the biggest non-technical failings of new photographers

What do you think are the biggest non-technical failings of new photographers?

I am always surprised that there seems to be little attempt to look at the composition, to remove stuff that doesn't belong, to erect strong verticals or flattern horizons, to crop to an aspect ratio that fits the photo.

What thinkst thou?

 

The classic "telephone pole"/"tree" through the cranium shot...

 

subject on the right side with nothing at all in 2/3 of the left side, because everybody knows you have to use the rule of thirds.

Horizontal shots that should be verticle because this is the tv generation and you cant turn your tv on edge.

 

I don't think composition is a technical thing as much as aesthetic thing. Photographers have varying levels of natural ability for aesthetics, those can be refined or developed, but you can't really teach it. I think the biggest technical problems new photogs have is exposure and understanding how a light meter works. With c41 and RAW exposure really doesn't matter that much. But once you really get into B&W darkroom, being 1 stop off can really hurt.

 

I actually think that most people don't respond to esthetic issues in their own photographs because they don't natively 'see' the concepts. Once you show people examples of the issues and give them ideas what to look for, they can see the problems.

Once you point out the telephone-pole-thru-the-head defect, they can recognize it in the future. I've been thinking of trying to compile a list entitled: things to look for in your pictures so other people won't think you're a dunce.

I mentioned this to my spouse who immediately said that I was the proper person to compile that list, having perpetrated so many photographic horrors on my own.

 

Not that it would be a technical issue, but it seems that are quite a few people that feel that if they take enough photos of a subject, one or two are bound to be good. Being a film user, I would'nt think of snapping a thousand plus shot's on an outing. It seems common place these days to just blast away and hope for the best. People need to slow down, smell the coffee, what have you.

 

Like this: http://thephotoforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=66858



You got to learn (and understand) the rules before you can start to break them. I am doing my best to learn how to take a great picture without having to resort to post processing to make a great image. I don't think post processing is bad but the better image you have to start with the easier it is to make it great.

 

I thought this was the non technical issue thread. Composition is a non technical issue like the telephone pole in the head.

 

Of course, this is exactly what photographers said when roll film was introduced. Photographers used to coating and processing their own glass plates in the field considered film to be a crutch.

 

I think photogs should spend more time and effort getting a background in art, art history, and photographic history, and spend more time at art museums and galleries looking at real prints, paintings, drawings, sculptures, etc... That's what helps and inspires me to improve.

Whenever I can I attend artist and photographer lectures. I don't really care what aperture or gear the guy used, but hearing about what was going on in their mind as they created the photo may teach me a lot.

 

One suggestion for the 'failings' list is not asking 'What do I want this picture to say?' when composing the exposure. At our best, we don't open our mouths to speak until we have something to say. [Arguably, one could predict the collapse of the cellphone industry if this was taken to heart and followed by most users!] The same concept can be applied to opening a camera's shutter. To carry the analogy a step further, many exposures taken without thought can be compared to the babblings of a baby.

On technical competence, I recall one art instructor noting, 'Give me a student who's willing to work and in 10 years I can give him the technique of a master. But what is he going to do with it?'