srt101fan

Where did you ever get the idea that I think "photography is only for artistic expression"???

Clearly there is no sense in continuing this discussion with you. I wish you well and hope that someday you can understand and enjoy the full range of photographic creative activities.

And my apologies to Photolady2014 for contributing to the derailment of this thread....

mundy-F2 Loc: Chicago suburban area

Interesting viewpoint!
Mundy

Wallen Loc: Middle Earth

I guess that's you answer to your conundrum of taking only perfect photos.
If you are willing to just take the shot then you have accepted that doing so does not make you a bad photographer.

Abo

Love your mono just as it is.

However reading that you wanted a bigger bird :-) :

BigDaddy Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

That's pretty funny, no matter who says it.

jburlinson Loc: Austin, TX

“Dodging and burning are steps to take care of mistakes God made in establishing tonal relationships.” – Ansel Adams

GerryER Loc: Virginia USA

Ansel Adams needed to find a bigger God; the one he worshipped was evidently spelled with a little "g."

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

If Ansel Adams was the photographer worthy of that name, he'd do a better job Straight Out Of Camera like a Real Photographer.

GerryER Loc: Virginia USA

He did the best he could with the equipment he had!

Wallen Loc: Middle Earth

joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

Awesome ☀️☀️☀️

Abo

Shucks

Redyogi Loc: Chatsworth, GA

Your images are wonderful. Don’t let some “teacher” who thinks he walks on water criticize your work saying it’s 2% off. Go buy him a slide ruler and a compass, and keep up the beautiful work. Shadow my rear end!! 👍

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

"Does this make me a bad photographer?"
The late Dean Collins had a very poignant take on what constitutes photographic excellence.
"Beauty is in the eyes of the checkbook holder"

UHH is currently overrun with enthusiast looking either for validation or to impress their peers...
Have you considered get off UHH Photolady2014 and actually endeavoring to build a client base with your work?
Possibly then will you may begin to appreciate what it takes to become a commercial photographer.
You'll likely need Published "named" Credit(s) in order to attract clients
Photolady2014 please be aware that you actually can to submit your photos to National Geographic for publication:

Please submit your photos to National Geographic Your Shot community on Instagram @natgeoyourshot or instagram.com/natgeoyourshot.
btw: To submit your images for consideration you will have to use the hashtag #YourShotPhotographer .

Please realize that competition is rather fierce in an ever shrinking market...
btw, as of 2021 the most profitable photographic genres are...

Commercial Photography. Commercial photographers make income in two places: the photo assignment itself and the licensing of the images afterwards.
Fashion Photography (*my forte)
Wedding Photography.
Portrait Photography (*my highest revenue stream)
Family Photography (*again a constant revenue steam)

Hope this helps Photolady2014.
Wishing you much success in obtaining a National Geographic Cover in 2022!
Cheers! Thomas

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

This is a thread that is 5-months old but is still worth a comment.

Common y'all stop psychoanalyzing the teacher and calling him an egotist- you probably don't even know who he is or what he does. The teacher is paid to present a course and tell you what HE or SHE knows and HOW they work and HOW THEY pref to compose, light and process their images. If the STUDENT admires the teacher's work, takes in the class, learns a few important elements, the teacher has done their job.

The "job" if you will, of the student, is to take all the methodologies and techniques he or she has gathered and integrate them into their working methods, perhaps keep some of the principles in the back of their minds, and apply them when THEY feel it is necessary. Over the years, I have attended many masterclasses and seminars where someof the teachers agreed on certain approaches and other were diametrically opposite on certain points. You do not drop every you are doing and become a clone of the teacher. To benefit, all you need to do is consider the lessons and the critiques and interact the improvements gradually as you feel they are necessary and truly beneficial.

I have presented many classes and seminars on a professional level. I have to put together a program and design a curriculum as to how I approach and actually do things- MY WAY! This is because most students or attendees want some definitive solutions and answers to questions. I can't accept their time and money and just tell them to go home and experiment. I am, however, very emphatic in explaining that I am furnishing them with some basic guidelines and tools that will work and none of the "rules" as to style and composition are carved in stone. I encourage them to use them as starting points or back up methds in a difficult situation but to further experiment, change, and revise things as they progress.

If the OP is still reading into this thread, here's my advice. Do not discard what you have learned from your class and use what you have gleaned when you feel it is applicable and appropriate. Do not discard what you did before the class and what comes to you naturally. If you are specializing in wildlife photograhy, you oftentimes need to react and shoot quickly and spontaneously so don't slow down the process by hesitating and trying to measure off 1/3 segments of your frame. If you have time, perhaps with a more static subject, you may wish to apply a new method or two. If you like the results, with practice it will become more reflexive.

When demonstrating any technique or method of lighting, a teacher needs some criteria or recognizable points of observation. So, if a certain direction or shape of a shadow in the facial structure of an animal or person- or certain highlights in the eyes, etc, is pointed out, these are just indicators or "landmarks" of the ideal kind of lighting the teacher is trying to describe. Remember, you are not performing surgery where if you make the incision in the wrong place yo will kill the patient! If you come upon a great shot of a wild animal in direct sunlight, you can't wait around for the late afternoon setting sun. You can't invite a mother mountain lion and her cubs back for a reshoot- you grab the shot regardless of the time of day and get the heck out of there!

The images you posted are beautiful. The show has great texture and detail and most importantly, your love of animals! That is what most viewers of wildlife and even editors like to see.

By the way, it is not uncommon for students and attendees, even seasoned pros, to attend a class and become overwhelmed. Sometimes we all get information overload and need time to digest and apply what we are learning. It is like gettg vaccinations- it might sting at first, cause an unpleasant reaction, but in the long run, it is beneficial.

Many moons ago, I took my very first advanced classes in professional portraiture at the Winnona School of Professional Photograhy. My first instructor used a dozen lights- I counted them 12!!!!!- Yes, he was a grandmaster and his work was outstanding. The second week, my instruction of equal talent and experience used no more than 2 umbrella-equipped lights. On the third week cam, the "New Trends" course and the instructor said the two previous guys were crazy and he did every with natural light. When I came back to work, my first boss and mentor was eager to find out what I had learned. My first reaction was that "I should have stayed at home and watched TV"! It took a few days but once I started shooting again all it began to make more sense and everything I learned came in handy.