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

[Rosie]

Hmmmm not sure interviewing failed photographers makes for a very inspiring read somehow!

As for the video tutorials please do keep your suggestions coming - we have plenty of room on the CD to show Photoshop/ Aperture/ Lightroom tutorials and we can cater these specifically to your needs, so just shout!

[ALwin]

Hmmmm not sure interviewing failed photographers makes for a very inspiring read somehow!

As for the video tutorials please do keep your suggestions coming - we have plenty of room on the CD to show Photoshop/ Aperture/ Lightroom tutorials and we can cater these specifically to your needs, so just shout!

I was thinking more along the lines of any of them (failed or otherwise) would have advice on what to avoid, what not to do. Perhaps lessons can be learned from someone who made mistakes that should never have happened.

[Egon159]

Well heres my pennies worth on the discussion as to whether someone should be using a certain piece of equipment. My dictionary defines photography as the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film.
Nowhere there does it differentiate between a 'photograph' or a 'picture' or how good or bad it is. At the end of the day does it even matter? What matters is that the person taking the image saw something that they thought was worth going to the effort of capturing. Whether other people like it is by the by. Whether it is technically proficient is by the by! The act of taking the photo is what counts and whether the photographer is happy with it. Yes people can critic the image on technical aspects, i.e. exposure etc and they can comment on the subject matter. But surely at the end of the day thats purely interpretive? Just because one person likes or dislikes an image doesn't mean another person will or won't. At the end of the day its the photographer that sees something and the photographer that takes the image. I agree with the earlier comments that suggest that having better equipment increases the possibility of getting a better image. But at the end of the day, it only increases the possibility! At the end of the day what are you actually paying for? Increased pixel count, larger sensor possibly, better fps, increased sensitivity and better noise reduction! All of which increases the possibility of capturing an image that a lower end camera may not. Its down to the photographer to know and understand the equipment they have and how to best make use of it. A great photo is just as possible on an compact camera as it is with a (d)slr given the right set of circumstances, its just that you have more circumstances of being able to get a better photo with a higher end camera. So at the end of the day, after all my waffle in my opinion its down to this:-

- What makes a great/good/bad photo is interpretive to the person viewing it.
- If the photographer took the image and is happy with it and if it wasn't for a client, at the end of the day what does it matter what everyone else thinks?
- Having better equipment only increases the possibility of getting a better image and ultimately its down to the photographers ability to use the camera to make the most of the situation and get an image they are happy with. The more advanced the camera, the more there is to learn about it and the more experience is required before the photographer is proficient in it use. That does not mean they shouldn't be using it, no one at the end of the day can say someone should or shouldn't be using something, we all know that we would buy the most expensive camera/lens our budgets will allow regardless on out ability to use it and would just take the time to learn how to make the best of it.

Anyway enough of my waffle.

Richard.

[kayayfish]

It's definately the person behind the camera. Gives a complete beginner a fantastic top of the range camera and they still can't take a good photograph. You have to know how to use the equipment and you need to understand lighting and how to create a good image by using the lighting and by making a good composition. Everyone is different and everyone sees things differently, so its up to the photographer to show this.

[footloose1949]

It's largely down to the person behind the camera, as they decide on the composition. Exposure and focussing-wise, whilst a camera with all the bells and whistles might well stand a better chance of getting the shot they want, even with all the extra options, you still need to know when to use them! A similar analogy can be drawn in relation to using HDR software. just because it offers users the opportunity of enhancing the tonal and colour range in the original image, it takes time and experience before one realises that these things can be seriously over-blown!

I suppose I am one of these people who feel that a number of the extra bells and whistles available, are there to make the product more attractive to purchasers, as they add 'something for nothing' As for them actually 'teaching' the user to produce better images, unless one takes the same photograph with the feature / function switched on and off, so one can then view the EXIF data/images side by side on a monitor and then work out what the camera actually did, one is not likely to benefit from it as much as one could be.

A high quality optic, will deliver better results than a poorer one, but only if the photographer knows how to hold the camera properly. There is no doubt that only by using a tripod or monopod, will most users actually see how good their existing lenses are, and get the optimum image quality from their camera, but I suspect many people don't want the attendant inconvenience of lugging either around. It could well be that a decent tripod, will enable you to get better images from an existing lens, than from the higher quality product, used without a tripod, just down to the removal of camera shake and much smoother panning during action shots.

There is no doubt that a skilled photographer, can squeeze much better images out of a poorer quality camera/lens than an inexperienced user using a top of the range camera. I rather suspect that users (me included!) are more inclined to blame their tools, than themselves, and buy 'better' equipment in the hope that this will improve their images, when in fact they just never use their existing kit in a way that squeezes the Nth degree of image quality out of it!

One only has to look at photographs taken let's say over 100 years ago, with imperfect optics and film, and the quality of their photographs, when the use of a tripod etc was pretty well an obligatory tool, just what a difference this inconvenient device can have on image quality.

[GladstonePhotography]

Paul, for me looking at the work on your flickr account, regardless of the camera you are using; the images just don't say photographs to me, instead they say pictures. For me 'pictures' can be taken with any camera/phone but 'photographs' are taken by the photographer. This is why I raised the question about the equipment you are using. It's not for me to judge what people spend their money on and I'm glad you can afford to buy high end equipment. I do however think it would be a wise investment to go on a photography course so you get a better understanding of what makes a good photograph.

