GAS is not the answer
Nov 17, 2020 11:39:22 #
An endorsement by a participant of the benefits of excellent photography training:
“If I'd spent more on Mike's training and less on gear, I'd be a lot further down my photography path - and have change in my pocket!”
Like the participant, I have spent too much on equipment over the years and not enough on honing my skills.
“If I'd spent more on Mike's training and less on gear, I'd be a lot further down my photography path - and have change in my pocket!”
Like the participant, I have spent too much on equipment over the years and not enough on honing my skills.
Nov 17, 2020 11:45:30 #
Nov 17, 2020 11:49:10 #
I agree, but I didn't agree enough to restrain myself in the past when the "latest and greatest" hit the market. Hopefully you are staying healthy in Chicago's lockdown.
Nov 17, 2020 13:05:38 #
lwerthe1mer wrote:
An endorsement by a participant of the benefits of excellent photography training:
“If I'd spent more on Mike's training and less on gear, I'd be a lot further down my photography path - and have change in my pocket!”
Like the participant, I have spent too much on equipment over the years and not enough on honing my skills.
“If I'd spent more on Mike's training and less on gear, I'd be a lot further down my photography path - and have change in my pocket!”
Like the participant, I have spent too much on equipment over the years and not enough on honing my skills.
I'm not sure how acquiring new equipment prevents someone from learning and practicing. In fact, in my case, when I get in a creative rut, a new piece of gear often jump starts my mojo and gets me out again. I have never spent a nickel on any photographic training, other than a couple of Photoshop books back in the early 90's when there wasn't as much free content available as today.
Nov 17, 2020 13:14:23 #
lwerthe1mer wrote:
I agree, but I didn't agree enough to restrain myself in the past when the "latest and greatest" hit the market. Hopefully you are staying healthy in Chicago's lockdown.
Equipment today, entry-level thru the top-end, are all superior. There may be more pixels beyond 24MP, but the images aren't getting better. Some cameras will still be better for certain things, for the majority of digital today (4/3, APS-C, FF) you can't tell the difference.
But, when it comes to practice, there is always a difference. If we gave two people the same camera and lens, and after a week we learned only one had practiced, who do you think will be better?
I've been practicing restraint on buying more equipment.
And, using the mostly nice weather this Fall in Chicago for more practice.Nov 17, 2020 19:15:54 #
Nov 17, 2020 20:54:29 #
I suspect that this thread may garner many pages.
There are many great successful photographers that have had academic training. There are many bad photographers that have many letters after their name and can quote every photo-technical theory chapter and verse and take lousy pictures.
There are many self-taught photographers that do superb work and probably as many self-taught photographers that should have gone to school in that they developed bad habits and never learned the basics.
There are many imaginative ad creative photographers that have incredibly great and ambitious concepts but don't know how to execute any of them.
Every serious craftsperson, professional or amateur wants the best tools to work with. Inferior, inappropriate, or malfunctioning tools can hamper even the most talented and savvy worker. There is, however, a misconception among some unsuccessful photoghrers, who are unhappy withte results, that an upgrade of equipment will solve their issues where in reality their deficit is in their faulty technique, a low level of skill or lack of "education" whether it is self-acquired knowledge or that gained in an academic setting. Makes no difference- they just don't know what they are doing.
There are cases where the photograher is experiencing an equipment-based issue that is holding him or her back in certain aspects of their work and a new lens, light, camera or another accessory will solve the problem. Some things can't be improvised worked around so out comes the piggybank!
Sometimes overly complicated and complex equipment becomes a deterrent to improving technically or artistically in photography. Too much automation can get in the way of learning necessary rudiments. Sometimes too much gear gets in the way between the photographer and the subjects- too much fumbling around can be a distraction.
School vs. Self-teaching? I consider myself fortunate that I did have some formal education- so I have some "wallpaper" and some basic theory to fall back on for problem-solving. I served as a military photographic specialist so I was forced to take certain specific training. I like to keep up with current stuff so I have always taken seminars and classes from time to time. Nonetheless, what I have learned on the "street" and on the job is knowledge and experience that I could not have attained in a classroom or from any book or tutorial.
I am certain I could have learned a good part of the theory by trial and error and experimentation but oftentimes just taking in a class or doing some old-fashioned book-learning can save a heck of a lot of time and money.
One thing I can tell y'all as a long time teacher and trainer- NO ONE can teach talent- you can only inspire your students and trainees to utilize the talent that they have and give them the mental tools to work with. A good teacher does not want to "clone himself" and produce "disciples" that adhere to his or her own style and philosophy. Too much of that is ongoing so you have students and fans practicing "idol worship" instead of developing their own styles and skills.
GAS? Gas can be painful- as a kid, I ate 4 cans of baked beans and the pains were so intense I was convinced I was having a heart attack at 15- years old-. A bottle of pop made it worse and I thought I was gonna explode. A good friend of mine taught me how to make Arroz con Gandules- real rice and beans (well actually pigeon peas) recipe- YUMMY! the starch in the rice absorbers the gas!
