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how do i know if i am good?
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Aug 24, 2011 18:30:39   #
brandy sanders Loc: louisiana
 
i love taking photos and i have been doing it since i was about 13. i am now 36 and i would like to get into photography a lil more. i have never taken any classes and i would love to do so. i bought my nikon d 90 in feb. and i love it. but i need to know how do you know if i will ever be good enough to be a"pro"?

wild flowers
wild flowers...

wild ducks
wild ducks...

white bird
white bird...

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Aug 24, 2011 19:17:46   #
jdtx Loc: SA, Tx.
 
if you like your pictures ..then you are good.if you want to sell your pictures, then it will depend on what someone else thinks is good..and that becomes very muddled sometimes as art/photography is in the eye of the beholder.please yourself. learn all you can and compare your shots to other similar shots..do it honestly..post pictures here and ask for critiques..some very knowledgeable and friendly people here..good luck

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Aug 24, 2011 19:45:05   #
brandy sanders Loc: louisiana
 
thank you for your input. i was just looking on the site and i was not supose to post pics here. there is another section for that. sorry i a new here

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Aug 24, 2011 20:56:31   #
jdtx Loc: SA, Tx.
 
you can post pics anywhere you like it is a photography site..by the way I think you have a good "eye" and are doing really well..and I like the nature shots..some of my favs too

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Aug 24, 2011 21:06:06   #
sinatraman Loc: Vero Beach Florida, Earth,alpha quaudrant
 
The way to know if you are good enough to go professional is to shoot, shoot, shoot,post your shots, learn from critique shoot, shoot, and repeat.Also learn as much as you can. There are many ggood introductory books about photography. Get one read it if you have any questions about the concepts like fstops shutter speeds etc post questions on line here. THERE ARE NO DUMB QUESTIONS. If after jumping in to the pool and getting serious about photography, take a photography course at a local community college. apply what you learn. I would also start up a portfolio of what you consider are your ten best shots. If there are professional photography studios in your area ask to speak to the photographer. Tell him what your goal is show him your portfolio and ask for his/her opinion. Rember in the long run the only opinion of your photography that matters is yours. never stop learning. :thumbup:

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Aug 24, 2011 21:25:26   #
brandy sanders Loc: louisiana
 
jdtx wrote:
you can post pics anywhere you like it is a photography site..by the way I think you have a good "eye" and are doing really well..and I like the nature shots..some of my favs too


in louisiana there are many scenes to shoot. thank you for your comment

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Aug 25, 2011 00:33:23   #
Phyllis Loc: NE PA
 
Hi Brandy,

Your pictures are lovely. I'd like to see more.

You ask when will you be good enough to be a pro. You will know when you are good enough.

Meanwhile, learn everything you can about cameras, lenses, composition, lighting, exposure, editing, etc., and practice, practice, practice...

Some spring blossoms
Some spring blossoms...

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Aug 25, 2011 06:36:40   #
brandy sanders Loc: louisiana
 
sinatraman wrote:
The way to know if you are good enough to go professional is to shoot, shoot, shoot,post your shots, learn from critique shoot, shoot, and repeat.Also learn as much as you can. There are many ggood introductory books about photography. Get one read it if you have any questions about the concepts like fstops shutter speeds etc post questions on line here. THERE ARE NO DUMB QUESTIONS. If after jumping in to the pool and getting serious about photography, take a photography course at a local community college. apply what you learn. I would also start up a portfolio of what you consider are your ten best shots. If there are professional photography studios in your area ask to speak to the photographer. Tell him what your goal is show him your portfolio and ask for his/her opinion. Rember in the long run the only opinion of your photography that matters is yours. never stop learning. :thumbup:
The way to know if you are good enough to go prof... (show quote)


thank you so much for the advice

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Aug 25, 2011 06:40:43   #
brandy sanders Loc: louisiana
 
Phyllis wrote:
Hi Brandy,

Your pictures are lovely. I'd like to see more.

