stansgrl63 Loc: Pascagoula MS

My answer is.......NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ShakyShutter Loc: Arizona

The only way you won't improve is if you stop shooting.

Shoot
Post
Listen
Repeat

And you will get better very quickly.

XJoeyX Loc: San Antonio, TX

The only way to improve is to practice. With the advent of digital photography, this has made it possible to shoot a LOT.

Unfortunately, this CAN be a double-edged sword. On the up side, you can shoot and experiment as much as you like, without incurring great costs in film and development. On the down side, I think that digital cameras have made many people lazier. They take less time thinking about, and composing their shots, KNOWING that they can just reshoot the photo if they don't like the result.

Taking good photographs is a combination of many things. While there ARE "naturals" out there who just seem to have an eye for the perfect photo, most of us have to develop our photographic skills. Only through practice (and research) will this be accomplished. Learn your camera and what it is capable of (and take it OFF Automatic!). Study and read what information is out there (forums like this are invaluable!) Talk to other photographers. THINK about the photo you are trying to take, and the message you are trying to convey.

Keep trying and don't dispair... The more you do it, the better you will get.

-XJoeyX

stansgrl63 Loc: Pascagoula MS

Thank you....I'm just having a bad day! I can actually see it in my mind's eye how awesome a photo could be....but it's just getting what I see in my mind's eye on film or memory card....ggggrrrr

sinatraman Loc: Vero Beach Florida, Earth,alpha quaudrant

magic 8 ball says future uncertain ask again later after more practice :thumbup:

XJoeyX Loc: San Antonio, TX

I understand completely... I take a lot of photos, and sometimes a few come out the way I envisioned...

Keep trying. you will get there...

-XJoeyX

Kathi Loc: Pennsylvania

Stansgrl... yay! you didn't leave. I once heard someone say the only the difference between the amateur and the professional (photographer) is the size of their trashcan! It first made me laugh and then brought me to thinking... who owns the larger trash can? The amateur who throws more because of thinking they got lousy shots or the professional who only keeps the best of the best and throws away all the rest? Hmmm. I used to study wines because I thought I knew pretty much. What I learned is that yes, I knew more than some, but oh the joy in the journey to know as much as someone new I would meet was so much more fun! It's the same path in photography. I look back to what I knew when I started taking photography seriously; boy, have I come a long way, but the path ahead holds intriguing bends and forks so that sometimes I'm not sure which direction I should take today. So, I smile and take one step at a time knowing the next curve will show me something I hadn't seen or known before. It's all in the journey, and surrounding yourself with those who know more and don't mind bringing you along for conversation!! Stay with it!

jdtx Loc: SA, Tx.

I think we all go thru "spells" where we get discouraged in our photography and how it comes out or doesn't come out, but remember 2 things and I think you'll be ok..1.it only really has to please you, unless you are selling the image to someone else..2 a camera cannot see the world the way we do, and is limited in how much contrast, light etc can be processed at one time..by the way that is why HDR was invented..some guys thought the same thought as you.."that isn't how I saw that"..and they were smart enough to do the algorythym thing and come up with HDR....hang in there..shoot what you like and experiment..remember there is no penalty for trying

bobmielke Loc: Portland, OR

I ran out yesterday, took a 150 mile drive, shot 47 frames and kept 2. It was a good day. Now I've heard the purists chime in that if you know what you're doing and take you time every shot will be a keeper. To that I quote a line from Monty Python's "Quest For The Holy Grail". "I laugh In Your General Direction".

I'm the eternal optimist, next time I might get 3. :)

JimH Loc: Western South Jersey, USA

I had that same sort of problem when I first started out (I carried glass plates for Matthew Brady..lol). I realized that I was expecting the PHOTO to EXACTLY match what I'd seen. But the most obvious impediment to that is that we see in "3-D", more or less, or stereo, if you prefer; an optical delivery which a SINGLE lens camera simply can't duplicate.

I do not suggest removing one eyeball in order to make your photography more closely match your vision, just to realize that, for the most part, you'll NEVER be able to exactly match what you see. So you need to use composition and technique to elevate the image as best you can.

Keep trying. Practice doesn't always make perfect, but it can help you improve.

swimbob Loc: Columbia, S.C.

Actually Bob, that is not how the quote goes, but this being a family oriented forum I won't post the correction....lol

bobmielke Loc: Portland, OR

Then just exactly why did you post?

JudyL Loc: Indiana

Yes, you will....learn, learn and learn....practice, practice and practice!

swimbob Loc: Columbia, S.C.

Because you reminded me of that movie and it made me smile. Sorry if I offended.

bobmielke Loc: Portland, OR

No problem

:)