I have only been into photography just over a year now. I bought my Nikon D3000 (entry level DLSR) second hand because I had a bridge camera before and used the scene modes a lot. I wanted to learn about the other modes so read online tutorials, visited youtube, read magazines and asked questions of friends who already own DSLRs and off I went and practiced. I now know my cameras capabilities, what it can and cannot do. Now that I've had some experience, I am ready to upgrade and hopefully will be the proud owner of a D300 (again second hand) as I know what it's capable of and it will allow me to get the shots I've always wanted. I don't have a particular field of expertise although I do enjoy wildlife and nature photography as I love the outdoors. I haven't really given landscape photography a proper go as I don't drive and getting around to nice locations is a bit difficult without a car. I purchased a cheap studio setup so I can practice some portraiture shots at home and I am currently working on a series of images using scale model figures.

I currently use the 18-55mm kit lens and a Tamron 70-300mm for my wildlife shots. I, like you, am still learning. I get a lot of inspiration from the internet and always strive to improve on my photographic skills. Maybe one day I will be as good as the pro's but until then, I'll keep reading, researching and practicing.

some of my amateur work can be seen on http://www.dflynnphotography.com/ or on Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/dflynnphotography/

I'd love to spend a day with you taking some pictures and perhaps you'd come back with some photographs.

Just been reading through what you have written very nicely put there. I like you have only been into photography since June last year and like you use the Internet to learn. I can't afford the new kit so like you bought and Olympus E-500 second hand.
To be honest I started Photography by accident and fell in love with it. I also use it as Therapy as I have PTSD and find it is helping alot with that.
I to like to be outside,and have recently met a well known local Street Photographer, Chris Porzs who has commented on some of my street work and has been giving me some advice.
since being on this Forum also http://www.dphotographer.co.uk/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=4490 This member has given me some very good constructive criticism and some good advice to imporve.
As you pointed out it is not always possible to buy the best but the equipment is only as good as the user.
My hope is people look at what I have done and like you give me comments and advice on how to improve. As my grandad once told me when I was younger always listen to the people who have the experience but don't be scared to try you own ideas. they will either work or not but if you don't try you will never know.

[binliner]

Sounds obvious, but for me it's all about the finished picture, what camera or editing were used to get it are irrelevant it's the photo that counts and that comes from the person.

I've upgraded my camera body twice in nearly 4 years, from a Canon 30D (which I broke) to a 50D and recently to a 7D (because I wanted a faster body for wildlife). I'd be interested to know why you upgraded, especially from the 5D II?

[anskete]

The camera is a mere tool that takes the photograph and though the camera's specs mostly come into play to how it is going to come out, it is still with the photographer's view toward it.

There are a few entry level cameras you can choose from and true enough, you could have the most powerful camera but sill take mediocre stills right at your disposal.

[Lorna12]

I personally believe its a bit of both that makes a great photo.

Sometimes it entirely depends on the circumstance of the situation and sometimes you just got to be there at the right time to get the perfect shot.
Whether trying to capture photos in South America, or in rainy Britain, in the majority of cases, in order to shoot a great photo you need to get your timings right.Of course there have been some great photos taken spontaneously and without thought about what the time is. I love the sunset so I always head out around that time to shoot pictures of the landscape. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuL9LRFjzQQ

However, the skill and the angle is down to the photographer. With precision and articulation of the person behind the camera, and of course a great camera, a great shot can be captured.

I look forward to seeing more of your posts!

Lorna

[photographyxfactor]

Almost everyone here has said 'It's the person behind the camera' I would like to see the faces of top photographers should you hand them a point and click and tell them to go off and shoot a wedding.

Of course a good camera goes a long way to creating great photos. Why do pros upgrade their camera body every 5 years? because the technology advances allowing them to capture better pictures.

You wouldn't give a concert pianist a honky tonk piano, you'd give them a Steinway! Same applies to photography.

[ALwin]

Almost everyone here has said 'It's the person behind the camera' I would like to see the faces of top photographers should you hand them a point and click and tell them to go off and shoot a wedding.

Of course a good camera goes a long way to creating great photos. Why do pros upgrade their camera body every 5 years? because the technology advances allowing them to capture better pictures.

You wouldn't give a concert pianist a honky tonk piano, you'd give them a Steinway! Same applies to photography.

Wrong, the concept is 'pick the right tool for the job', the creative end product is still decided by the 'person behind the camera'. The reason professionals pick SLRs instead of P&S cameras for wedding photography is because SLRs are the tools that allows them to create what they envision.

If the pianist was intending to displaying a certain intended artistic performance, yes he or she may choose to use what you call a 'honky tonk piano' instead of a Steinway.

The professional selects the tools, understands the strength and advantages of those tools and knows how to use them. Using a 20kg mallet to hammer in a 5cm nail does not get the job done faster.

[Troy]

I recently watched a YouTube video that tackled this exact problem. DigitalRev gave pro photographer Chase Jarvis a camera to shoot with for the day, to see if it is possible for a good photographer to get great photos out of any camera. Take a look, it's quite interesting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wX76k-chflo

Apologies if the link doesn't work, just search DigitalRev and Chase Jarvis and i'm sure you'll find it.

[saam]

Now I'm no Ansel Adams, and I don't claim to be. I started with a Canon 400D, and I'll be honest

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[Calvin19]

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[phuongtuanpy248]

With me, the person's photo skill is the most importan to get the impressive photos.