Sorry to offend, but I agree with the principle; ownership of a camera does NOT make one a photographer. Just as ownership of a piano does not make one a pianist.
For a minute, forget your likes or dislikes of the site in question, think about the point they make.
Call yourself only a photographer when you have the skill and knowledge to put your image where your mouth is.
Easy for me to say, I own a camera, but I am a hobbiest, not a photographer. I own 50 plus photography manuals/books and have access to another few hundred. I read most of them, still I am not a photographer. I have 2 gig of RAW files, nope, I am not so ignorant or arrogant to call myself a photographer. Hobbiest, that is what I am. A somewhat advanced amateur. That's all.
And the kicker, there are very few photographers on this site. On this site, we are in the majority by far. Face it. The truth is not always as nice as I am.
Or is it anyone who uses a camera, perhaps just taking snaps of the family?
As far as I'm concerned, it's anyone who uses a camera in an attempt to create images with a broader aesthetic appeal beyond simple visual record. The term "photographer" implies nothing about the quality of the work produced or payment received. There are good photographers and bad photographers, professional and amateur.
Anyone who owns a set of special pots and use them is a chef, anyone who owns and play somewhat on the piano is a pianist? A man with camera AMWC, is a photographer.
Joey Lawrence is a photographer as is JulietN and Irene and Les Goodwin.... Not about money only, about creativity, mastery and acceptance by a savvy public.
A photographer is what I am not. Wish I was, but can not be.
Anyone who owns a set of special pots and use them is a chef, anyone who owns and play somewhat on the piano is a pianist? A man with camera AMWC, is a photographer.
Joey Lawrence is a photographer as is JulietN and Irene and Les Goodwin.... Not about money only, about creativity, mastery and acceptance by a savvy public.
A photographer is what I am not. Wish I was, but can not be.
if someone pays you to take pictures you are a photographer, the only people that need to like your work are your clients.
Anyone who owns a set of special pots and use them is a chef, anyone who owns and play somewhat on the piano is a pianist? A man with camera AMWC, is a photographer.
Joey Lawrence is a photographer as is JulietN and Irene and Les Goodwin.... Not about money only, about creativity, mastery and acceptance by a savvy public.
A photographer is what I am not. Wish I was, but can not be.
if someone pays you to take pictures you are a photographer, the only people that need to like your work are your clients.
Like this. A lot. I will never take money for the work I do..... You are right, I really like this.
Anyone who owns a set of special pots and use them is a chef, anyone who owns and play somewhat on the piano is a pianist? A man with camera AMWC, is a photographer.
Joey Lawrence is a photographer as is JulietN and Irene and Les Goodwin.... Not about money only, about creativity, mastery and acceptance by a savvy public.
A photographer is what I am not. Wish I was, but can not be.
if someone pays you to take pictures you are a photographer, the only people that need to like your work are your clients.
Like this. A lot. I will never take money for the work I do..... You are right, I really like this.
And if you create beautiful photographs, but never take money for them? Then what?
What about someone like Emily Dickenson, who never received payment for any of her poetry, by your reasoning, she was not a poet?
Seems to me all you need is a camera of some sort to be defined as a photographer. I guess no one even has to like the photos you take except you. Aren't we being a bit presumptuous in saying there are specific requirements or accomplishments to qualify as a photographer. I think the best comment thus far is some are good and some are bad photographers. Even that is open for debate.
A source of pride, for me, in the English language is the knowledge that the dictionary does not give definitions, but a guide to common usage.
I once completed a government sponsored carpentry course and afterwards worked as a carpenter. A colleague asked me if I didn't have professional pride. I didn't and I told him so. Later on it kicked in, although I couldn't say exactly when. Now I think it is accurate to say that my concern for the standard of my work stems from professional pride. I dare say Mark Simms could say the same about his photography.
It's real, but it's also subjective. You decide if you're a photographer.
Yeah seen that before... Just wondering if I am the crap bottom on the left or the crap bottom on the right..... Have not felt like selling the camera this month, so maybe it's the straight up line....
What about someone like Emily Dickenson, who never received payment for any of her poetry, by your reasoning, she was not a poet?
Of course, the market has spoken! Which is why we all know that Jean-Louis-Ernest Meissonier (hugely popular in his lifetime) is a much greater painter than his contemporary Vincent van Gogh (Life time sales; one painting to his brother).
While I used to look forward to the weekly update from "you are not a photographer" lately it has become petty and mean spirited.
To be a painter, all I need is a roller, a pan and a gallon of latex, but there is a bit of room between me and Velázquez.
The graph is missing the drop in quality when the photog first learns how to do HDR : )
You must be referring to the HDR Hole... a time in a photographers life clearly prompted by purchasing the first tripod!!
Judging by the number of comments - "does not look like HDR" in Obvious Tripod challenge I must have jumped over the HDR Hole and went straight into "Damnit, I suck"! :)
PS Nice chart, although I wish it was that simple.
