Scottty Loc: Portland,Oregon

First off, lets get off the pro/non-pro discussion. The question is "what makes a photographer"? Not what makes a pro. Photography has changed, as we all know. Many of us started out in the era of film. As a photographer, we thought about how we wanted our picture to look at the end of the process. HOW we took the picture greatly determined the end result. Sure, you could play in the darkroom to correct things but you could only do so much. With film the variables were fewer. Today, the variables are limitless. Seems to me that shooting jpeg is closer to shooting film in that your settings are a greater factor in what you can do pp. When shooting raw mistakes, or errors in settings, can be much more easily corrected. So, if you can mess up, or do whatever, when taking the shot and sit at a computer to make it be whatever you want after the fact, then what does it mean to be a photographer. To me, there is a different thought process involved when getting to pp is the goal instead of what goes into taking the shot to begin with. Thoughts?

griffzky

Very true, and the process includes learning from mistakes and taking the time to correct them. Therefore, I've learned a lot over the years correcting my many mistakes.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

The amazing thing about photography is that average, random, unremarkable people can own the best equipment.

eugenehinds

Young lady I met at a ball game: "Dad says if I don't try I get nothing." Well said.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

A photographer takes pictures.

What he does with them afterwards depends on his understanding of the tools involved, how he applies them, and the goal of the image is really large variable depending on the photographer's desires and purpose in taking the picture. All photographers are not the same and do not have the same philosophy in working with the images. Are any of them wrong? No, they just have different requirements and goals.

griffzky

Very similar to Wayne Gretzky's famous line, "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take."

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Aim for the moon. If you miss, buy a more expensive camera.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

With either film or digital, I don't think mostly in terms of correcting mistakes in the darkroom or on the computer. I think in terms of enhancing the image in ways you can't do in the camera. In both film and digital, getting it as good as possible in the camera is still the goal. Of course, we all make mistakes, and then sometimes it's just a matter of overcoming them and getting a decent result. But even with a perfect negative or digital capture, it is rare that the image can't be enhanced in the darkroom or on the computer. Ansel Adams' famous musical analogy was "the negative is the score, and the print is the performance". That also goes for digital capture and post processing.

FotoHog Loc: on Cloud 9

And they do!

RodeoMan Loc: St Joseph, Missouri

Paul, I have long enjoyed reading your witty replies. I joined UHH fairly recently so I decided to look at your early posts. You had some great posts. You looked dapper in your hat . I like the photograph of you going nose to nose with Abraham Lincoln, and wrestling with your dogs. Do you still have dogs? I saw your photographs of the barn outside of Omaha honoring the old barn photographer who had passed away? I appreciate that because I was able to visit his work. You were working a lot with film. Are you still doing much with film? You had many interesting posts that I enjoyed looking at. Thanks

flyboy61 Loc: The Great American Desert

Debbie Cook

I have never given any advise on when a photographer becomes a photographer. All I know its a passion of mine that I love. I read about photography, I listen to and watch videos , I soak up as much as I can on photography. I get my camera out and my new lens out I get excited when I find out what all the buttons and whistles are on my equipment. I took a few classes for a few weeks "NOT COLLEGE" . Mostly I have learned and taught myself the little I know. I keep my day job and I take whatever gigs I get and thrilled to do some photography work because a few people think I am a photographer :) I will always want to take photos even if I never get paid for it. I figure if you have the camera in your hand you are doing some kind of photography no matter how good or bad it may be. ITS PHOTOGRAPHY and you are the photographer. I work hard during a large wedding gig and i work just as hard for a family photo session. My work starts preparing before the gig, thinking about it what lens I want to use the area . Then afterwards the time to finish up the editing which I certainly love . I love all aspects so far of what I am doing.I have a long way to go and know there's not enough time in my life to learn all I would love to do. I am 60 years young and creating and producing art in photography form makes my heart smile. I will try to attach a few of my photos.

(Download)

Uncle John

I have an old hippie friend who often gives me artsy advice. Whenever I say that I took a "picture" he corrects me and says "photograph" His point being that choice of words relates to value. A photograph is an image taken with a camera. Anyone can take a snapshot with a cellphone camera with little or no thought. (sometimes the cellphone is the only way to capture an image because your real camera is at home). I think a photographer is one who can picture the image before and while capturing that image. I am learning to be a photographer. For me that requires not only learning the equipment but composition before. Cellphones have megapixels, but sometimes it takes glass that they don't have. A photographer can plan and utilize that. I am most happy when an image develops as I planned but I have been delighted with the surprises.
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FotoHog Loc: on Cloud 9

I also had a number of surprises along the way but I'm not so sure I was always delighted!. . . .

Randle

I believe it to be one’s passion for the hobby! Along with passion comes inspiration. Without passion you have no inspiration. Without inspection you don’t have the ability to see your picture!