srt101fan wrote:
Hi Dustie, glad you stopped by and commented. The first question you raised about feeling confident taking pictures of people is a tough one. For some photographers that's a lot easier than for others. I never felt comfortable photographing people, even family, except when the kids and grand kids were small (after a certain age they just acted goofy in front of the camera!)
The knowledge, skill and experience part you mentioned does require practice. Look for subjects that grab your attention and keep at it. You seem to imply that making attention-grabbing technically excellent photos requires fancy equipment. Not true. You can take great photos with your phone. The difference is that the folks with the fancier gear can take great pictures of some subjects and in some shooting scenarios were lesser gear might fall short. So with your present equipment you might be somewhat limited in what you can shoot but that shouldn't keep you from learning and getting the most out of your gear.
So, for the time being, forget about what others are doing, find your own interests, keep at it and learn, and enjoy the wonderful world of photography....
Hi Dustie, glad you stopped by and commented. The... (
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Thank you, srt101fan, for your kindness and encouragement.
On the aspect of technical excellency, top-of-the-line gear, and work that can grab attention: (and please do not take this the wrong way; the people here on UHH have certainly not made me feel despised nor unwanted; not at all !)
In a way it seems I am like a child toting my plastic xylophone into Carnegie Hall, taking it to the orchestra pit and declaring, "I'm here to perform with the orchestra in this world-class concert."
Or, it's like the child taking his T-ball gear onto the diamond at a major league game and announcing, "Well, here I am, ready for the big game."
Or maybe, like the child taking his pedal car to pit row at the Indy 500, looking around and asking, "So which pit is mine?"
That child may be able to do some feats of some sort within his tiny experience level and gear capabilities, but he's just not in the same league with those in the environments where he arrived to pursue an interest.
It has to be something beyond technical exactness involved, if he should happen to make a play that may be good enough to grab attention. Is it the content of the work, the audacity to show up among those much more experienced and better equipped, the kindness of experienced veterans giving understanding notice to a beginner trying to find his way? What drew the attention?
I hope that does not seem like absurd illustration, but it is part of what your introducing this topic stirs up in my thoughts:
-- if my efforts to make something are not noticed, no surprise, but if they are noticed, what is the factor that grabbed the attention and drew the observer in for a look?
So, the child has plenty of work ahead, if in doing what he wants to do because he is enjoying it, something is to be accomplished that happens to grab someone's attention. It won't be on the basis of the technical supremacy, nor on the quality made possible by the advanced, most refined gear.
I hope that has not gone astray from the good theme of your topic.
Thank you.