Mgw189
TPF Noob!
- Joined
- Dec 31, 2008
- Messages
- 838
- Reaction score
- 0
- Location
- Binghamton, NY
- Website
- www.flickr.com
- Can others edit my Photos
- Photos OK to edit
I absolutely get your point but some were directed towards me... And being someone in a simular boat as amature photographer (not nessisarily a newbie). I felt an impulse to kind of speak up. Especially when the tone of the messages turned ugly. I guess was just a breaking point because I've watched newbie after newbie get on here and ask a question that a pro feels is easy and stupid and they express that to the newbie and follow it up with a "go read your freakin manual." This section is for beginners so that's who is going to post on here. If the question sounds stupid then just don't answer. If a newbie gets on talking about how they're going to start doing $40 portraits and $100 to make some extra money. You can honestly tell them your opinion without being rude and tear somone down. "You don't even know how to properly light your pictures, your work is horrible, etc..." Instead you can tell them that it's risky doing something like this... tell them why. I'm just saying show some tact. And also realize that all newbies aren't cut from the same cloth... There's some who pick up the camera thinking oooh I can make a quick buck. Others have passion for photography enough where they're going to study it. I've seen newbie pictures who are AMAZING. When I was pregnant with my son I went to Sears to take a quick maternity pic because I was 9 months and running out of time. It was a last minute thing because had been putting it off. I swear that the pic I got from them... mann I've taken pictures wayy better. However, they're considered to be pros though. Get what I'm saying? Instead of putting all newbies in this box and putting all of them down... I think the focus should've been the question at hand. Not saying that all newbies produce crappy pics and if you end up with a good one, you were just lucky. I mean, come on.
You have been around here a little less time than I have on this message board and I have to say that the statement highlighted couldnt be more wrong. I dont know if its just the threads you are going in or what but for the most part what I see is useful advice being given out by most of the posters in this forum. Sure there are a couple of the its my opinion like it or not I am going to be flat out honest even if it is what most would consider out of line. As for the read the freaking manual comment I have seen numberous people ask questions reagarding something that would have taken them 30 seconds to look up in a manual. People need to help themselves too.
I have been a member of 5 or 6 different photography forums since getting into photography a couple of years ago. Of all of the forums that I have belonged to this is by far one of the most friendly and helpful forums out there. There are from time to time instances where things get a little out of line but they are usually delt with by the moderators pretty quickly.
When I post my pictures on this or any other forum or image hosting site I want people to be honest about what they like and dislike about a shot of mine. Is everyone going to have the same exact opinion of a shot? Hell no! I wouldnt expect anything less. I have seen some shots that are great, amazing, ordinary, snapshots, down to the "WTF are you thinking posting that?" category. If you are going to let someone elses comments throw you off and chase you out of a forum or away from a hobby its not something you love. The first forum I was a member of there was one person in particular that always had something negative to say to my photos. It got to the point where it became my motivation to learn and improve. I finally felt like I was doing something right when that person said "Simply Amazing" to one of my shots. It took a hell of a lot of getting beat up and feeling belittled to get to that point but damn did it feel good when it happened.
As I go back through my flickr I see a lot of shots that I thought were great at the time and now look at them and go WTF? Its a natural progression and everyone that sticks with the hobby will go through it.
I would invite you and anyone else to go through my flickr or any of the posts I have made here and see the progression that has taken place and comment on the images you like and dislike. Any feedback is welcome.