You ask when will you be good enough to be a pro. You will know when you are good enough.

Meanwhile, learn everything you can about cameras, lenses, composition, lighting, exposure, editing, etc., and practice, practice, practice...


thank you so much for the comments. i am trying to shoot shoot shoot and shoot somemore. i wish there were more hours in the day. i work so its hard to get out and find targets sometimes.

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Aug 25, 2011 07:23:54   #
KathyinNH Loc: Kingston, NH
 
Hi Brandy, nice work. One suggestion that will help you a lot is to join a camera club in your area. I joined one approx. 5 years ago and it is the best thing I've ever done. It is incredible how much you will learn as a member. We have 2 photo contests every month and the critiques from those contests are invaluable. Good Luck.

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Aug 25, 2011 09:30:19   #
henrycrafter Loc: Orem Utah
 
You will know that you are good enough when people buy your work.
Shoot what you love to shoot.
You are a professional when you make money from what you do.

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Aug 25, 2011 09:30:55   #
davidmac Loc: Corydon,Indiana
 
brandy, good is in the eye of the beholder.
davidmac

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Aug 25, 2011 11:53:04   #
EricLPT Loc: Jonesborough TN
 
I think your shots are lovely. Maybe you could check into making an ebook and see if it sells?

Eric

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Aug 25, 2011 12:00:30   #
wmralls Loc: Kansas City
 
brandy sanders wrote:
i love taking photos and i have been doing it since i was about 13. i am now 36 and i would like to get into photography a lil more. i have never taken any classes and i would love to do so. i bought my nikon d 90 in feb. and i love it. but i need to know how do you know if i will ever be good enough to be a"pro"?


Brandy.

First, my advice, then my critique of your pics.

1. I am a firm believer that anyone can excel, moving above others in the pack if they (a) believe in themselves, (b) are realistic, and (c) follow my signature guidance below. All of this ends up translating to work, hard work, and work that progresses the talent and skills. Just taking a lot of pics without critiquing the pics, without getting others to critique the pics (TO INCLUDE PROS), without learning from the pics, and without improving is simply a great waste of time and effort. To excel - or just call it "improve" - demands: a goal (you have a good start but should eventually refine your goal to something more specific like a pro that specializes in ...), a plan and your mention of classes is part of a good plan, and heart - the strength to preserver when it gets boring, tedious, tough to stay focused, demand sacrifices, and sometimes be just plain disheartening. Everyone that has achieved "Pro" status has gone through these emotions, gotten back on track, and stuck to the course. That's what separates the Pro's from the amateurs. You are getting into an area that can cost bucks. Good news is the expenditures do not have to come all at once.

2. Your pics are a touch above average. They show some thought toward composition, color, theme, and the technicals like focus, and depth of field. I really like the crane flying but it does exhibit the prime mantra, if you do not like a pic - get closer. A cropping if possible (given the rez the pic was shot at) would help. Never be afraid to "get in the face of" when shooting if possible, crop if not. The crane pic suffers a pit from the fact that the focal point, the crane, is overcome by the trees to the left. I am posting my example of how this could have been cropped. I also dulled down the background to get the bird to pop a bit. The "Wild Ducks" is nice;"Wild Flowers" mundane but using a good DOF (depth of field) to blur out the background. For me, backgrounds are always an issue. My first question to myself is whether or not the background, in all its glory, adds or detracts from my pic. Next question is whether or not that background is even needed in the final pic. Maybe I will take the main subject and add my own background post-processing (Photoshop).

So, good luck. The world can always use more and better pics of itself. :lol:

PIc by Brandy Sanders, editied by Mike Ralls
PIc by Brandy Sanders, editied by Mike Ralls...

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Aug 25, 2011 16:02:33   #
rocco_7155 Loc: Connecticut/Louisiana
 
Brandy,
also in Louisiana (though I am a transplanted "Yankee"). I love the variety of environments and subjects to photrograph in this state. The stuff you have posted looks good... Roc

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