Mudshark Loc: Illinois

I've never really done anything but photography since the early '60s. However it was a couple of decades before I dared to refer to myself as a "photographer." I tend to agree with you...although I wonder how much is just the fact we are now old farts. With the advent of digital...everyone considers themselves "photographers." Perhaps that's not such a bad thing..........

jacksdvds Loc: Ft. Mohave, AZ

1. Please don't ask the imbecilic government to license and tax another thing. (Case in point- the driver's license/cab driver note)
2. Professional ----- (fill in the blank) implies that a person derives a significant part of their annual livelihood from that profession.
3. A claim to be professional ----- doesn't affect the status of the true pro because at tax time he has evidence & proof of where his/her livelihood was generated.
4. A professional ----- usually knows how and where to research answers to their shortcomings.
5. The title is not a significant measure of the skill level attained. Conversely the skill level is uneffected by the title.

George H Loc: Brooklyn, New York

Dongrant,
The written answer would probably elude anyone. But I bet most of us if not all could agree on a visual bad shot. Quality is not the question here, it is the term Professional, have I taken bad photos, you can bet your butt I have. Probably thousands since underwater you are lucky to have 2 out of a 36 roll turn out just right. I must have taken at least 5K rolls underwater in 45 years. Now of the 36 they are still good shots just not shots that would be for sale, they miss for a variety of reason. I would not try to sell them, some people even wanted to buy and I refused.

Bobbee

How about Murdoc, he was smart, experienced and had a deal. He still took people with smarts. In this world there are people everywhere looking to seperate you from your money. If you let them they will. I don't believe they are the problem it is the sheep. Educate the end user.

George H Loc: Brooklyn, New York

Mudshark,
I love the fact that many are taking photos, they are all photographers. Now when one then takes the name professional photographer, then I expect as do many that are professional photographer to put out better results than I am now seeing. See my previous posts for clarification.

George H Loc: Brooklyn, New York

Jack,
I agree with all you say, but what it has done is lower the quality that is now being accepted as Pro work.

ruben.vuittonet

First, no, I am not a professional. The post did not start with a statement about "pro photographers." It started out with "I am a photographer," like there is club somewhere one has join to employ that phrase.

Second, I do agree with the sentiment that the term "professional" does not imply what it once did. That said, I do love to take photos. In fact, I will post one here..... It took me 5 exposures because I was swinging from a Ferris wheel gondola. The Ferris wheel frame is visible in the top-right corner of the shot. Further, I had a dark room in my closet for years, so I think am more experienced, in some ways, than those who have only ever done digital photography.

Finally, my mother was quite well know in Pensacola for her sewing, a trade she practised with great skill even though self-taught.

The John Hancock Building from the Ferris Wheel at the Navy Pier

forbescat

LOL, I'm one of those old farts whose husband bought her a camera when the kids left home. I couldn't pass even a certification test on what people seem to think is the necessary knowledge to have before daring to pick up a camera and taking a picture. I read my manuals with my cameras in my lap. I bought some lenses. I ventured out into the world and started clicking. I'm not a professional because I don't sell my work but I modestly must confess that I think I do as well as a lot of the people who come on this site and immediately proclaim that they are "professionals" and tell how many years they have been one. If it weren't for the commoners like me, the camera companies wouldn't be falling all over each other to develop better and better equipment that we all drool over. So, lighten up and just remember that for the vast majority of camera owners, it's still the thrill of a great picture and not the amount of money earned that is important.

ruben.vuittonet

Lovely. Thanks.

TomballLegend Loc: Tomball, Texas

Caveat Emptor!!!!!!!!

forbescat

You are welcome. And your picture is beautiful with wonderful exposure and tones and lighting.

bull drink water Loc: pontiac mi.

i became a picture taker in 1957, and after all these years i am still just a picture taker.even after putting many $'s into it,i am ok with that label.

forbescat

A photographer's licence is his gallery.

ruben.vuittonet

Thank you, though I think the city and weather contributed significantly. I took several shots with different exposure settings on my 10.2MP Sony alpha 100.

dongrant Loc: Earth, I think!

I do understand were you are coming from and to some extend I tend to agree with you, not just in the matter of photography but many other fields as well. It is as if to be a carpenter I simply need a hammer and saw. There are a couple of issues though. One, we live in a society that practices free enterprise and that complicates the issue greatly there. Two, once you start either a licensing or standards process you begin down a slippery slope that leads to someone, other that the producer (photographer in this case) and/or costumer determining the standards and in the case of fields like photography and art, I and many other have a real big problem with that. No body will tell me what is to be excepted as good or bad in matters of art among other things. I'm a bit of a libertarian in matters like that. I simply is no ones else business. I believe that if a person produces something that to everyone but he and one customer and the customer believe the item to be of value, then the producer has the right to sell his product unimpeded and it is the business of no one else. In short each of us has our on standard and has no right to impose those standards on anyone else. It is a double edge sword.