Pretty cool article for a beginner to check out

[GooniesNeverSayDie11]

This guy shared this on my Google+.... The secret camera revealed « Frank Doorhof

 

[KmH]

Yep!

People want to think it's the gear, because that makes it easier to just throw money at it: buy a lens, upgrade a camera, buy a cheap flash, gotta have the 'latest and greatest' as the means to better images. Few are willing to make the effort required to really understand how to use their gear effectively to do photography.

The camera makers tap into that mentality by adding auto this and suto that to cameras, so the gear seems easy to use and has the broadest appeal to consumers.

 

[jake337]

Great post.

 

[pgriz]

You know, the camera makers (and the myths they create/encourage) are no different than many cosmetics companies that show ads with gorgeous supermodels holding bottles of anti-wrinkle cream, with the implication that if you use the stuff, you'll look like the model. The real problem is that most people can look a a photograph and other than knowing that a camera took the photo, have no clue as to what was done to achieve the lighting effects, or the postprocessing work involved. So... looks gorgeous? Must be the Camera/Lens!

 

[GooniesNeverSayDie11]

Yeah, I hate the typical "You take such nice pictures, I need to get a better camera so that I can take pictures like that" comments. Or the "Your pictures look nice, that camera must be pretty hightech"


I must point out though, that on the flipside, I get a little ticked when people act as if everything can be done using only the skill of the photographer. There are techniques that require (without dumbluck) the use of technology. For instance, a high FPS for wildlife and sports or a fast AF. Or a lens that allows for shallow DOF effects, or a long zoom to actually reach and compose your subject effectively. However, that also relies on the photographers skill to know HOW to use the tools that he does have to achieve the vision that he has. So I just want to clarify that I am not one of those "camera specs are meaningless, its all about the photographers magic ability" either.

The point of me reposting this article is to show beginners, that they need to rely on their skill just as much as they rely on the technology. There are no shortcuts. Just because you shoot with a point and shoot, does not mean that you cannot take good pictures. You just have to learn how to maximize the tools that you do have.

 

[Ballistics]

Yeah, I hate the typical "You take such nice pictures, I need to get a better camera so that I can take pictures like that" comments. Or the "Your pictures look nice, that camera must be pretty hightech"


I must point out though, that on the flipside, I get a little ticked when people act as if everything can be done using only the skill of the photographer. There are techniques that require (without dumbluck) the use of technology. For instance, a high FPS for wildlife and sports or a fast AF. Or a lens that allows for shallow DOF effects, or a long zoom to actually reach and compose your subject effectively. However, that also relies on the photographers skill to know HOW to use the tools that he does have to achieve the vision that he has. So I just want to clarify that I am not one of those "camera specs are meaningless, its all about the photographers magic ability" either.

The point of me reposting this article is to show beginners, that they need to rely on their skill just as much as they rely on the technology. There are no shortcuts. Just because you shoot with a point and shoot, does not mean that you cannot take good pictures. You just have to learn how to maximize the tools that you do have.

It's lose/lose really. I just make the analogy that even a poor driver in a ferrari can beat a great driver in a ford focus in a straight line, but the speed of the car only matters until you start hitting those crazy curves and banks.

 

[nmoody]

Thanks for sharing this. Makes me feel really good about my purchase of an entry level DSLR as my first camera instead of spending more than I wanted to on a higher end that I thought I needed due to advertising.

 

[GooniesNeverSayDie11]

Yeah, I hate the typical "You take such nice pictures, I need to get a better camera so that I can take pictures like that" comments. Or the "Your pictures look nice, that camera must be pretty hightech"


I must point out though, that on the flipside, I get a little ticked when people act as if everything can be done using only the skill of the photographer. There are techniques that require (without dumbluck) the use of technology. For instance, a high FPS for wildlife and sports or a fast AF. Or a lens that allows for shallow DOF effects, or a long zoom to actually reach and compose your subject effectively. However, that also relies on the photographers skill to know HOW to use the tools that he does have to achieve the vision that he has. So I just want to clarify that I am not one of those "camera specs are meaningless, its all about the photographers magic ability" either.

