Great Photos: The Camera or the person behind the camera?

[singingsnapper]

At the moment I am reading 'the photographer's eye by michael freeman on my iPad. I'll see what I learn from it and hopefully post examples.

[4colourprogress]

I would suggest that a photographer with a good 'eye' using entry level kit is more likely to produce consistently good material than somebody without any concept of photography with megabucks worth of kit. Therefore, the simplistic answer is 'The person behind the camera'.

This. Skill and experience outweighs the benefits of top of the range equipment in my book. I'm already at my limit for gear (D700 & 14-24mm) and I couldn't justify paying all that extra cash for a medium format camera unless I was constantly selling large format prints (I've only sold 4 so far). I would rather spend extra cash on a beautifully made lens than a body. Then again if you can afford to get a medium format camera without taking out a mortgage or selling your soul then why not! Hopefully in time you can grow into those blacklisted_site!

I've been at this photography lark for about 2 years now and in that time I've only taken between 50-100 shots... I know that sounds pretty pathetic (I shoot on average once every few months). However when it comes to actually taking a photography I like to think that I pour my entire soul into each shot to create something awesome (hopefully it shows!). My advice would be to stop snapping and start capturing

P.S was the electronic district Akihabara by any chance? Never got the chance to visit when I was there

[Nicola Selby]

Both! There are reasons why manufaturers produce expensive camera and why people crave to own a Hassleblad etc. The equipment we use is vitally important to the quality of our work. That said if you dont know how to use it then you will not get great photos.

I suspect very few photographers will use automatic mode for example. A camera ability to understand the world is full of limitations and averages which quite often mean the image is not its best. Understanding how to use the camera to capture what you want is the key.

Also the camera will only shoot what you point it at. Photography needs imagination, understanding of a subject, a keen eye etc, something a camera doesnt have.

To me its the same as F1 racing. The best drivers in the world and the best cars so what makes a world champion? A collaboration between the human and the machine. You put one of these drivers in a Ford Focus he wont win, you put me in an F1 car and I wont win.

The right photographer with the right kit = great photos.

If I had to put a bias one way its always to the photographer though. I constantly see amazing images taken by people with compact camera, bridge camera etc.

[ALwin]

I've notice that a lot of the advice that comes from the professional photographers on this forum are from those who work either in studios, or cover social events, working with models, sport cars, beautiful landscapes, architecture, etc. (a.k.a. safe environments)

I wonder what kind of advice would be given by, or what the following type of photographers might have to say:
1) A talented photographer who tried very hard to enter the 'professional world' but couldn't
2) A successful professional photographer who lost his career due to some circumstance or suddenly become unsuccessful
3) A photographer that stood in the middle of a insect, crocodile infested lake for hours waiting for a pack of wildebeests to come drink at a watering hole (and as a result might have had been infected by a serious disease or had to have a limb amputated)
4) A photographer who covers wartime, conflicts as bullets whizz by his/her head and witnessing first hand people getting killed

I mean, in DP mag, we read articles and interviews about successful photographers or those who recently became successful. We don't get to hear about those who were not successful and what they would have to say about their experiences. Would they advise us for or against entering the world of photography? Would they advise us into making a living out of it or just keep it as a hobby?

The magazine contains articles with tips and guidance to working and making a living with the camera, the magazine is subscribed by many hundreds of not thousands of readers around the world. I wonder what percentage of them actually was able to earn a living with the camera.

[simon3116]

The answer in my opinion is fairly easy, it's the person behind the camera who makes a photograph. The camera won't go out and take pictures by itself regardless of price, lens, etc and a good photograph is a good photograph no matter what camera it's taken on. If you take Henri Cartier Bressons photograph Man jumping over puddle and analysed it then I'm sure there are things wrong with it in "todays eyes" but it's still a great photo.

You could own the most expensive kit in the world but unless you actually pick it up, switch it on and point it at something then it's just an expensive ornament.

[D Pentney]

It's definitely both, and probably very situation dependant. Ok, a camera isn't going to take pictures by itself, but when you reverse that argument a person won't be taking any pictures without a camera either. You might get some great shots with poor equipment, no doubt there are thousands of examples, but I wonder what the consistency of getting amazing shots is? For every 1 bridge camera shot there's probably 500 pro camera shots. I remember reading a book by Scott Kelby, and the subtitle of his sports photography section was 'bring your chequebook'. Likewise, no-one is going to get pictures of tigers with a point & shoot. I definitely can't take shots of birds flying with f5.6 70-200 on the front of a D60. Sometimes, you just have to have the gear.

If you factor it back from the extremes you can probably get away with poor or avergae equipment. My point is, if you can afford to have any camera your heart desires, why would you not just buy the best one - one day you might want to shoot something that requires it. And if you don't have that capacity, you can't - it's that simple.

