I am seriously considering leaving.... and don't know if I will come back or not! The forum seems to have fewer and fewer people on it that want to LEARN just for photography! And way too many people that just want to learn the basic beginner stuff to justify the fact that they charge for crap, and call themselves PRO's! (They still post in the Beginner section though.. asking silly question's about "How do I improve my focus"... and my personal favorite (paraphrased): "I am too stupid to use flash.. so I am a Natural Light Photographer!"
I do not shoot for money anymore.. only for fun! So my bitterness toward these MWAC's and GWAC clowns... is not financially motivated! I hate what they are doing to a profession that I once loved dearly! They are lowering standards everywhere! I don't care that they serve the low end market (the only market they could serve!)... and that they are not really competition for a decent photographer!
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I can understand your frustration, Charlie. I've mentioned this several times, but when I was a kid I worked in a camera store part time. At the time there were two professional photographers in my town, excluding the reporters for the local newspaper, both with established studios. I looked on Google last year and in the same town, whose population has probably increased by 20% since those days, there are now in excess of 200 "Professional" photographers.
I've worked for enginering companies for 45 years and have been around registered professional engineers that entire time. I KNOW what being a professional means, I KNOW that there is more to it than just giving yourself a title. I've never ahd any urge to pursue photography as a career because I know that there is more to it than being able to get a decent exposure most of the time. But, as long as there are no specific requirements for being a true professional photographer that is never going to change. There are no scholastic requirements, there are no experience requirements, there are no legal requirements. All one has to do is purchase a business license and they are an Instant Professional Photograher, ready to take someone's money for producing mediocre results at best.
These people do not understand what is required of a professional phorographer. A true "Pro" has to have the knowledge, experience, ability, and equipment to get the shots that the client wants, under any conditions, under any circumstances, at any time. They feel that if they don't get the results on the first try that an "I'm Sorry" is a sufficient excuse. They feel that it's acceptable to be a "Fair Weather" photographer or a "Natural Light" photographer or a "Limited" photographer. They think it's OK to take money for performing a service and not have a business license, insurance, or pay taxes on the income. This is not the case however it is the way that this profession is headed.
It's a sore spot for me to because, much like you, I've seen it happening for a long time. Unlike you, and a few others here, I watched it from the outside but I watched nonetheless, I've done it for a very long time, and I don't like what I see. It is frustrating to see a profession ruined in such a manner but that is what is happening.
Sorry, perhaps this doesn't belong in this thread but after seeing some of today's posts I felt it was pertinent. If one of the mods wants to remove it then go ahead and do so.
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