The point of me reposting this article is to show beginners, that they need to rely on their skill just as much as they rely on the technology. There are no shortcuts. Just because you shoot with a point and shoot, does not mean that you cannot take good pictures. You just have to learn how to maximize the tools that you do have.

It's lose/lose really. I just make the analogy that even a poor driver in a ferrari can beat a great driver in a ford focus in a straight line, but the speed of the car only matters until you start hitting those crazy curves and banks.

Actually its the handling, brakes, and acceleration that matter when you hit the curves and banks Just giving you a hard time.

 

[Ballistics]

Yeah, I hate the typical "You take such nice pictures, I need to get a better camera so that I can take pictures like that" comments. Or the "Your pictures look nice, that camera must be pretty hightech"


I must point out though, that on the flipside, I get a little ticked when people act as if everything can be done using only the skill of the photographer. There are techniques that require (without dumbluck) the use of technology. For instance, a high FPS for wildlife and sports or a fast AF. Or a lens that allows for shallow DOF effects, or a long zoom to actually reach and compose your subject effectively. However, that also relies on the photographers skill to know HOW to use the tools that he does have to achieve the vision that he has. So I just want to clarify that I am not one of those "camera specs are meaningless, its all about the photographers magic ability" either.

The point of me reposting this article is to show beginners, that they need to rely on their skill just as much as they rely on the technology. There are no shortcuts. Just because you shoot with a point and shoot, does not mean that you cannot take good pictures. You just have to learn how to maximize the tools that you do have.

It's lose/lose really. I just make the analogy that even a poor driver in a ferrari can beat a great driver in a ford focus in a straight line, but the speed of the car only matters until you start hitting those crazy curves and banks.

Actually its the handling, brakes, and acceleration that matter when you hit the curves and banks Just giving you a hard time.

Yeah, every analogy has its flaws XD

 

[naptime]

Yeah, I hate the typical "You take such nice pictures, I need to get a better camera so that I can take pictures like that" comments. Or the "Your pictures look nice, that camera must be pretty hightech"


I must point out though, that on the flipside, I get a little ticked when people act as if everything can be done using only the skill of the photographer. There are techniques that require (without dumbluck) the use of technology. For instance, a high FPS for wildlife and sports or a fast AF. Or a lens that allows for shallow DOF effects, or a long zoom to actually reach and compose your subject effectively. However, that also relies on the photographers skill to know HOW to use the tools that he does have to achieve the vision that he has. So I just want to clarify that I am not one of those "camera specs are meaningless, its all about the photographers magic ability" either.

The point of me reposting this article is to show beginners, that they need to rely on their skill just as much as they rely on the technology. There are no shortcuts. Just because you shoot with a point and shoot, does not mean that you cannot take good pictures. You just have to learn how to maximize the tools that you do have.

had this conversation with my daughter before buying her a camera for christmas.

the best camera in the world will not make you a photography. you have to know what to do with it, and how to do it.

she had to agree to read and learn if she wanted a camera.

 

[Ballistics]

Yeah, I hate the typical "You take such nice pictures, I need to get a better camera so that I can take pictures like that" comments. Or the "Your pictures look nice, that camera must be pretty hightech"


I must point out though, that on the flipside, I get a little ticked when people act as if everything can be done using only the skill of the photographer. There are techniques that require (without dumbluck) the use of technology. For instance, a high FPS for wildlife and sports or a fast AF. Or a lens that allows for shallow DOF effects, or a long zoom to actually reach and compose your subject effectively. However, that also relies on the photographers skill to know HOW to use the tools that he does have to achieve the vision that he has. So I just want to clarify that I am not one of those "camera specs are meaningless, its all about the photographers magic ability" either.

The point of me reposting this article is to show beginners, that they need to rely on their skill just as much as they rely on the technology. There are no shortcuts. Just because you shoot with a point and shoot, does not mean that you cannot take good pictures. You just have to learn how to maximize the tools that you do have.

had this conversation with my daughter before buying her a camera for christmas.

the best camera in the world will not make you a photography. you have to know what to do with it, and how to do it.

she had to agree to read and learn if she wanted a camera.

Yeah but it only takes a month or 2 to learn how to use it. Glad i spent the money I did.