cjc2 wrote:
I know quite a few professional photographers, and none of them store images on thumb drives. Doesn't sound like a pro to me. I just don't know where to start. All I can say is: WOW! Best of luck.
I guess it depends on your definition of a "pro". The term "professional" is one that gets thrown around a lot here and I am not sure there is a clear definition of it. It appears that most here think a "pro" should know every possible detail about photography, photo editing, computers, photo editing software (all of them), and how all cameras, lenses, tripods, etc are designed and used while being able to compose and take that always perfect image.
I do not think that way. I judge them on their images and how they impact those that view them. I think photographers, "pros" and hobbyists fall into 3 main groups.
First, there are the techies that can absorb every technical detail about photography and gear and regurgitate it to anyone who will listen. But they struggle to make acceptable images despite their knowledge and expensive well researched gear.
Second, there are the generalists that have technical knowledge and talent that can make technically good images most of the time. This is the category that most of us exist in. We take dozens or hundreds of images in pursuit of that really good one. Unfortunately, many of those images are no better in composition than those of someone shooting with their iPhone on full auto.
Third, is the artist. This person is a master of composition and often takes images that will take your breath and make your heart beat faster. Often they know only the bare minimum of the technical operation of their gear but intuitively know how to get the best results from their camera. They know in their mind's eye what they want and simply adjust their camera to reproduce that image. Ask them a technical question about their photography and they may just answer vaguely or not at all.
The guy who is the subject of this thread most likely is one of those guys. While he knows little of thumb drives, 2 TB hard drives, etc. His photography may be great. And if the USB drives work for him then let him go, it is actually a simple method that works for him.
I met one of these guys once at a photography seminar. Many of us were there with our new expensive cameras and he walks in with an older, worn, well-used Nikon. I am sure most of us in our minds immediately wrote him off as a serious photographer. He did not participate in any of the discussions on photo editing, and gear. He once mentioned that he shot only jpgs and did use any editing software.
But when we started comparing results, there was no competition. We all stared at his images and knew we were in the presence of a master. Composition, exposure, and focus were all on point. None of our images could even come near the impact and artistic value of his. When asked to explain how he made the shots, he simply said that he followed only the most basic of rules on exposure and then made minor adjustments until it looked the way he thought it should. In translation, he shot with instinct and intuition as a true artist would.
Who knows, maybe this guy does that also.