OK- some folks approach photography like stamp collectors, or coin collectors, or sports-card collectors and just NEED to have the next new whatever to complete their collection which is never completed. They have the right to enjoy their gear, so if the can afford it- more power to them! The manufactures and the retailers have to make a living and the market has to be there to supply them with revenue so the can continue to make advances in all the stuff they bring us.
There are many great successful photographers that have had academic training. There are many bad photographers that have many letters after their name and can quote every photo-technical theory chapter and verse and take lousy pictures.
There are many self-taught photographers that do superb work and probably as many self-taught photographers that should have gone to school in that they developed bad habits and never learned the basics.
There are many imaginative ad creative photographers that have incredibly great and ambitious concepts but don't know how to execute any of them.
Every serious craftsperson, professional or amateur wants the best tools to work with. Inferior, inappropriate, or malfunctioning tools can hamper even the most talented and savvy worker. There is, however, a misconception among some unsuccessful photoghrers, who are unhappy withte results, that an upgrade of equipment will solve their issues where in reality their deficit is in their faulty technique, a low level of skill or lack of "education" whether it is self-acquired knowledge or that gained in an academic setting. Makes no difference- they just don't know what they are doing.
There are cases where the photograher is experiencing an equipment-based issue that is holding him or her back in certain aspects of their work and a new lens, light, camera or another accessory will solve the problem. Some things can't be improvised worked around so out comes the piggybank!
Sometimes overly complicated and complex equipment becomes a deterrent to improving technically or artistically in photography. Too much automation can get in the way of learning necessary rudiments. Sometimes too much gear gets in the way between the photographer and the subjects- too much fumbling around can be a distraction.
School vs. Self-teaching? I consider myself fortunate that I did have some formal education- so I have some "wallpaper" and some basic theory to fall back on for problem-solving. I served as a military photographic specialist so I was forced to take certain specific training. I like to keep up with current stuff so I have always taken seminars and classes from time to time. Nonetheless, what I have learned on the "street" and on the job is knowledge and experience that I could not have attained in a classroom or from any book or tutorial.
I am certain I could have learned a good part of the theory by trial and error and experimentation but oftentimes just taking in a class or doing some old-fashioned book-learning can save a heck of a lot of time and money.
One thing I can tell y'all as a long time teacher and trainer- NO ONE can teach talent- you can only inspire your students and trainees to utilize the talent that they have and give them the mental tools to work with. A good teacher does not want to "clone himself" and produce "disciples" that adhere to his or her own style and philosophy. Too much of that is ongoing so you have students and fans practicing "idol worship" instead of developing their own styles and skills.
GAS? Gas can be painful- as a kid, I ate 4 cans of baked beans and the pains were so intense I was convinced I was having a heart attack at 15- years old-. A bottle of pop made it worse and I thought I was gonna explode. A good friend of mine taught me how to make Arroz con Gandules- real rice and beans (well actually pigeon peas) recipe- YUMMY! the starch in the rice absorbers the gas!
OK- some folks approach photography like stamp collectors, or coin collectors, or sports-card collectors and just NEED to have the next new whatever to complete their collection which is never completed. They have the right to enjoy their gear, so if the can afford it- more power to them! The manufactures and the retailers have to make a living and the market has to be there to supply them with revenue so the can continue to make advances in all the stuff they bring us.
Nov 17, 2020 21:02:12 #
KankRat
Loc: SW Chicago Suburbs
Every time I feel like some new gear will make me a better photographer, i just come here and feel better about myself.
Nov 17, 2020 22:04:18 #
The freedom to do your best means nothing unless you are willing to buy the best camera.
Nov 18, 2020 05:25:32 #
cmc4214
Loc: S.W. Pennsylvania
Gene51 wrote:
I'm not sure how acquiring new equipment prevents someone from learning and practicing. In fact, in my case, when I get in a creative rut, a new piece of gear often jump starts my mojo and gets me out again. I have never spent a nickel on any photographic training, other than a couple of Photoshop books back in the early 90's when there wasn't as much free content available as today.
I believe the OP was referring to spending money on training "instead" of equipment
Nov 18, 2020 06:03:43 #
cmc4214 wrote:
I believe the OP was referring to spending money on training "instead" of equipment
You are correct and I did catch that. But in my comment, I made the point that the two should not be exclusive. One can spend money on bad training and not be much further ahead, or worse, learn the trainer's bad habits.
Nov 18, 2020 07:02:50 #
A lens needs to match the ability of the sensor, & vice/versa, or you've spent to much on one or the other, regardless of talent & training.
Nov 18, 2020 07:11:40 #
sheldon minsky
Loc: iron mountain michigan
As the tailor once told me, for every pair of pants there is an ass.
Nov 18, 2020 08:34:49 #
Almost right. I spend to much time and money on wrong gear. Finally I got some good gear (used) Now my brain is free from the technical errors. Now I have time for light, composition........
Nov 18, 2020 08:48:42 #
I always thought a piece of equipment should match, or maybe slightly exceed, the user's abilities. As a fairly good "enthusiast" I long ago realized my photography skills have pretty much plateaued so buying a $5,000 camera and lens is not going to improve my game. On the other hand, I can understand the attraction of owning a top-of-the-line piece of equipment just as long as the photographer doesn't think it'll be a game changer turning his/her average photos into professional products.
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