The Hardest Type of Photography?

[Light Artisan]

Maybe so, but you won't have a job if you don't produce... 'that shot' in wildlife photography is few and far between in most cases. Some go to great lengths to get one photo opportunity.

Example, it's not every day you catch a red fox stalking its prey.
http://www.lightartisan.com/Animals/Mammals/001061110/992980137_6hf2w-L.jpg

But in football for example, you need to be good at predicting the action - but you know it's going to be there.

 

[Infidel]

Maybe so, but you won't have a job if you don't produce... 'that shot' in wildlife photography is few and far between in most cases. Some go to great lengths to get one photo opportunity.

Yeah, it was meant as a joke. Everyone knows that wildlife photographers are supported by their bread-winning spouses (also a joke).

But in football for example, you need to be good at predicting the action - but you know it's going to be there.

So do the other 40 professional sports photographers who are at the same game. Whoever gets the best shots gets the best paycheck, no?

 

[Light Artisan]

Most likely... I'm not saying it's easy or that anyone can do it, everyone can get lucky once in a while - but producing consistent results is what separates any photographer in their field, right? My opinion was/is based on those photographers.

 

[GeneralBenson]

Try doings sports when the players aim is not to play the game but to avoid you - welcome to wildlife photography Sports is (like wildlife) expensive because you are often needing long reach in poor lighting

At least with wildlife photography, your editor won't know whether you missed a good shot or not.

Hahaha. Great point!

"What do you mean you didn't get the shot when that 8 point elk leveled the 10 point alpha?!? How could you miss that???"

 

[GeneralBenson]

The type your least experienced with?

I think this is the best answer so far. They all have their own challenges, and they all have their own tips, tricks and techniques. And they all get at least a little bit easier, with practice. Although, I think if I had to pick one, I would have to go with war photography.

 

[Boomn4x4]

From what I have tried, wildlife.. more specifically duck hunting wildlife photography has been the most difficult. The typically low light, combined with trying to shoot a subject that would take off if it even knew you were there, combined with the high speed... make getting even an intersting shot very difficult.

 

[12sndsgood]

i can remember going out with my dad early morning before sunrise. heading to the woods. walking a few miles before you even see any tracks, then following those tracks for another hour to get a glimpse of a deer, then taking another half hour working your way around to the opposite side so your downwind of him waiting for him to try and get into an opening for you to get a shot. or adjusting yourself to try to get him in a clear path only to take two shots and have him run off from hearing the camera snap its shots. then to spend another few hours to try and do it again.

but allot of it also just comes down to what your experienced with and what your comfortable with. if your comfortable with wildlife you may find that easier to do then say work with people doing portraits if your not a people person.

 

[Village Idiot]

No contest, has to be sports.

Nah...landscape and nautre/wildlife.

When's the last time a sports photographer was in danger of being eaten by a lion, dying of frostbite, or falling off a mountain?

 

[ghache]

Try doings sports when the players aim is not to play the game but to avoid you - welcome to wildlife photography Sports is (like wildlife) expensive because you are often needing long reach in poor lighting

At least with wildlife photography, your editor won't know whether you missed a good shot or not.

and the birds wont sue you because you published thier mug shot

 

[Dao]

After I saw this video, I must say wildlife. I do not even know if I have the gut to do it.

 

[ChevyBaby]

Wow! I never thought of it the way that video illustrates.

 

[KmH]

In the wild, humans are slow and weak compared to many of the other animals out there.

If it weren't for our thinking processes, we would be just easy prey.

I too vote for wildlife photography, with sports second.

 

[rufus5150]

Combat/embedded photojournalist would be my guess. Nothing like being shot at... I've never done that, though.

Even with reach, shooting birds has been a pain. I wouldn't have called it hard, but I got to shoot a very scared hawk that was trapped inside a peasant pen from about 15 away. The shot wasn't hard to get. Each step towards him was. Angry little bugger.

 

[MohaimenK]

From all I've done so far, I'd say wedding. Not because of the photography part itself but it's mostly because of trying to find composition. The last 3 I did (my first ones) I pretty much went there blind. I offered free service for people doing small weddings who were under budget and they paid me "tips" if you call it that after I sent them the photos.

But I think the hardest part about wedding photography for noobs are either you take too many photos or you don't take too many photos.

I've just began to realize after going through 1600-2000 pics that I am doing something totally wrong. I shouldn't just be snapping photos, I should really be snapping photos to tell the story and for noobs that's the hardest part IMO.

So yeah, wedding for me. But I'm learning as I go and staying confident.

 

[djacobox372]

Wildlife.... it has the same problems of sports, but it takes 100 times longer and the conditions can end up destroying your gear.