Photo Forum is Changing rant.

[Alpha]

using google to find out about certain words is how i stumbled across this site

I have always struggled with reading books unles they are visual and full of pictures-thats just how I am, I have rented all the books form my library and I buy phot mags to help me learn

I do agree that people need to use the search function on this site too though.

I don't know what bookstores and libraries are like where you live, but where I live the photography books are full of pictures

 

[D-50]

Overread you are indeed a saint and I wouldn't be suprised to learn you are in real life a teacher. Some people have the ability to keep restating the same answers and not get bored angy or frustrated with the question and that is great and why this forum is helpful. Others do get angry or frustrated and unfotuatly tune out, this forum needs more intelligence and less beginer "advice".

Astrostu I dont want you to thinkI meant that asking lens questins or even camera questions is wrong I would just like to see a little thought and effort put into these questions rather than "what should I buy" I believe I remember your post about lenses if you asking specifc advice ina knowledgeable way that is what the forum is for.
Like my teachers always said "come to class prepared to discuss the assigment dont come to class so everyone can tell you what the assingment was"

 

[Alpha]

In the real world, any professor in this situation would crumble in frustration. It's as if new students kept arriving in class most of the way through the semester and took up all the class time asking questions about things you went over in the first week.

 

[D-50]

It's as if new students kept arriving in class most of the way through the semester and took up all the class time asking questions about things you went over in the first week.

Exactly!

 

[Overread]

Same here. I've never asked what camera I should buy on this forum, I've always done my own research, read the reviews, looked at features, etc.

Now, lenses are a different issue for me. I think I've made two lens threads, one where I was asking what my long-term lens-buying plan looked like (basically if I was leaving anything out that folks thought was a "must-have" lens) and another asking for advice on which lens I should buy this year vs. next year based upon my intended purpose (this thread was slightly superfluous, though, I'll admit).

and then again I asked in a forum - why - because the books were speaking an aline language to me.
And site reviews for books and lenses are often fine once you have your feet, but not for starting out - and user reviews are too full or praise or overly negative comments.
I needed the down to earth words written and aimed at a beginner to understand the arguments - and I made a thread as I was not another and this was "my" problem. Others threads are good to read and get info, but in the end people always want to ask the question themselves

 

[Overread]

In the real world, any professor in this situation would crumble in frustration. It's as if new students kept arriving in class most of the way through the semester and took up all the class time asking questions about things you went over in the first week.

aha very true - but we have more than one teacher in this class room
and helpfull students who will try to fill the newcommers in with what they missed in the last lecture - even if they might get it a little wrong at times.
If the teachers want a chat - well they have ot start them up

ps - not a teacher but a beliver that teaching is the way forwards

 

[Emerana]

all I want is to create a body of work that is impressive and not forced, not an attempt to become rich from taking pictures.

Well I am with you on this one. 100% this is me. I, however, am a photo noob. 6 months experience in fact. And I have asked noob questions and gotten answers. I have read a couple intro books, my manual AND taken one online class. So it isnt that I am not trying. But sometimes the board is just instant gratification and it is so much easier to pop on here and ask a question then thumb through the 40 books on the shelf.

As for posting crap photos...well I have done it. I know I have. Honestly, I posted oof photos before when I didnt realize they were even oof. I needed someone to tell me and show me errors. Its all eye training. I appreciate it greatly, because without it I wouldn't have gotten better (I still have a ways to go, keep telling me I suck people!). So I am also with you 100% when people applaud a photo with the quality of a snapshot taken in a drunken stupor. It bugs me and it doesnt help the poster either.

I guess I am just saying I understand your concerns and frustrations. But we all had to be new at some point...so dont hate us noobs...you were a noob once too. :hugs:

And I have to say that there are some long time members s posts that arent so fantastic and people ooo and aaah over them because they are old members and they have some status.

 

[Rachelsne]

I don't know what bookstores and libraries are like where you live, but where I live the photography books are full of pictures

yes lol its not all the books at the library, I have actually read a few good ones, but some books are really wordy and I struggle with them.

Im waiting to but the understanding exposure book but cant afford it at the moment

 

[Overread]

http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=126176
just to show but I think something like encourage this sort of activity amungst posters would really help out. I do find it hard to help at times when people just post a photo (be it a photo or a "snapshot)

 

[Digital Matt]

In the real world, any professor in this situation would crumble in frustration. It's as if new students kept arriving in class most of the way through the semester and took up all the class time asking questions about things you went over in the first week.

:thumbup:

In the past 6 months, I've typed a handful of responses, and ended up just closing the browser and not submitting.

To expound on your point, to make up for the professor being overwhelmed, other students have picked up the slack in doing the teaching....students who don't know their subject well enough, and are giving wrong information and poor advice.

I still browse the forum occasionally but I usually end up closing the window out of frustration. (in fact, I almost closed it again this time. Why bother?......)

 

[Alpha]

I couldn't agree more. Nice to see you!

 

[D-50]

I guess I am just saying I understand your concerns and frustrations. But we all had to be new at some point...so dont hate us noobs...you were a noob once too.

Im not against new members just the ones looking for a hand out. Sounds like you look into things first and then turn to the forum when you either cant find the answer you need or do not understand what you have read and thats what the forum is for.

I would never join a car forum (I know nothing about cars) without first learning the basics. "I want to juice up m y engine what should I do?" That is not a good question as I clearly have no base to build on

To join TPF without understanding basic things like Aperature and shutter speed to some extent is inexcusable. I did not go to photography school but I imagine some of the first lessons you learn would be relatd to shutter speed and aperature. Furthermore there are numerous artcles written about this topic on the internet that are easy to understand.

It is good to see Digital Matt still lurks in the shadows.

 

[tim.bennett]

I try and contribute to the beginners of this forum. As i feel i am a bit further than that stage(i might still make some silly mistakes but i can spot them myself.) And if we all help the person at the stage we have just overcome i think we might get the beginners up to a little higher level.

What i do think, Learning photography is hard! It takes hard work practice and a very thick skin. When I show my pictures I feel it's something very personal. But i do put allot of time and effort into getting the shot that i want. I'm getting more and more shots everytime i got out.

And as for you Rachel. I always enjoy your post as i think you do work hard and work hard to improve. And i'm sorry my homemade softbox tutorial is taking so long. I've been very busy. honest ;-)

As for going pro. I would love it. But now! I am not good enough. I do feel I can get better. But I'll start to think about it when I am technically good enough to relax and think of the shot that i want to take instead of worrying about how and experimenting.(thank god for patient models )

 

[EricBrian]

To join TPF without understanding basic things like Aperature and shutter speed to some extent is inexcusable. I did not go to photography school but I imagine some of the first lessons you learn would be relatd to shutter speed and aperature. Furthermore there are numerous artcles written about this topic on the internet that are easy to understand.

Uhm, I would bet $1.12 that the vast majority of people here joined to learn the basics. That is exactly the reason why I joined. If people where to join only after being experts, I think you would hear an echo while traversing these forums.

And for heaven's sake, if something bothers you that much, speak up when it bothers you! Please, take this as constructive criticism.

 

[Overread]

D50 - I think it depends - some people feel that the first place to find information is in books, some in webpages and others prefer to ask others. Yet when you have a new hobby or possible hobby and don'y know any local photographers where is the next best place to ask?
On a forum - a photography forum to be precise - and some come here.

ps - you have to remember your roots to remember where you came from and where you are going to.
(no I am not drunk )