[Richampton]

Absolutely, if I had the bank balance i'd go out and buy all the decent stuff, why not. It would be miles ahead of where I am with regards to technical ability, experience...knowledge, but it would be nice to know that it's there when I come to need it...or understand how to use it

However, in the real world, I think some people spend to much time, and money, worrying about what equipment they do or don't have. Make the most of what you have, and above all get out there and enjoy learning and experimenting. Understand how things work, how one factor can effect the other etc, when or how to use grad filters etc

Eventually you'll reach the limits of your equipment, however you'll be in a much better place because you can invest in the right kit for your needs. You'll know whats important for your genre of photography, because you'll have the know how of how things work, you'll know what lens or camera body best suits your style or genre of photography, You'll get a lot more pleasure and use out of it, you'll get a better return in investment and that, to me, is why the person behind the camera is the bigger part of what makes a great photo

[BrianMDoucette]

A poor carpenter blames his tools...
my 2 cents, B...

[4colourprogress]

A poor carpenter blames his tools...
my 2 cents, B...

That saying doesn't really apply to this case Brian seeing as the carpenter has the best tools available.

[BrianMDoucette]

[quote="4colourprogress]
That saying doesn't really apply to this case Brian seeing as the carpenter has the best tools available.[/quote]

Oh, I thought the discussion was Skill vs. Tools... seems applicable but point taken
B...

[Chris Humphreys]

I've notice that a lot of the advice that comes from the professional photographers on this forum are from those who work either in studios, or cover social events, working with models, sport cars, beautiful landscapes, architecture, etc. (a.k.a. safe environments)
.

Going to have to pick you up on this Aung. Safe environments? What does that mean exactly?

A professional photographer knows how to take photographs for sure, but success in the professional field is undoubtedly 90% business acumen 10% photographer (or thereby). Unsuccessful photographers are most likely unsuccessful businessmen/women. You only have to look at the vast number of mediocre wedding photographers out there who can barely hold a camera yet have set up a successful business model around a high volume, low cost, low expectation basis.

By the way Paul, cracking voice! I had a look through your DP gallery, some very nice shots there. Do you need the best camera equipment to take shots like that? Probably not, but at least you can focus on you as a photographer knowing that your equipment is as good as it can be (pretty much). You have a diverse range of shots and are obviously keen on experimenting, that's good and will serve you well. Read up and keep practicing.

I think I've said this once before, I once bought a top of the range Ping putter and set about playing golf safe in the knowledge that I had the best putter available, so if I didn't make a putt it was definitely my fault!

Cheers

Chris

[ALwin]

Chris, I meant safe environment as in a place where you are not knowingly placing yourself in danger. Where you know that as long as you're not careless you are safe, while if you're a journalist covering a war zone you know that even if you're very careful you could easily lose your life.

Let's say for example: you've just been hired as a photographer for some agency or organization. Your boss tells you that in a month or so you will be required to travel (with or without a group) to a certain place in the world to cover peace talks between two very dangerous military groups and the situation is very precarious. One mistake by either side could result in a blood bath, and this is your first time ever doing this type of photography. What kind of advice would you seek? Who would you ask?

Ok, let's not even use a conflict situation as an example: how about you've been asked to go document the lives of a certain indigenous tribe of people (once again this is your first time doing so). Very little has been recorded about their culture, from the small amount of past events it has been theorized that these tribal people believe that being photographed means losing part of the soul and they may attack anyone taking photos. But it is essential for your job to document their culture with photos, how would you proceed?


As for the business, success or failure, I think it depends on more than just having a good business sense. How about the business-2-client relations? Or marketing? Showing a sense of professionalism? Sure someone could have a strong sense of what type of business could succeed or fail, yet they could be incapable of implementing it.

I think we can learn just as much from the failures of others or ourselves, as well as from success. Success can make one complacent, failure can make one cautious.

[claireg]

I mean, in DP mag, we read articles and interviews about successful photographers or those who recently became successful. We don't get to hear about those who were not successful and what they would have to say about their experiences. Would they advise us for or against entering the world of photography? Would they advise us into making a living out of it or just keep it as a hobby?

Digital Photographer includes a range of interviews and features with photographers of all levels and abilities from Readers Gallery, Up and Coming through to those who are at the top of their game. Most of the photographer's I speak to at any level claim it to be a hard practice and I’ve never covered this up. Like any creative practice or working for yourself it's difficult but not impossible. If you really want to make it and you're good you will so why not give people some positive guidance? There’s already enough negativity out there.

[simon3116]

I'm pretty sure I don't want to read an article about somebody who didn't make it as a pro as opposed to someone who did? I didn't make it as a pro footballer like millions of other school kids but nobody wants to read that, not even me.

Where I will "slightly" agree with you regarding DP magazine is that some of the latest Photoshop Tutorials have been a bit "for the novice" recently but I understand that the magazine needs to cater for all skill levels but I find the shooting tips top notch.

You can't please all people all of the time, just ask my wife.

[claireg]

Thanks for your feedback. We have to cater for all levels when it comes to editing tutorials as you pointed out Simon. We realise some of our readers have more basic editing skills where as others are more advanced. It will be useful if you can let us know what you want us to cover. Bear in mind we also have a video tutorial section on the CD so we can include some more advanced tutorials in here if there is the demand. I'm going to start a new thread in Suggestions and anyone can drop their ideas in there. Thanks, Claire