Wow, I have to get a camera like that...

[TomHuck-wa]

HAHA I just take it as a great compliment. Its hard for novices to understand what it takes. Kind of like a backyard mechanic working on an Indy car.

 

[ksmattfish]

You should buy a really cheap PnS and hand it to them when they say that. Tell them to give it a try.

I say encourage them to buy the expensive camera, and see what they come up with. Either they were right, and it's just the gear, or they were wrong, and now they are a lousy photographer and broke.

If you are going to share your work with the world, you have to have a thick skin. Sometimes comments like this are made because the person is jealous that your photos are so nice. Other times it's said without thinking, and they don't mean to slight you. Either way, don't let it get you down. If they really believe that it's the gear, and not the person, then they really don't know enough about it for you to be taking their opinion very seriously anyway.

A friend of mine once commented something along the lines of "Gee, I guess any photo looks like art when you make it black & white." It ****ed me off at first, but then I remembered what his photos looked like, and I don't think making them BW was going to save them.

 

[ANDS!]

When people offer up that compliment, they aren't saying its more machine than operator - they are complimenting both in the only way they know how. Dollars to dimes you DO have a "sweet camera" - why take offense when none is intended?

 

[DSLR noob]

You know I've noticed it WAY more after reading this thread. I say at least 4 times an outing with my camera. Just 2 days ago I took a picture for a girl and showed her the LCD. She said "Hey, I like this camera, I actually look good in this photo. That like.... never happens." Well needless to say I was a little upset because I took all the precautions for a good portrait, (good whitebalance, bokeh effect, etc.) and she thought it was the camera that did it. I mean, yeah I didn't hold an automatic box 3 feet in front of me composing with an LCD and using flash, but I could've (well couldn't use the LCD but with an SLR, you are generally able to follow where the barrel is pointed)

 

[ANDS!]

The "camera" did do it - did it not? You couldnt very well have done it with a banana.

 

[DSLR noob]

Well yeah, but I meant set up the shot in a way that would make it so tasteful.

 

[ANDS!]

But she cant very well know all that can she - or really anyone else who makes this type of comment.

 

[hyakuhei]

Yeah my girlfriend has shot pictures for years and I got into photography about 5 months ago. She uses an SLR-like P&S but everytime I make a great shot she blames my nice camera for making her feel like a bad photography. Iwant to say "Honey, you shoot in auto mode, that is your fault." But then I'd be in the dog house. She blames my getting an SLR the demise for her love of photography. "Every time I take a photo you have a photo that your camera makes so much better! I hate photography now, you just pick up that $800 toy and act like you're talented." It hurt to hear that, but I don't talk about photography to her anymore. Wouldn't you say that's just bad sportsmanship? Worst part is, she refuses to let me teach her how to use the manual settings on her camera. She's like "I don't care, I won't get your results anyway."

P.S. this also makes me feel less talented. Do you guys think I should say anyhting to her or just keep her and photography separate (she sparked my love of photography!)

A lot of people have given their $0.02 so here are mine.

You obviously both have a passion for photography, neither want to give it up and neither want to compete.

So dont, perhaps you should try to shoot different things or find your own niche to work in, leaving her to excel at the shots she likes and you to perfect your own technique. Perhaps this way you two would be able to reconcile this and end up shooting together, each appreciating the other and their equipment for its merrits....

Just an idea, I don't have this problem but your g/f sounds a hell of a lot like mine and the two things I've learnt in the last 5 years are diplomacy and that a small but of self sacrifice can go a long way!


-rob

 

[sabbath999]

We have kind of a different situation going on at our house.

I started to seriously start taking pictures in high school in the late 70's, and studied photojournalism in college and made my living doing newspaper work (including taking a LOT of pictures) plus weddings, reunions, etc. on the side for the next 15 years. I put the camera away for 10 years or so and started back up in earnest about 6 months ago.

My wife has been taking pictures since about March.

When we decided we wanted to start putting together what we hope will some day be the definitive reference of zoo pictures on the internet (our website Zoo Pictures), I asked her if it was OK to not bother with worrying about who took which picture, and basically just consider that every picture is taken by 'the team'. She said that was fine with her.

As far as credit goes, we share it equally... although we can tell who took what largely because we are shooting different equipment. BTW I am (and will continue to be) specific on any pictures entered on contests and only submit stuff that I personally took... I am hoping to get her to join up here one of these days so she can post some of her own stuff.

Here are just a few examples of pictures that she has taken over the last couple of months... not too bad for a NOOB, eh?

 

[RMThompson]

LOL You should've seen the faces of people when I showed to do engagement pictures, portraits, family pictures, and a birthday party with this:

Now that I have a D50, I know I can take just as good as a picture with either, but the D50 ups the amount good pictures I get, because I can take them faster and with more ease than I could with just the little PNS.

 

[Mike_E]

Imagine how a chef feels, they do all the work and the waiter gets the tips.

 

[WDodd]

This is a very interesting topic, but it is true almost anywhere that talent and technology coincide. Someone not quite as talented can always find some fault in their equipment, whether the reason be jealousy or ignorance.

 

[usayit]

Imagine how a chef feels, they do all the work and the waiter gets the tips.

Have you checked the salaries of chefs at successful restuarants? Waiters typically paid below min. wage and depend totally on tips... I'd still say the chef is way out on top and they deserve to be.

I feel sorry for the bus boys that has to clean up the mess... bet they look down on the host/hostess who only see customers coming or going.

 

[Mike_E]

Yea, I know, I used to know a guy that was an executive chef for one of the casinos down here. Outrageous hours but outrageous money.

Obviously the girlfriend needs a nice shiny new DSLR too! and if it turns out that she is still acting like a spoiled brat, it'll make a nice going away present.

mike

 

[crownlaurel]

I've had ppl tell me I must have a great camera and it was a P&S shaped like an SLR that was a pain in the whatnot to work with manual settings...it did have some good scene modes though. At least its shortcomings have helped me learn (probably more what not to do than what to do).

There's a line I think where equipment does help. Otherwise, no one here would have encouraged me to get a DSLR when I was considering a higher advanced P&S instead. I've only had it for a few hours, but I can tell you, the ability to change settings and play with it, I hope it can help me make some of my mediocre shots good and my few good shots great. I'll let you know how much difference it makes in the next few months.

When I was a child, I loved music. I wanted so badly to learn music but I couldn't get into classes because my family couldn't afford an instrument. I wished I could have an instrument but the only one I could develop was my voice. I never learned to read music or a lot of stuff I could have learned if I'd had an instrument. Clearly, any instrument in my hand would be just a learning tool, but in a musician's hand, even an old violin can play beautiful music that I could only dream of playing.