To All You Experiences Photographers, Thank You!

smackitsakic · Mar 5, 2011

It has almost been a year since I purchased my first DSLR, and almost a year since i've been on this photo forum.

I was as fresh as they come - thought i'd be able to buy a DSLR, point it where I wanted, and create captivating, stunning images. I didn't realize the work that would be behind studying this great hobby. I didn't have a clue of the myriad of things that you must consider and ponder to make a good photo, sometimes within a matter of seconds.
I didn't know what exposure was, I didn't know what the light meter on my camera meant. I had no idea I needed a filter to protect me lenses, nor did I know that shooting in RAW was so important. Heck, I had never even heard of RAW. I didn't know which book to buy, or where to start learning.

I posted a few pictures on message boards asking for critique. Truly terrible photos that I honestly thought were impressive.

To all of you experienced photographers who circulate these message boards with tremendous patience in an ever-growing world of photography - thank you for sharing your advice. Thank you for being patient, and for explaining even the simplest of simple things. Thank you for giving new photographers a chance, and for sharing links. Thanks for being honest, telling us that it isn't an easy world and you can't just pick up a camera and be stellar. Thank you for having the sincerity to be honest and the decency to be polite. Thank you for giving back to an art that has given so much to you.

Many of you have 20, 30, 40, or even more years of experience. Now, more than ever, people are entering the photography world with high expectations and limited knowledge. It must be frustrating to see hundreds of 'newbies' born every day, thinking they can learn the craft that you've spent dozens of years learning, in a matter of weeks.

It's been a fairly incredible year. I didn't buy my camera to make money. I didn't want to learn photography to eventually become a professional. I, like so many others, simply appreciate a great photo and wanted to learn how to create such photos on my own.

Over a year, and countless hours later, i'm still nowhere near the photographer that I want to be and that I know I eventually will become. I've never charged anybody to take their picture. I am however, thanks to the help of kind people like you, starting to advance to a level of photography where I look at other 'professional' photographers and think, in the back of my head, "hey, I can do better than that". I now see things that I never used to see.

So, a simple message from the bottom of my heart to say thank you for all that you've done to help me along my way these past 12 months. I hope the next 12 months and many months after are as rewarding and fulfilling as my first 12

kundalini · Mar 5, 2011

I would like to use this post for others.

Glad you're feeling better about yourself.

dxqcanada · Mar 5, 2011

You are very welcome ...

I hope there are other new "photographers" feel the same way.

... and FYI: I am still nowhere near the Photographer that I think I am.

Samerr9 · Mar 5, 2011

I feel the same

Thanks to all for making our time more valuable on the net.. Especially the pros as mentioned.

mikehaugen · Mar 5, 2011

I think it's cool that you though to start this thread. Obviously since you have made it this long you have been open minded in the advice given to you. I don't know a lot (though I have learned a tremendous amount here), but one thing that I know is that if you are going to be new here and if you are going to ask for advice or post a picture for c&c, you better be ready for the responses. Like you said, I am sure that these experienced guys get tired of new people like us that suck but think they are great and argue about the advice given or about not being ready to start a wedding photography business. I am very careful how I ask questions and respond to things based on what I have seen happen to others. Most of the knowledgeable people here have the patience if you do and can understand your limitations. So what I am getting at is... +1 to the op!

KmH · Mar 5, 2011

I can honestly say that I still learn something about photography, or something directly related to photography, pretty much every day.

That you have been able to recognize just how much there is to learn about photography stands you in good stead.
Sharing what you have learned helps solidify your understanding, and will reveal to you the nuances that allow you to make your photographs art that is uniquely yours.

SJGordon · Mar 5, 2011

I'm still learning every day that I pick up a camera body and trip the shutter. First 35mm for me was back in 1968; first autofocus/autoexposure 35mm was a Minolta Maxxum in 1985 when they came out; first DSLR was in 2008. I still consider myself a newb most days, and other days I get to pass on a tidbit of photography skills to the next generation of shooters. Heck my 13 year old son who has had a DSLR since Christmas 2009 has shown me quite a lot because he doesn't know what is "Supposed" to be done to get a particular type of photo.

I hope and pray that there is never a time when there is only experienced Photographers. Without new blood being introduce to the art, the chance of something new and exciting being developed will slowly diminish as we all get set in our ways.

Geaux · Mar 5, 2011

Post some of your growth pictures! It's always fun to look back and see what you thought was great compared to the style and type of images you take now. When I look back on mine from the beginning of my first month to the end of a year, it's a huge difference. I also attribute this to the site also. It might be rough advice, but it's good advice. There isn't any site out there like this that I've noticed. I'm going to be a member for a while!

now if I can just get more responses than 1 or 2 per posting hahaha.

smackitsakic · Mar 5, 2011

Lots to choose from, but here are some random ones pulled. Would love to see the same from others.

before:

not framing properly, cutting off tips of blades, centering subject, no horizon, etc.

missed focus, too tightly cropped

not sure what i was doing here - can't get much more boring

after:

following rule of thirds, paying attention to background

using flash indoors to get more balanced light

finding new angles, livening up colours in post processing, getting on knees for photo

probably my best photo yet, minus the light posts. finding a road to get this shot, which i saw from afar. exposing to the right for snow, shooting in morning light, etc.

crimbfighter · Mar 5, 2011

*edit* I seem to have posted this last night after I had a few... Sorry to the op, didn't mean to highjack your thread...

Cheers to the OP's post! :cheers:

Here are some of mine. I can say I've learned a solid 1000% since I started clicking away, almost exclusively since I started using the human resources on this forum. However, that same advancement has made me realize I still know less than 1% of what there is to learn in photography. I certainly still have a long way to go.

These were a direct result of the experience on this forum. Using all the advise the elder and wiser photogs here had to offer, three reshoots, setting pride aside, I ended up with this: