unpopular
Been spending a lot of time on here!
Success = $$$$
You are quickly becomming my least favorite person.
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Success = $$$$
What is it that makes a photographer successful?
Pigheadedness, arrogance and conformity.
95% of professionals rely on cliches, standard poses, and formula. Look at the images that recieve the most attention. 2/3 of them are Ansel Adams knock offs, and the rest are knock offs of one another.
Imagination has nothing to do with it, at least if that is the measure of success.
I very much do not measure a successful photographer by whether or not they are professionals. That's kind of my point here.
Unfortunately, if you read a lot of what goes on in internet forums, it's all about what "the pros" do. This idolization is further fueled by consumer photography magazines which, page after page, glitz up professional photographers and their less than remarkable, yet technically outstanding, images.
Truly, we can learn a lot from 'the pros' business and technical sense; but what makes a 'successful' photographer is not neccesarily what makes a successful artist.
imagemaker46 said:Imagination, consistancy, ego
Patriot said:Why not? I don't think someone would be a photographer if they didn't want to. Would put so much time into it and not like?
I had the same gut reaction to Bitter's comment. But the question is "what makes a photographer" not "what makes a great photographer". Someone can become a photographer without a passion for it, they just have to like it.
Now to be great, I think you need passion.
imagemaker46 said:Imagination, consistancy, ego
Damn right lol. Anybody who says that they don't use photography to stroke their ego even just a little bit is so full of **** haha
That's why so many people get butthurt when their photos get ripped to shreds.
I've never met a photographer who is honestly humble. They talk the humble talk so they don't sound like a jerk, but I know...
They think that they're the best thing since...something really good.
It's the worst in art galleries. The pretentiousness is palpable. It leaves a bad taste.
I very much do not measure a successful photographer by whether or not they are professionals. That's kind of my point here.
Unfortunately, if you read a lot of what goes on in internet forums, it's all about what "the pros" do. This idolization is further fueled by consumer photography magazines which, page after page, glitz up professional photographers and their less than remarkable, yet technically outstanding, images.
Truly, we can learn a lot from 'the pros' business and technical sense; but what makes a 'successful' photographer is not neccesarily what makes a successful artist.
Because you can be super ubër dooper passionate about something, and still suck.
Then you'll just be a sucky photographer with a passion for photography. As rabbit said the question asked "What makes a Photographer" and not "What makes a good Photographer" You kinda just proved my point.
I wasn't answering the OP's question. I was responding to the person above me, and you actually proved my point when you substituted the word LIKE for PASSION.
As for the OP's question...Who cares about JUST being a photographer. It's meaningless, just being something. It becomes something when you want to discuss being a photographer in a qualitative way.
Skill, creative thinking, thorough understanding of the craft (including understanding the theories of visual communication and elements of design and composition), vision, perspective...
I do believe one can be naturally "gifted", in that it takes much less work and effort to achieve greatness, while someone else may take 10 times as long to achieve that same level of greatness.
But so what, if one likes photography, just blast away. There is no rule that only the genius togs can pick up a cam.
Bitter Jeweler said:Integral part? No.
Passion is a feeling and not always a driving force.
IMO.
Thanks, good food for thought.
So what do you think it takes for an individual's body of work to stand out from the crowd (from a peer's standpoint, not marketing to the masses).
Skill, creative thinking, thorough understanding of the craft (including understanding the theories of visual communication and elements of design and composition), vision, perspective...
I do believe one can be naturally "gifted", in that it takes much less work and effort to achieve greatness, while someone else may take 10 times as long to achieve that same level of greatness.
Yes, creative brain is a natural to some and can only be improved upon by others. No matter how hard the un-gifted tog tries, they will never match or come close to the naturally gifted.
But so what, if one likes photography, just blast away. There is no rule that only the genius togs can pick up a cam.
This may be diversion but this point has always niggled at me.
In previous discussions on this topic, there has been a continuing statement that a real photographer can shoot anything. Give him/her the right equipment and he'll get the shot.
Expecting a general level of competence seems to look at photography as a trade where performance rather than artistic insight is prized.