The people on this forum make me sick

[Overread16 4]

I think its time for

 

[JTPhotography]

Here is the problem with photography. Beginners go into it expecting instant gratification and it just doesn't happen that way. The accessibility that has come along as the entry level DSLRs have become friggin awesome has actually contributed to the problem IMO. People think, hell, for 500 bucks I'll have an awesome camera that will take some awesome photos for me. NOT! The advantage to old school learning on a manual film camera is that you had to understand everything that was going on or you wasted a ton of money on film. Beginners need to go into this with a long term plan. Approach is by starting with the basics and slowly practicing and mastering one small concept at a time. Practice makes perfect in photography? Well, maybe, but only if you practice smart. You can shoot 10000 photos a day but if you're not putting any thought into it you'll hit a sticking point. I see that LOTS of beginners hit that sticking point.

 

[bribrius]

i suck too, and post my photos to make other people feel better about sucking.

In the words of ZZ Top: "And I thank you." [/QUOTE]yeah. i don't actually believe that though. Just trying to make you feel better again.

 

[photoguy99]

I don't pay a lot of attention to Zack, but he's come a ways in the last couple years. He's actually thinking about stuff more.

While it's encouraging to hear that you can suck for years and years and still get good, it is worth pointing out that quite often a powerful voice and a great talent will emerge in someone quite young. It's not necessary or even desirable to spend a decade at it just to get to the beginning.

You CAN I think. But not everyone does.

 

[imagemaker46]

I stopped comparing my images to other photographers a very long time ago. It's tough enough just trying to get good at it without adding pressure on yourself. Just do what you can, shoot a lot, and if you see something that looks good, try and copy it, learn from what you see. As long as you look at things and say you can't do it, you're done. The majority of images I've been posting this past week, came from experience and skills which i've been working on for over 40 years, a lot of it is pure luck, things happen in front of the camera, especially sports.

Stick with it, you would regret putting the camera down.

 

[rexbobcat]

One of the scariest things about photography is the prospect of doing it a long time and not getting much better.

 

[Ray Hines]

It's tough enough just trying to get good at it without adding pressure on yourself. Just do what you can, shoot a lot, and if you see something that looks good, try and copy it, learn from what you see.

Scott has got it right, this is exactly what I do. I even have a Album on Flickr called "Plagiarism" where I post direct copies of other peoples photos. Doing this has taught me a lot, don't forget to look at the Exif details so you know where to start.

Have fun
Ray

 

[rexbobcat]

I don't pay a lot of attention to Zack, but he's come a ways in the last couple years. He's actually thinking about stuff more.

While it's encouraging to hear that you can suck for years and years and still get good, it is worth pointing out that quite often a powerful voice and a great talent will emerge in someone quite young. It's not necessary or even desirable to spend a decade at it just to get to the beginning.

You CAN I think. But not everyone does.

I just like his transparency. A lot of photographers seem like they're "on" all the time. Even when they let us see the kinks in the armor, they're still perfectly curated kinks told in a way that still make them seem oddly...above it all. It's like the photography equivalent of Beyonce telling us she's still human in front of a webcam while carefully chosen clips of her totally ordinary life play in a montage.

Often it seems to lead to hunting for things to do not as experiences to be enjoyed, but solely as photo ops to show everyone else how hard you're living life. More than once I've had upbeat marketing-type friends hit me up all chipper like "Hey bud, you're awesome. *weird fist bump handshake hug combo* So, uh, I saw those photos of the cowboys you posted. How can I get in on that?"

Well, this is the first time we've talked in months, but to answer your question, I guess you'll just have to marry into my family.

It feels weird, like everyone is trying to sell authenticity while racking up friendships solely as capital, and maybe Zack is doing the same thing (maybe not the friendships thing but the authenticity thing) only differently, but he still seems like someone I could have a beer with without worrying about keeping up appearances.

 

[Forkie]

I think its time for

Usually, I hate these kinds of wishy-washy, self flagellating, depressing "I-couldn't-find-myself-but-then-I-did" type videos, but I actually quite enjoyed that.

Here's Aaron Nace with the same message but told after, I think, a beer or two. Have patience through the Lord of the Rings analogy :

 

[JTPhotography]

It's tough enough just trying to get good at it without adding pressure on yourself. Just do what you can, shoot a lot, and if you see something that looks good, try and copy it, learn from what you see.

Scott has got it right, this is exactly what I do. I even have a Album on Flickr called "Plagiarism" where I post direct copies of other peoples photos. Doing this has taught me a lot, don't forget to look at the Exif details so you know where to start.

Have fun
Ray

That's great, for you. The person you're plagiarizing probably wants to kick your ass.

 

[Ray Hines]

No they don't as I link to their image, name them and give them credit for the inspiration. And how many 'original' photos do you see these days anyway?

 

[JTPhotography]

No they don't as I link to their image, name them and give them credit for the inspiration. And how many 'original' photos do you see these days anyway?

Speaking for myself, I would prefer you didn't blatantly and openly plagiarize (something that is morally and ethically wrong, and something you very clearly admit to doing) over you doing it and giving me credit. I see TONS AND TONS of original photos, great ones, awesome ones. I don't steal them, neither should you.

 

[Overread16 4]

JTP I believe in the context Ray is speaking is that he sees a photo done by another person and emulates that photo himself. He's not copying the photo with a right-click and uploading it he's seeing something; going out and doing it himself.

A better way would be to call it direct inspiration; a tool used heavily in teaching and also one good to improve ones own skill base. It also provides resources to draw from and, given time and if one works at it, can reveal new ways to take a simple existing concept.

 

[JTPhotography]

JTP I believe in the context Ray is speaking is that he sees a photo done by another person and emulates that photo himself. He's not copying the photo with a right-click and uploading it he's seeing something; going out and doing it himself.

Yep, that's exactly what he is talking about. It is called visual plagiarism.

Philosophy of Photography Visual Plagiarism JMG-Galleries - Landscape Nature Travel Photography

I understand that there is a lot of gray area there, such as whether the person is profiting from the plagiarized image, and that sometimes it can happen randomly or with a very popular subject (ie: Half Dome). Not that there is any way to stop it. It is one of the problems with social media and one of the reason I have altered the way I put my work out there. I have had cases where I take a photo, post it, then within a few days see several other local "photographers" in the same spot trying to get the same image. It is also one of the reasons I do my best to not keep up with what other photographers are doing in the area where I am shooting.

 

[Torus34]

"The Photographer's Eye", Michael Freeman.

Hint: Don't just look at the pictures. Carefully read what Mr. Freeman has written.

Regards.