?" a real photographer? Absolutely not! Snapshot artist, yes - photographer, no.
Simply having the financial ability to fork over the $thousands in ghetus required to properly equip a basic photography operation does not satisfy the definition. Shooter-yes. Take all of the photos you can and enjoy the experience. Photographer-no, not just yet anyway. I believe I'll become a brain surgeon today. I think Walmart has a book that will give me all of the info I will require. How does that work for you?
As with any worthwhile endeavor, being a photographer requires some serious dedication, the desire to learn, and a sincere wish to be successful if, in fact, being a photographer is what you wish for.
Good Shooting

oldtool2 Loc: South Jersey

sarge69 wrote:

I, for one, am not a Photographer. Picture taker yes. I make photos, yes. I process some of my photos, yes. Some of my pictures/photos are good, Yes.

Would that make me only a picture taker?

Please show the definition for us to aspire to for the title Photographer.

Sarge

From Merriam-Webster Dictionary
pho·tog·ra·pher
noun \fə-ˈtä-grə-fər\
Definition of PHOTOGRAPHER
: one who practices photography; especially: one who makes a business of taking photographs

Am I a photographer? No, I am an armature or hobbyist who enjoys taking photos or creating pictures. Dont want to change, I enjoy what I do. That is, learning the art of photography.

Jim D

jimberton Loc: Michigan's Upper Peninsula

i just looked up photographer in the dictionary.....it's says "a person who takes photographs"..........that's pretty general. that definition covers any 5 year old with a camera.

why do "photographers" continually make posts knocking others that don't do things their way?

i have a way of doing things, but i am open to learning new things and adding to my skills. to tell the truth, i wouldn't of become interested in photography if i didn't have my photoshop background. that's a harsh thing to say..but it's the truth.

i am a photographer because i use a camera every day. it's a big part of my day job.

am i a "pro" photographer....maybe, maybe not. i do a lot of paid photo sessions on a part time basis.

i am a dwac......dude with a camera!!!

it's amazing to me how many threads i have read on this forum where a "photographer" starts defining things.

a good phrase to look up is "close minded"

Designerfin Loc: Utah, USA

Ansel Adams was a photographer. I think we all agree on that. He post-processed the hell out of his images in the darkroom often times, so I don't think we need to be too self-effacing about doing some PS adjustments. If you think you are unworthy of the label "photographer" then how about "artist"? Would that make you feel more comfortable cropping, sharpening and adjusting levels?

amyinsparta Loc: White county, TN

"Photographer: One to takes photographs, especially one who practices photography professionally." from Dictionary.com.

So there you have it! It doesn't say a thing about what you do to the photo after you have taken it. So if we click the camera button, we are all photographers and those who click for a living are 'professionals'. Controversy ended!! :mrgreen: