The Truths In Photography No One Wants to Talk About

[@Daniel_Zalman]

The technical side of photography isn't overly complicated. Learning how to see light and how to sculpt your subjects with it does take time, however. Now, taking great images that other people want to look at and admire is bloody difficult. That requires some talent, some imagination, and a considerable amount of practice.

[@LeopoldoManuelRamirezMena]

Bloody!... very! You'll leave your sking and blood trying to get some of the really good shots hahahaha quite literally 🤣😱

[@TrggrWarning]

Cinematography is a thing, to view photography as less is a mistake. The painting comparison and belittlement is unfortunate and wrong, it took centuries to get it down. Photography came along and instant “accuracy” painting imploded to the point of worhol and banksy using cardboard cut outs. It’s ok!!! Equipment ehh your phone works AI encroaches, figure it out. None of it is your fault fk these misguided truths

[@Bad_Wolf_Media]

@@TrggrWarning What an absolutely arrogant, elitist mentality. This is EXACTLY that kind of crap he's talking about here. I'm incredibly fortunate that the photographers I shoot along side aren't this prickish when it comes to welcoming in new people, because that attitude is just so negative it would drive people away from expressing themselves. You can be the "elite" if you want. I'd rather live in the real world.

[@lkkvisual]

I love this!

[@TrggrWarning]

@@Bad_Wolf_Media elitist and arrogant huh, rather extreme take, well okay. Either that or you didn’t understand what I wrote, there is no other possible interpretation.

[@peterwilliams6114]

When I first took up photography at the age of 56 I knew absolutely nothing about the art so my wife persuaded me to join a camera club - Thing is , I didn't even know how to transfer photos onto an USB stick at the time and while they did try to teach you stuff it was always through Show And Tell and the 3 experienced photographers amongst them always won Photo Of The Week - I wasn't learning anything , just made to feel small - I went 4 times then thought ' I have to learn more of the basics before going to these classes ' and never went back - I studied KZbin videos , I bought every book under the sun , I bought photo magazines and eventually became half-good . Light - Composition - Post Processing , learn those - try not to blow the highlights and you'll have a half-decent photo - experiment with your Spotmeter , expose for the highlights , have fun , shoot , shoot , shoot , practise , practise , practise , but mostly have fun .

[@jichaelmorgan3796]

Lots of good advice! I would add print out your work. There is just something about having it in your hand, there is the satisfaction but also another perspective to learn from. And the new high ink capacity printers have made this much cheaper!

[@marknicholson5293]

I had a similar experience but it was made worse by the fact that I still shoot film and make photos in my darkroom. And the contests! I really do not care about contests.

[@peterwilliams6114]

@@marknicholson5293 Before deciding whether Photography was for me I bought a Nikon F80 and took a few photos of the surrounding areas - unbeknown to me my wife sent away one of the negatives and had it blown up onto one of those acrylic type frames - she gave it to me as a birthday present - it actually looked very nice and this gave me the confidence to buy a brand new digital camera and lens , a Nikon D7000 . I still have the F80 , in fact I have around 36/37 film cameras . Mark , it sounds to me as though you were the only ' real ' Photographer there , my friend - if you can develop your own film in your own darkroom then you already knew more than most of those folk attending that Club - more power to you , mate . Jichael M - I bought an old Canon MG6250 the day I bought my D7000 kit , the lady Manager at Jessops thought her Christmas had come early , bless her as I spend nearly £1800 that day - I used to print out loads and I really should choose one or two to print out at a larger size - I'll do it soon .

[@pauldenniss5230]

Excellent advice, enjoy the process.

[@inchbyinch7759]

I been a budding photographer for some years now and I find that from the beginning it was hard to find good advice on how to use a camera and like yourself I got a bit put off so I just started to watch KZbin and instergram and reading on the web and to me I found an old saying true . “ beauty is in the eye of the beholder” good luck and thank you as I’m 57 and still learning 😅

[@tonyy452]

My experience of a photo club (40 year ago now) was that it was focused on photo competitions, gear snobbery and a fake hierarchy of "experts" (they weren't) based on in groups within the membership. I didn't remain a member for long and never bothered with clubs again. In my opinion, a club should focus on enabling photographers to take photographs, by organising events and trips out to take photos. Comradery, mentoring and sharing expertise is all important too. A club focused on competition and competing spoils the joy of photography by turning an art into a competitive sport.

[@simonedwardsvideography9040]

My experience entirely - I tried two clubs and never got past a few visits, cliquey, gear obsessed and very set in their views on what is good and what isn't.

[@benroyal1957]

My first visit was my last. Everyone was talking about the new Leica. I had a used Nikon. I snuck out at the break.

[@thethirdman225]

My club is totally different. We spend a lot more time talking about famous photographers and influences and very little time talking about gear (unless it’s something a person has built themselves). Nobody bashes gear, nobody bashes other people’s photographs and everyone tries to create an inclusive environment. Gear snobs don’t hang around our club for very long.

[@cameraman655]

40+ years of shooting both professionally and non, I have visited one Camera Club meeting on the behest of a friend who was just getting started. As the overall consensus here is that Camera Clubs tend to be “clicky”, I concur. I was extremely underwhelmed by the participant's “elitist”, gatekeeper mindsets. After the meeting, I suggested that he take courses at local, small community college, where a friend and former colleague taught classes on film processing, basic photo/camera techniques in a friendly environment where egos were kept in check, as most of the classes were full of beginners as well. Some 30 years later, he is shooting editorial and assignment work for a variety of publications.

[@colingerard7863]

Hi Alex. I was a photographers assistant in the 80's (2nd then 1st) and had the time of my life. I learnt on all camera formats and lighting, plus studio and location. I also learnt from having access to printers, stylists, hair & make up, and art directors who were all connected to the photographers I worked with. And watching how the photographers behaved with and retained clients. Working and collaborating with these people is what opened my eyes, looking at how they solved problems that arose on shoots or solved briefs from clients. It was the interacting with others and sharing knowledge that helped me to improve the most. So, no, learning how to operate a camera and take pictures isn't hard. However, finding the people to help you who are also a positive influence can be the hard part. Sending good vibes to all.

[@thethirdman225]

That was my experience too. Exactly the same.

[@jimbugs12]

i’ve always told people the major difference between amateur and professional is the ability to recreate something great you’ve done before. we can all take a great shot; a professional knows how to do it again.

[@RichardsModellingAdventures]

To a point yes. In simple terms one earns a living from it, the other does not. This is not always proportional to ability. I know many average pro photographers and many amazing amateur photographers.

[@NoName-jq7tj]

This is a great comment. This is true. This is why you have guys who specialise in certain areas such has sport or fashion. They get better & better at it with each passing job. It’s all the same at the end of the day. I mean how many times can you really make an athletics meet look incredibly different from the last one you shot. In writing they say all writing is rewriting. I have noticed with professional photographers working in the realms of sport & news is they are at best very bitter people. Horrible people. And yes they very reluctant to share their knowledge. The only photographer who shared his experiences with me was Arko Datta a World Press photo winner in 2004. He was good. The rest were crap.

[@elig1184]

Thank you for pointing this out. The art of living is enjoying the process, not the tool of the process.

[@DonGiannatti]

I really enjoyed this. I have been a professional photographer for over 50 years. I give it all away, and I love doing it. Making photographs is fairly easy, being in business is very hard. It takes a great deal of perseverance to be in the business of photography. And if I can help in any way, I do. But there are fewer that want to hear the tough stuff than I expected there to be.

[@Mark.A.Waller]

And I for one love watching your videos

[@DonGiannatti]

@@Mark.A.Waller Thank you Mark.

[@Dempsey_M]

One of the best photography videos of 2022! Lets create a community with mentoring and constructive feedback. Lifting people up is what we all need these days instead a feeding the narcissistic monster within. Happy New Year to all photographers out there!

[@cowgirljane3316]

As a photographer and an artist, photography has taught me to be more aware of the small, unexpected things and details around me, instead of just the "Big Picture."

[@JackBeasleyMedia]

You're right. The technical side of photography isn't that hard. It's certainly no worse than learning to use a computer program (which digital editing essentially is - learning a computer program). I think what separates the average from the exceptional photographers is knowing how to create the image they have in their heads. That takes practice, experimentation, and sometimes - better gear. My own photography skills have been transformed over the last few years - mostly because I started my own photography KZbin channel and I was FORCED to learn new photographic techniques, try new editing skills, and push my gear to its limits.

[@reinhartreuschel5499]

Taking pictures is dead-easy ('easy-peasy'), that's right. So I have been "a photographer" since my 7th year of age. The handling with a simple 'Box' was playful, not in the least serious or 'incredibly important'. Skills are growing by doing and self-criticism. I like it to motive friends and even children to have fun with a camera no matter what kind it is. Children of about eight or nine years are pretty able to take agreeable portraits - sometimes more stunning than those well known photographers had made from well known celebrities which are only respected because of this celebrity but for the rest static, dull, boring, uninspired, blockheaded, mainstreamed. The best advice: Free yourself from role models and do your idiosyncratic thing - such as those kids I mentioned above. "All you need is a bit of luck and enough muscle to click the shutter", David Seymour says.

[@andrewthornton5783]

Hi Alex, thank you for this. It is so true that photography does have a lot of egos that rely on their personalities to create that separation or elitism, and take great pleasure in lording their abilities rather than applauding their peers. I bought the studio from a photographer who considered himself quite famous within the industry and probably put my photography back years by tearing my experience apart and demeaning it against his own history. Over the years this eroded my passion for the art,. However, it launched my daughter's career until she now has her own studio, is a director of one of the significant photographic associations and was named portrait photographer of the year by that association. For many years I believed I must be missing something, that style or technique that raises me to that level. When in reality it was my own imposter feelings and not believing in myself. You're absolutely right! Photography is not that hard, yes you can know all the physics of light and that may help (it may also hinder and make you overthink). The truth lies in self-belief, having a vision and evaluating the advice and comments before taking them to heart and understanding why they said what they did. Keep up the great work, I now intend to work through your back history and see if I can get that passion back.

[@PatriciaSPM1]

Watch Alex’s videos and you will fall in love again with photography. And you know what ? 2023 is the year when we get rid of our imposter feeling and enjoy photography for the sake of it.

[@bramelsheretan]

if you want that passion back, stop thinking, pick up the camera and do what you want. That passion returns quickly, I know, I've been there and I only shoot for personal pleasure - best of luck

[@animegeek6118]

I literally just unsubscribed to all the gear pushers that don’t actually take photography today. It’s refreshing just listening about a subject I love without being told I need a 5000 dollar camera to grow as a photographer. Much respect for this channel and others like it.👍

[@amv000yt7]

If more experienced photographers don’t help the less experienced and the new photographers, how can we pass the torch. We need to encourage the next generation, or photography as a whole, may suffer.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

100% What suggestions can you (or others) make that would help make sure all the hard won knowledge isn't lost?

[@LeopoldoManuelRamirezMena]

So true, in all areas, not only photography...

[@oneeyedphotographer]

@@ThePhotographicEye Unfortunately, a lot of what is taught on the internet belongs in the bin. Rule of Thirds? . Foreground interest? . Focus 1/3 of the way in? . I like framing, I like strong lines, I like contrast. Choice of lens is so important that I put one on my camera (often a prime), and shoot all day. Recently I was away for a week, used two lenses. 24mm on my Lumix S1R, 60mm on my OM-D E-M1 II. I also quite like to obfuscate, if you can't recognise the subject, that's good. I focus where I want to you look. I might use a smallish aperture to get a decent depth of focus, but if the subject is sharp, does anything else matter?

[@iaincphotography6051]

I for one find a great deal of joy in passing on information, watching someone improve and finding their own style is a reward in itself.

[@cyrilstheone]

After working in many industries, this one is the worst for not helping. Quick enough to say your doing things wrong, but don't say way or how to help you. Thing is if I help someone then they do something better than me. Then that would push me to be a better photographer (if that's what I was after) sick and tried of the older ones saying don't shoot that. They have been done to death. Be original, yet you look at their work and its full of what they tell us not to shoot. I get a massive buzz helping out others. Let's all help this industries to grow and keep growing 🙏

[@ChrisWhittenMusic]

Taking a picture is easy, taking a meaningful picture is incredibly hard. I think the opposite point is true. Too many KZbinrs say a career in photography is easier than it is. Taking pictures you will still want to look at in 25 years is incredibly hard.

[@PubRunner]

Rubbish …. we have had a digital camera for around 25 years in one form or another and have most of those images uploaded to Google photos. When some of those photos appear on our telly via our Chrome-cast screen saver I look at them and go wow I remember taking that it’s a meaningful and satisfying experience when they come up. Yeah there is a hell of a lot that are meh but there are a quite a few I sit back and enjoy. My photos now are a lot better and I am much pickier about what gets sent to google photos. My dad taught me the basics on a film camera years ago and I personally don’t find it hard to take a satisfying picture that I want to preserve that moment. We don’t have a single photo album we get way more enjoyment out of the screen savers on the Chromecast amd PC that pulls random images out of my photo vault on my local network.

[@ChrisWhittenMusic]

@@PubRunner You are talking about holiday snaps. To be like Henri Cartier Bresson is very, very hard.

[@PubRunner]

@@ChrisWhittenMusic actually no sure there are a lot of everyday snaps. There are also some deliberately set up shots of both family, sport and landscapes. To be fair your OP didn’t mention a master or any people group.

[@julianmcwey866]

Meaningful???? In whose eyes ??? Yours ?? Even photo ever taken in the history of photography has meaning to someone !!!! Chris I have a funny feeling your one of the people Alex is referring to !!

[@ChrisWhittenMusic]

@@julianmcwey866 Not my eyes. I'm not elite at all. I am tough on myself. If I get one great photo a year I am very lucky.

[@LeadsTheFallen]

Photography is like a chisel. In the right hands, you can create amazing work.

[@dianasanner8141]

Boy, you hit the nail on the head! Had a few older professionals tell me that because I did not go to school, for photography, that I could not compare to them. Thank you for your sound advice! I entered a contest and won 1st place against 2 professionals in the portrait category. I am still learning, but with a renewed sense that the vision is half the battle! Blessings in the new year!

[@patrickroe3260]

There are parts of photography that no amount of schooling will help with. Photography is more complex than many think. The best way to learn photography is to DO photography. But don't do it blindly. View it as a learning experience. Don't be afraid to experiment. Learn what works for you. Don't be to proud to take advice, however. Slow down. Don't use your camera as a visual macine gun. In fact, I would recommend investing in a twin lens reflex film camera. Why? You only get 12 shots per roll (on some cameras 24.) You have to think about what you are doing. You have to learn to "see". You cannot just blast away. The negative is bigger giving you a higher quality image and the ability to crop in numerous ways. I say a tlr because they are sturdy and relatively inexpensive. Too many photographers think it's about having a latest and greatest camera. It's not. It is about knowing what you want and how to get it.

[@MJ-uk6lu]

That's so ridiculous. It's one of those subjects that you can learn yourself probably a lot better than in formal and rigid academical environment. Also studies are so expensive and in all likelihood won't lead to any other career other than photographer and even then won't make you all that hirable.

[@JeffCreates]

On some photography forums you see a lot of people criticise absolutely everything about other people's work, and yet never even invite critique of their work. In my experience, 96.2% of them are people in their final third of their life. When you question what they're saying, the come back is always the predictable "I've been doing this since the dark room days". Problem is though, that people are usually very poor at distinguishing their own competence level. Having 40 years of experience in something is not a validation of any kind of performance. Longevity has no bearing whatsoever on quality of product. And I've always wondered whether the truth is that really they're split between either genuinely not knowing how bad they are themselves, or knowing it but having no intention of making any changes to improve and so they defence their little lump of sand to the death. The best teachers always give lots of knowledge without reservation.

[@helmutwalter5465]

I am absolutely on your side, - worked with a few of the world's best Photographers as an assistant since 1979, I learned a lot from these masters of light and now with 66 I decided for myself to stop running daily business and give my experience to others. This makes me happy and content, to see others succeed in their abilities and don't spend thousands for gear that is not really necessary to create good pictures. Wish you the best for 2023 and go on teaching! best regards from Austria, H.Walter

[@paulbenson3441]

Hi Alex, Your video couldn't have come at a better time. It hit the spot. I retired earlier in December. The years were mounting up and I became more disillusioned with my role and the cooling off of my working relationship with my colleagues - the age gap became ever more prevalent and it was time for old father time to call it a day. The shining light was my photography. I was only ever fare to middling but I knew that I wanted to do more and be more expressive and effectively be myself and break that mould that often work and society as whole, wants to put you into. I've taken photographs for most of my life but never had a clear direction as to where I wanted to go with it. Now that I have the time I'm dusting off existing skills and learning new ones. I'm thinking more about my photography, looking back over older images to see how they make me feel now and compare them with what I'm doing now. I'm learning about myself in the process. I think I'm breaking many of the rules of photography, but I've got to a part of my life where I want to see where my photography goes if I just do what I feel for myself is right for me. I love landscape photography and that is where my heart is. There doesn't appear to be any rules out there so why should I introduce something which is not caprice. Have a great New Year Alex, and many thanks for the advice.

[@londonsurrealist]

When I first started to get serious about photography there was a cranky guy working as a photographic technician at the college I was working at. One day we were lookuing at man Ray's photo of Kiki de Montparnasse with an African mask. He said that the people who'd taught him would pick out all these faults with the photo, too many points of light on the mask, things like that, but fail to see that it was a lovely masterpiece. They couldn't take a photo half as good. That was a pretty good lesson!

[@davidtaranzaphotography3324]

That is exactly the reason I left the community on one of our local photo sites. Everyone tells you what's wrong with your picture but noone telling you how to fix it. Since I left, I am a much happier photographer. I wish your channel existed 20 years ago when I was starting out. Thanks for saying this out loud. Wish you a great and successful 2023! 👍

[@AmyDangRabbit]

I love finding people like you… people who like to talk about the art of photography, not the gear. I’ve found a great group on TikTok of artists (all mediums) and it’s so much fun to talk about creativity and to do art swaps and to learn from each other. I wish more photographers would appreciate the fun and creative aspects of the process, not just the technical and gear driven ones.

[@MARTIIAN_]

Yo can i join your guys?

[@tedbrown7908]

Great points about being a teacher of photography. I never ask any of my family and friends to critique any of my photo's. They will either give a thumbs up or not say anything at all. When nothing is said then I know that the photo didn't fall into their category likability. I was a teacher/Instructor in the military, and I had to learn to read people who would struggle with the subjects I was teaching. I would get them to tell me where it is they are having trouble. I would try to get them to solve their problem by giving them thoughts to the solution. I love teaching and photography is just another subject that I have learned and can teach others.

[@oneeyedphotographer]

I am happy to ask family and friend. I don't trust their judgements as to whether my photographs are good or bad, but they are representative of the classes of people who my buy my photographs, and if I want to sell my photographs, I need to please prospective clients. I am also comfortable with the notion that your appreciation of my photographs will be different from mine, I'd be happy for you to choose between alternatives of one subject.

[@geoffreystone4849]

What is a challenge is running a business and earning a living from the craft. Like any business you need to understand marketing, selling, opportunities, competition, bookkeeping, tax, investment, depreciation, employing others, advertising, contracts and continuous professional development. The actual art of photography is well understood by many.

[@ChrisFreitag]

“Why are we so bitchy?” Love it. I feel fortunate in my rediscovery of photography that I’ve found communities of people who are supportive. I’ve grown so much in 2022 and I feel I owe it to those photography communities.

[@gorila1958]

I tried here in my area town to join the local photography club or at least get involved . It was very closed and unwelcoming . I went once or twice and got shut out . I never went back . It felt like they were just wanting to not have new comers . I do wildlife photography and landscapes,macro photography stuff. Not so much people portraits only once in awhile but mostly the other stuff . Oh BTW I have a wall of my best shots still building that up and do a showing of them to get both good and bad critiques. Not that I care but just to get the art works my form of art out there and pass along the beauty of photography wildlife photography etc.....

[@MJ-uk6lu]

To be fair, like never before I feel like society became very bitchy in last 5 years.

[@ingabett]

You hit the nail on the head! (?) I’ve experienced this so much it has scared me away from photography groups etc. because they are so bitchie. I have a very hard time with the maths of photography because I have severe dyscalculia, so everything that has to do with numbers is very difficult for me. That doesn’t mean that I give up, I love taking photos, creating. But when I mention this in different occasions I’m told I’m stupid, that I might as well give up on photography, haven’t tried hard enough etc. It’s like telling people with bad eyesight that they are stupid and haven’t tried hard enough. In Sweden we have this expression” If you can’t grow on your own, you cut the legs of the others! “ These negative people are doing just that, they see an opportunity to grow a little, to show off, thinking that this path will lead them to success and leave others behind. Nowadays this triggers me to think: If my photography+ gear was that bad you wouldn’t get so upset by it, so I must be doing something right 😜. Also I’ve never learned anything useful from negatives than to not be one myself. It’s much better to do as you suggested, get an opinion from someone you can respect and who is respectful to you. I feel that I get that a lot here, I’ve learned so much and I feel that you do this because of your love to photography! You are also confident enough with your work that you are not afraid of sharing what you know. By teaching others, one learns a lot also. So thank you for making these excellent videos! 👍🏻❤️

[@ThePhotographicEye]

I’m really glad that you found this a helpful video. Upsets me greatly when a lot of people in photography are actually very unkind to people who are just trying to learn to improve their photography. I hope there is some small way. This is helped you find a space where you can improve your own images. What was the party? Found the most helpful?

[@ingabett]

@@ThePhotographicEye What I found most helpful about this channel is that you’ve opened my eyes to see photography in a much more relaxed way. I have never had the aspiration to become a professional photographer, I just want to watch what happens in the world through a camera. I’ve always seen in pictures, colour, textures etc and this channel has highlighted that by presenting different photographers, different styles. I also feel encouraged to find my own style. For me you are the opposite of these poor negative people, you’ve made me think that what matters is that I’m happy with my photography something I’m very thankful for! ❤️

[@robertdavis1255]

Thanks for sharing your experience with great comments.... as a 79yr old hobbyist I just love taking pics of whatever interests me at the time.... when walking around or driving somewhere....I am also a musician (piano & guitar) and gear does not make you a better player... only practice & experience improves your playing over time.... photography is much the same..... cheers from Australia 😀

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thank you for watching

[@neilmarshment2910]

Hi Alex, a thought provoking video. One of my passions is music photography (learnt a lot about lighting doing this). Doing this I met a new photographer who started photographing at the same venue. They started by investing in expensive gears and one evening we were chatting and I was asked what camera I had - a DSLR app-c - they had a full frame Canon. They were very quick to dismiss my camera and ability as a photographer and when I said that my current project was just using just my iPhone … “you will never wee a wedding photographer using and iPhone”. No interest in why, no encouragement.. Personally I love helping people, encouraging them and enjoy watching them grow and become more confident. On the flip side, sometimes people don’t want to be helped…

[@krane15]

Its not that you can't take good pictures using an iphone. Its just that its not reliable enough to use on a money making venture. Further, you have to be able to separate yourself from Uncle Bob. And having something tangible to show your clients, is the simplest way to do that.

[@neilmarshment2910]

@@krane15 I agree. My comments were more about the lack of encouragement. That said I have read about pros trying it. I will stick with my pro kit for weddings but occasionally use an iPhone for some candid moments - very unobtrusive for spontaneous moments.

[@washingtonradio]

I think the most important question ask another photographer is what was their intent in taking the photo. The next question should be what were the technical constraints they were working under if they are not obvious. Once you know both of those then you can offer advice as how take a photo that might be better. Another aspect that I think is overlooked in photography is the best photos are taken when there seems to be a strong connection between the photographer and the subject.

[@calebwee328]

Yeap. I used to join an online facebook photography grouop when i first started out learning to shoot at 15/16, absolutely horrendous. No actual advice, only "advice" i ever got was "what are you trying to photograph" which did not help (admittedly i was quite bad back then). The photos taken within the grouop were mostly either bad or decent, on rare occassions youd get good photos...of sunsets. Ended up studying on my own from observing the works of Sean Tucker and the likes, could not have learnt more.

[@THSimagery]

@6:24 - I stopped posting in a few “camera” groups, (notice I didn’t say photography), on Facebook because they were so nitpicky. I mean they were pointing out things like the specular lighting in the eyes. I mean literally the only thing they could find “wrong” with the picture was the way the eyes were lit. It’s Frustrating.

[@darylneumann8636]

I am a member of a photo club and have attended many "critique" evenings. You are correct that they are keen to tell you what is wrong but nobody tells you how to fix the issue. Maybe their intention is to get you to research how to remedy the problems but it seems to be all " ho hum ". Love your ideas.

[@iaincphotography6051]

The great Harry Callahan made that great quote. "Being a member of a photographic club helped define the kind of photographer I never wanted to become". I think he made a good point. Judges want you to take photographs as they do, no thanks.

[@LeopoldoManuelRamirezMena]

I usually have a rule: if critique doesn't suggest some Improvement, better don't 😀... And it has worked with our groups... And also, before anything, the aphotographer has to explain why, how, etc of the photo... So we have context and no context... (the we start analyzing the photo)

[@oneeyedphotographer]

Western Australia has a panel of recommended judges. To become accredited, you must complete a training course, and that training course includes practical experience. Judges are expected, amongst other matters, to recommend specific improvements. Photos are expected to show a good measure of skill, so composition, exposure, level horizons, focus. Clubs evaluate judges, and judges evaluate clubs. Clubs are supposed to explain beforehand how the subject(s) should be interpreted, particularly what "open" and "creative" mean, whether gold, silver, bronze are awarded and how many. Should photographers be awarded points? The (late) AIPP employed a panel of five judges, scored out of 100, and those points translated directly to medal colours. Often there was debate amongst the judges, with a high-scoring judge advocating for the photographer. I remember an architecture photograph where the perspective seemed a little wonky, Judge Tony Hewitt explained, "Actually, guys, I think it's the building." The others awarded a few more points.

[@iaincphotography6051]

@@oneeyedphotographer That sounds a decent set up, but how do they mark creativity. The Paris Salon wouldn't admit the Expressionists, so they set up their own. The RA who gave Turner a hard time with his later work and so on, rule makers stifle creativity.

[@AgnetaÖstling]

You can't keep a gift, a trained knowledge (or whatever it might be) if you don't give it away. Keeping working secrets also make ourselves both unhappy and mentally unhealthy. That's the reason I really appreciate your videos. And I have unfortunately seen how critizism of other photographers and/or beginners have resulted in taking the love of photography away from these people. So thumbs up! :) / Brutus

[@davidsfollys]

Alex your commentary and approach has me back out taking photos again and enjoying it. I am so enjoying myself. No one needs to see them, I do. I share with a few folk who seem to like them. I'm honestly not interested in getting critiqued for my photos! Having said that, the best criticism I ever received was, less is more. ie don't blast people with too many images. No matter how good you think they are, the audience tires. Gear, well it does and doesn't matter. It's a toolkit. Having said that, the newer cameras have so much great tech in them, and I so APPRECIATE the in body stabilisation that has me handholding at such a lower speed. It compensates for my aging shaky hands! No longer do I have to schlep a tripod around..

[@staceygruver1969]

the original film negative processes and printing is an absolute hard thing to create an image well before the digital era

[@evasz814]

You are so spot on! Sometimes when I go to some lakeshore with my camera to photograph birds, usually there are few male photographers talking about "big stuff". They look at me but nobody says hi or they don't pay attention to me. It's like a private club for men only. Very few of them are helpful.

[@dusty4918]

Hey Alex! I hope that your holidays were good :) Thanks as always for the content, I appreciate your candidness! My strategy as a long-time hobbyist shifting towards a career in photography is to ignore these gatekeepers. I relentlessly seek out experienced professional photographers that embrace the concept of community learning. People that aren't afraid of someone else's potential but foster it. We can all learn from each other and when we do, we all benefit! Cheers!

[@theflyer1]

This one resonates really well with what i observed with the photography community. When i started off, 4 years ago, i went on a first photo walk with a local group of photographers, i thought it would be a friendly learning experience, boy oh boy, was i wrong!!!! it turned out to be a show off contest of who has the biggest latest gear, bags and criticism of brands, photos, everyone trying to prove they know more than everyone else!!, and there i was with my sony 6400 with a kit lens, feeling shy to even take a picture with it, it really put me off photography groups!! On another occasion, i posted a picture in a facebook group, and it received a lot of likes,..like 2000k, but there were 3 photographers who took it upon themselves to tear me down and try to point out anything they didnt like with my picture!!! So i challenged them to post a picture without all the faults they pointed out of mine, surprise surprise, ...they were the kind of photos you would cull in lightroom, for lack of a better explanation. Ive come to realize most photographers are just a bunch of jealous, insecure people, who are afraid of someone who can surpass them or produce better images than them, and so they withhold sharing or teaching any info to anyone, in the hopes of staying on top!! so i say, if you are new in photography, learn the basics, and experiment alot until you reach a point where people like and want to buy your work.

[@RyokuWeil]

Now say it louder for those sitting on the back, who didn't listen. Great points! I wish more people shared this perspective. I opened a local photo club with the main focus of combating toxic behaviors between photographers, specially from more experienced ones towards the new ones.

[@emotown1]

*behaviour. He was granted parole for good behaviour. Your behaviour is reprehensible. No need to pluralise the word. To do so is very sloppy, although, sadly, it is becoming the norm.

[@RyokuWeil]

​@@emotown1 I'm sorry mister. English is my fourth language. Go spell check your mom, or someone who cares.

[@slimslowhammertoes3222]

The absolute best photography advice on KZbin. Love this guy!

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

I like to say: gear doesn't matter, until it does. High-end camera gear won't make you good; but the better you get from experience, the more new possibilities you see. It's a lot like golf. A hacker can't hit blade irons with XX-stiff shafts, but when you approach a scratch handicap, you're good enough to get the most out of such clubs. Disclosure: I suck at golf. 😉😂 The painting workshop idea for teaching knowledge is a good comparison. The key though is for people to learn the skills to realize their own vision, not to copy another's. Museums are full of paintings by "School of Rembrandt" but whose actual authors are unknown. Some are so similar to the master's that they've been erroneously attributed to him, and vice versa. We need to find out own voices.

[@stanb.5261]

"Photography is the easiest art, which perhaps makes it the hardest." -Lisette Model

[@normapadro420]

This is the reason why I have been enjoying photography since I was 8 years old. I'm 57 now.😊 It's very enjoyable.

[@jtinoco9859]

Great advice once more. I love your analogy of the lead guitarist joke. You’re right, there is so much noise out there where people focuses more on criticizing than giving feedback on how to make better pictures. Many photographers and creators are selfish on sharing their success like their success will be equaled or surpassed by everyone else. It’s that fear to lose their thunder when in reality we benefit more when we share. Thank you for another amazing video.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thanks for watching

[@LanielPhoto]

The individual components of photography are not all that difficult. Bringing them all together, from posing to composition to post processing to.... etc., that is what separates the men from the boys. For the Studio owner it also brings in business acumen , client analysis, administrative knowledge, etc. If its not difficult, why do so many fail ? Some even have to resort to making videos for you tube......

[@skfineshriber]

The hardest aspects are creativity and seeing something in a different way than 99% of the other people taking photos. It's hard to be a great photographer. My daughter struggles with the technical aspects, but wow, does she have an eye for composition. Different aspects are hard for different people. I definitely agree that gear is secondary to composition, lighting, creativity and the other less concrete aspects. Great photos were made long before 100MP digital sensors existed, before Kodachrome existed, before color film existed. Those are not what make photographs great.

[@christriance-martin2168]

With intelligence, you learn; with experience and wisdom you shine.

[@peterfaris3398]

Really love your point about painting. My girlfriend is an exceptional painter - it has taken a lifetime for her to acquire her skills and she continues to learn. Do you think a lot of photographers are threatened by cell phones and social media? I started taking travel pictures with my cell phone this year, and had excellent results. This removes almost all need for technical skill. I see friends take beautiful pictures, and sometimes getting good lighting is much easier on a cell phone than a camera. I try to check my jealousy at the door and appreciate what they've captured. One of my mentors was an exceptional street photographer who 'outsourced' technical aspects to the camera. Watching him work was amazing - he was incredibly focused, and his images were fantastic.

[@edthesecond]

There was a great photography gallery here in Santa Fake where the staff and the featured artists were very helpful, approachable, and gracious. It was my experience that the person who had their work on the wall would talk with you, answer your questions about their work, and offer insights and support for what you were doing. They had nothing to prove. The snots and snobs were generally in the gallery crowd, since they were there for status mongering and celebrity collecting or to brag about their dubious photography skills. If someone is trying to make you feel small, that's not your problem.

[@kennethpaul810]

So true, Alex. I've been guilty, on occasion, of talking a lot about gear but it's never been a priority or competition for me as to who has the better gear. I'm also one of those "old" photographers but have never held back my experience and/or expertise (such as it is, I'm certainly far from professional). The thought that another photographer might take away clients is old school thinking. Every photographer has a different style and look to their photographs as much as every person has a different taste in the photos they like or don't like. Plus, I don't feel it's a competition sort of thing. That goes for street photography, portraits, landscape, nature, and the list goes on. I started in probably the late 1960s, in my early teens with a Polaroid "Swinger" camera (not far off from your Spiderman one). Went from there to a Kodak Instamatic 20 and later an Instamatic 60. Got my first 35mm film camera in the late 70s, a Nikon FM (film, of course). Early 2000s, I bought an Nikon D80 and just this year, a Nikon Z fc, simply because I wanted the video capability as well as the uncanny resemblance to my Nikon FM which really made it a familiar feel right away. But, I digress. I'm always more than happy to share my knowledge and experience because it gives me joy to see another person get interested in the craft. Just this winter, I was chatting with two separate coworkers who seemed like they might be interested in learning because I was able to explain the "exposure triangle" to them. Both of them said they might take me up on showing them the basics. I certainly take no offence in you calling out the "old" photographers because many are a bit unwilling to share. I'm definitely not one of them. Thank you for your great insight, it just goes to show that we all can learn from each other no matter where we are in our journey.

[@charltonm9147]

Thank you for saying that! For me as a beginner who feels overwhelmed sometimes (the whole aperture thing needs to be reversed so it finally makes sense), You give us a chance to take big breaths and allow us to focus on the feel of being a creator. If you are ever in Minneapolis and wanna go for a beer, I'm buying!!!!

[@janineubert7262]

I totally agree with you on everything! I was generously taught by a mentor who helped me with everything and I do the same whenever I can. Everyone has their own style so I am never worried about others taking work from me.

[@simonpayne7994]

People who are really good at anything - according to my experience - gladly share their knowledge and their skills with others. It is the people who are mediocre, or even less, who selfishly conceal the little they know. If they were to do otherwise, an intelligent listener would rapidly recognize how very little knowledge they actually have.

[@superotterboy7937]

Your attitude in this is the most refreshing thing I've seen and heard on photography KZbin ever. Regardless of the industry, this begrudging, gate keeping and bitter attitude the masters have towards apprentices and interns these days is just killing off the craft they aim so hard to protect. Absolute insanity! Encourage people and teach, this is how we improve ourselves and those around us. If there's one thing the world needs right now, it's that!

[@mrmichaeltscott]

💯 What ONLY matters is what sells. 50 pros can tell you it's a crap photo. But if one customer loves it. That's ALL that matters.

[@jeffstephens5266]

The best piece of advice I got from a pro photographer was to take images that I like and don’t worry about anybody else liking them, because invariably somebody will and someone won’t

[@jurgenschurr6737]

I am an ambitious amateur photographer but not a professional. Sometimes, other people who do not know that I am ambitious tell me that their camera model xyz makes very good pictures. When they see the critical expression in my face, they usually confirm that their camera really makes very good pictures. When I answer that my camera does not make any good picture by itself and that I have to work very hard to get a good picture out of it, they do not understand the joke. When other non-ambitious people see one of my best photographs, they usually say that I seem to have a particularly good and expensive camera. But it is not the camera which finds the subject and the proper composition but the person behind the camera. When I ask those non-ambitious people where a photograph is created, they usually answer “on the sensor of the camera”. When I respond “No. It is created in the head of the photographer and hopefully re-created in the head of the viewer", they think that I must be mad. Pushing the button is very easy but creating art is really very difficult, no matter if you want to create a symphony, an oil painting, a sculpture, a photograph, or whatever. Thank you for all your useful comments. Best wishes from Germany and a happy New Year!

[@_NoDrinkTheBleach]

I think the barrier of entry with photography is one of the lowest of any hobby. Especially now. Someone who recently picked up a digital camera or a new cell phone for the first time can likely take absurdly good pictures right out the box. I got to be pretty decent at it shortly after buying my first DSLR, but I didn't really start to excel until I really studied others' work and took some direction from other artists in my area. My art mentor is always the first person who ends up seeing my latest works. I don't do this for praise, because I know that he's just as likely to say something nice as he is something constructive. At the same time, he has taught me that validation should never be the goal in creating art. If you aren't doing it for you, why should anyone else care?

[@JerryC25]

It’s like playing poker. It’s one thing to know how to play. It’s another to know how to win.

[@arkstudios1]

Photography can be easy, but I assure you after many years as a professional wedding and commercial photographer, when you have deadlines to meet, difficult weather, equipment failures and difficult people to deal with that is when you see a professional photographer deal with these situations and still provide the goods, this is when they earn every penny. I could go onto studio lighting that has taken me many years to learn and still learning!

[@cswann8]

Gear absolutely matters but a photographer who knows what he wants in his shots can work around the limitations of gear. And conversely a person can drop thousands on bodies, lenses, strobes, modifiers, etc. and still only get mediocre images because he just doesn't have a vision of a good photograph to start with.

[@alan.macrae]

Thank you again and again, Alex! You always have a great perspective and have helped me 'freshen up' my photography. I'm one of those 'older' guys at 67. I absolutely love sharing my knowledge, successes, mistakes, with folks who want to improve their photography. I have a couple of folks who I look at fondly, knowing that I helped them grow in their love of photography. You do that each and every day! Cheers from the US.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thank you.

[@patrickroe3260]

I disagree with the premise that it isn't that hard. Yes, with modern cameras an image can be created with the push of a button. Creating excellent images, however, requires so much more. Especially an image derived from film. Most important, is learning to see what becomes the image or imagining it in your minds eye. Of course there is understanding the technical side of photography- how film works, how chemistry works, how optics work, the mathematics of photography, the physics involved and much, much more. Even digital photography requires understanding many disciplines. Good or great photography is a mix of many things. Some are intangible and cannot be measured.

[@lorenschwiderski]

Critiques of photos by the professionals may be as meaningless as the ratings of Paul McCartney's RAM album, when it was new. Beatle's skills being unique to the norm, was a solid advantage in their success. The ability to produce an end result which is most pleasurable is what we strive for in photography. The best baby or wedding photographer in the world, is not necessarily one which would find street photography an easy win. Can't believe how fast the years go -- Happy New Year, 2023! Take care, Loren

[@kathleencolbourn7587]

I finally watched this video and you hit the nail on the head. I belonged to a camera club and quit after a month. You are correct, they are critical and not in a good way. The profess to want to teach but in reality all the club is is a forum to find fault, gossip and form cliques. I have learned more from watching yours and others' KZbin videos than I ever did in a club setting. Thank you for your candid viewpoint.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thank you for watching

[@Giles29]

The smart phone has actually made photography accessible, at least on some level, for a lot more people. We do lament what it has done to the camera and photographic industries, but they have let a lot more people get their feet wet in photography. If we get past the zero-sum mindset we often have we can definitely appreciate how much people are enjoying photography because of them.

[@aarghitsjesta]

I bounce my photos of my work colleague who is at a similar stage in photography. Both been taking pictures for years, but never really throwing ourselves into it. After finding your videos about a year ago I discovered I'd been taking photos that other people might like, seeking positive feedback on how well I'd done. And I had never been satisfied and so also rarely made effort to take my camera out. I took on board your words and started taking photos of the things I found interesting or pretty, just for my own enjoyment, and my photography has come on ten fold in a year what I managed in 15 years. The funny thing is, my friends and family give me so much positivity to my photos now than when I was trying to get a positive reaction. Through bouncing photos off my colleague I got the critique I needed and nudges in directions to figure out what I could do better going forward such as sometimes I've isolated a subject so much that the background is just one huge bokeh blur and the sense of surrounding is totally lost. I also think it's important to take that kind of advice or critique from someone who also uses a camera, as while pressing a button is easy, trying to achieve what you actually wanted is not so easy and understanding how you may do better and get what your after, composition, depth of field etc is a viewpoint that won't usually come from someone who doesn't take photos as they likely won't analysis the image and just view it as good or bad.

[@chriswilliamson590]

A great and honest video. I did photography full on from 2001 to 2019. I left due those toxic levels between photographers. A visit to photo exhibition at the NEC taught me that everyone and their grandmother is now a photographer. Happy memories, a ton of slides and raw files. It was great.

[@nancyswanson6579]

I first held a DSLR 3 yrs ago. I volunteered to be a church photographer with only camera phone experience. It’s a mega church with a lot going on. And how great to learn in God’s house! I had 2 mentors who taught me so much but above all they were encouraging and believed in my ability to grow. I just started a photography business but in all actuality it started the day I 1st showed up before service and grasped that camera. Overwhelmed, over my head nervous but above all supported. One of our sayings at church is “Blessed to be a blessing”. I’m so grateful that I can be a blessing through photography. Thank you, Alex, for reaching out to us to guide us, widen our horizons and inspire us.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thank you for watching

[@FilNenna]

Great video to start the new year!

[@grittyimagephotography3977]

I was given a lesson once: It was about Pythagorus. At the time he was the guru that many wanted to be apprentice to. And what he used to say to his future students was, “I am going to send someone one day to give you a message” then when I ask you the lesson, if you know and learned it, you can be my apprentice. This lesson can come from anyone at any time.. so be present at all times. Of coarse.. he had no intention of sending such a message. But what he did give the budding apprentice was priceless, because EVERYONE was potentially a guru. Don’t know why I think this is relevant here, maybe it’s not. Just felt like sharing it. Thanks for your videos Alex.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thank you

[@ddsdss256]

Like so many things, photography is easy to do but difficult to do well. The technical aspects can be learned but you can't teach artistic vision beyond one's inherent ability (and no training can engender the situational awareness and timing of HCB or Winogrand). Gear does matter, but only with regard to things like the right FL and if you miss shots due to equipment limitations, so what? Other opportunities abound. Also, a well-composed image of a compelling subject beats a technically superior but banal image every time (Ansel: 'There is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept'). Many of the photos considered to be "masterpieces" aren't necesarily sharp, straight, or even well-exposed, they just work. More recent photographers also understand this--look at some of Michael Kenna's Holga images, for example. Programs like DxO FlmPack and Analog Efex Pro enable us to get not only film looks, but replicate alternative processes and “faults” to make photos look less “digital” and this is a good thing. We’re past the point where even entry-level cameras and AI software can produce images that look “too” good (= sterile). BtW, I got my first camera in 1972 and I'm only too happy (perhaps too happy) to share my knowledge with anyone. Thanks for doing the same-we all need to support one another.

[@PatGilliland]

It's a bit like teaching someone to drive. The basics are easy, are a good skill to have, and gives the learner a bit more freedom and joy out of life. There are the odd specialist skills if you are in a particular area say winter driving / basic portraiture, but getting from A to B is enough for most. In either case - if you go pro or semi pro then the gear, training and experience matters (and cash). You can slap a turbo on your family sedan, but if all you are doing is getting groceries, why would you except to show off ;)

[@ChristineWilsonPhotography]

Great video especially the part about nit picking at faults - pixel peeping the degree of sharpness etc , it really does my head in but I feel like finally maybe the message is getting through that's it's your artistic eye that really makes the difference that separates us all , our own individual eye which makes our photos unique to ourselves

[@woerwaks]

The medium and the methods of photography is now lore access able than ever. Along with that the access ability to images About gear: shoot with the bare bones minimum until a specific barrier becomes impossible to overcome. I've seen so many photographers upgrade to a fancy camera or lens and their photos became less compelling as a consequence / result. In other words, in my experience and observations, limited gear makes us work harder for image. So my phylosophy to justify a new bit of kit is that I should work even harder to understand it and make it work for me. If anything, better gear should compel us to upgrade our skills along with it.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

totally agree. I blamed new gear for years (or a lack of it rather) for my shortcomings. Thank you for watching - is this the first time you've watched one of my videos?

[@keithpinn152]

Hi Alex: I am binge watching your videos but I am finding this a very informative and beneficial way to learn. For me the biggest challenge in developing my photography is seeking out a person that can properly provide me with feedback on my images. I have found that setting strict guidelines on what I am seeking from feedback has helped enormously, but it is hard to seek out those people. I sometime wonder if I would be better served by asking a non-photographer to give me feedback on my images. Cheers, Keith

[@peterwilsted]

Thx for this video Sir, I have heard enough about gear and rules. A lot of photographers say “be creative” but then they also say… “you have to set your camera right, use the right composition… ect” I will be messy in 2023 and post what I like :) Happy New Year!

[@fernandoalcayaga8341]

You are a real clever master instructor. Share, share, and share… because the goal is be a better photographer

[@alter7181]

Great rant. Also your portraits are so exceptional. Some of them have a painterly quality to them and are truly sublime. Thanks for showing so many in this video.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thank you kindly! I'm itching to shoot more (been a while) . Would you like to see the process of me shooting them?

[@tomgriffin5149]

@@ThePhotographicEye yes, most definitely

[@chrisbrannan3784]

@@ThePhotographicEye yes!

[@stuartwarmsley3692]

@@ThePhotographicEye Yes please

[@ChrisHunt4497]

Yes 👍 Would be awesome. 👍👍👍👍

[@BenjiSzucs]

That's the great thing about photography. It is incredibly easy to pick up, all you gotta do is press a button and 'boom', you have a picture. However if you really want to get good at it and dive deep into the art of photography, there are a LOT of things you can learn.

[@ClaesKamp]

I listened to an interview with a world class woodworkercthat said he gladly shares any insight or knowledge he has. I'm paraphrasing but he said something like "If someone wants to learn, they will. And if someone will pass me, they will. I can chose to be a part of that journey or not. And if I chose to be part of it, well then I get bragging rights when that person blows up." =) It's the most reasonable and humble thing Iv'e ever heard on this subject and I have carried it with me ever since.

[@stefanvasilev9318]

The difference between constructive criticism and helpful feedback on one hand, and "I would've done it this way" is so lost on people nowadays... "Better" is almost always subjective, when you think about it. "Different" - well, since everything can be done in a thousand different ways - than that renders such "I'd do it differently" feedback kinda meaningless, no? Great video, much appreciated! It's always great to hear something other than numbers and features. Cheers from Sofia, Bulgaria!

[@webbphoto2]

hahaha! I wish it was easy as you say! It's easy to point and shoot yes, but much harder to produce a shot that you really like. The subject, the back ground, the lighting, the lens, the time of the day, the kind of a day. And then there is the camera no how. Ahhhh yes it's always easy when you know how. I try and help everyone I meet on line or off. It's where I get the biggest joy. Being an ex computer programmer, Sing Songwriter and Photographer, I have many things to share and I do.

[@bobjohnson8057]

Yes, "we should celebrate each other," and share how someone's image affects us rather than assuming the photographer wants someone else's view of perfection or commercial success. Criticism, I believe, inhibits play, experimentation, and teaches budding artists how to please others rather than following their inner bliss.

[@MichaelLaing71]

This is a very interesting video, but I can't agree with all of it. Where I agree is that you can learn the basics of photography in a couple of hours, but you can learn the basics of drawing or painting in a couple of hours. Your work may not be great, and you certainly are not going to be a grandmaster, but you can create something, and have fun, which is what everybody should be aiming for. Becoming a great photographer is similar to becoming a great artist, it takes time and skill. Yes, that skill can be technical, but it goes well beyond that. I am currently doing my masters in fashion photography, and the examples in the lectures are all about creativity. Now I think creativity is great, but what bugs the life out of me is there is, more often than not, very little technical skill in the examples being given. I am not suggesting that everything should be technically masterful, but we have the opposite, where technical skill is largely absent beyond the basics. So when I hear about don't worry about the technical skill, it does get me worried slightly (I am not talking all about gear) because discounting technical skill is a way of holding back photographers and how they are able to create*. In the end, it is all about options. When you have the knowledge, you don't have to use it; when you don't have that knowledge, you don't have that option. But for me, the biggest skill in photography is knowing that whilst you can do something you don't have to. As for photographers helping. I was a member of the MPA, and I have to say that the photographers who were a part of that were, in my experience, always willing to help each other (from the very top (I am sure you know who I mean)) all the way down, with members who have experience in different mediums being able to give advice on certain things they know which are outside the normal photographer's knowledge. *I do acknowledge that there are photographers who don't have access to anything beyond the basics, and they are able to create great work.

[@mortenthorpe]

So, just to expand a bit about your points, with personal experience…. 1. I knew nothing about photography and no one to help me, and I just began with a Nikon D7200 years ago and progressed from there, 2. With that Nikon, and a 55-300 mm DX kit lens, it became apparent that the gear that matters most (!), is the lenses, so I expanded my lens lineup, 3. At that point, photography wasn’t hard or especially gear-demanding… Then I focused on birding… oh man! Gear, gear gear! And then I thought portraits and landscapes are awesome too, Gear! More specifically the top of the gear - Fuji GFX… Are my photos inherently and consistently better today than all of those years and all of that gear ago? No… because a fair amount of them have to do with amazing subjects and compositions, which I don’t revisit today… can I take better photos today than in the past? Probably, and probably more decidedly so, because of technical control. And aided by my GFX I can also print in large formats - I seldomly do, but it turns out nearly flawlessly ! So, gear matters… but only to a point, and only as far as your ambitions carry you, and change to carry you.

[@ARTIST-AT-LARGE]

I think that telling people their gear doesn't matter is a positive thing - use what you have available, use what you can afford. Make photos no matter what. If you tell a person that they need a certain camera, they might not take photos until they could afford the "best".

[@chrislaine8807]

Learning how to use a camera isn't hard - you're right about that. However - having the creativity and talent to create a great photograph is another thing altogether. Working in a pro camera store years ago showed me that no matter how good the equipment and no matter how much time a person works at taking pictures some people just don't have the ability to do so.

[@rcpmac]

When I see a good photograph I’m not responding to the components of focus or exposure but rather the creative vision and composition.

[@segercliffhanger]

This one is hard to knock out of the park, I think. But you got to first base. The question's not whether photography is hard or not that hard. I think the actual question is: is it hard or not that hard to be a photographer. How does one hold up in a medium that's so common and yet so dependent on one's intuition, personality, technique, and routine? Photography is a play of being able to accept, sometimes claim, a title of photographer. It's a title you have to hand out to yourself at some point, after which you become a self-appointed member to the defense of something vastly undefined. It is all as very flimsy as it is concrete and huge. Being a photographer is what's hard about photography. To touch base with a lens.

[@johncantrell614]

In days past, learning the process of photography took longer because you had to get the film processed before you could see the results of your settings. But now you can see your results immediately, that certainly makes things a little easier from that point. Looking back, there was something to writing down your settings, taking the shots, and then waiting for a week to excitedly open the envelope and see your shots. Often (first starting out) many of the shots were duds, but then, out of the pile would come a shot that you got completely correct and blows you away. And it was that thrill of getting a shot you were truly proud of that pushed you to keep going. But these days you can learn the technical side faster. When you get many of the shots technically correct and exposed well, often you will see that some shots are boring, or many looking the same. So you learn about composition and creative exposure. That can take a little time, but as you say KZbin can help out a lot.

[@sbai4319]

Alex, I appreciate your passion and love of the craft and community! Cheers from Australia 🇦🇺

[@thomasgoetze]

Well, it IS difficult - For me it is. It's hard for me to remember all those tips when I'm on the street making pictures. Back at the computer i'm depressed about the boring mistakes I've made. Beside that, it is a great pleasure to support young people in their first steps in photography. A friend of mine has a 16 year old boy who liked what I do with my camera. He wished to do it also. So I helped him to get a cheap but georgeous camera. I've added some gear I didn't use anymore. A manual lens, a weather proof camera bag, this and that. He absorbs any information he can get and transforms them into beautiful pictures. I give him whatever I wished to get when I was young. It's great to see what he made with the stuff and knowledge he get from me and other sources. If you meet a man who doesn't share knowledge, you've found a wounded man. The boy asked me, why do you help me that much? I answer'd, when I was 12 years old I've got the chance to get a camera, That changed anything for me. One day, you will do the same to a boy or a girl. You will remember what happen to you, and you will see, we both win with this game. He smiled …

[@denisesavage2382]

Great rant! If it’s one thing I constantly do is encourage others in their journey. We thrive best with encouragement and shrink away with judgement and criticism. And not just with photography . . . Any area of life. Thanks Alex for continuing to share your encouragement and wisdom with candor.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thank you.

[@moviedorkproductions9465]

I learned photography in high school. Old 35mm cameras, black and white film stock, with the ISO in the film, and only 24 frames to capture the image; the teacher used four days to discuss the assignment and one day in shoot. ABSOLUTELY the best thing I ever did! Now I can get the shots I want because I shoot digital LIKE I only have twenty four frames to work with. Love using digital cameras, but the vintage lenses are far better than the auto lenses out there. Vintage glass has a look that newer glass can never capture. But at least one as either a prime or telephoto and you're going to see what I mean.

[@jpdj2715]

What camera did you use, he asked, impressed by my beautiful photo, printed A2. I replied, did you ever ask a sculptor what hammer and chisel they used? It's not important until it is. Yes, you can hear one painter ask the other what brush they used to get those extremely fine eyelashes. It doesn't matter until it does.

[@photobritain]

I was told by an elitist photographer not to buy a professional camera. He said start small there's too much to learn. I went straight to a pro camera bypassing amateur camera's. Photography is not an elitist activity.

[@artistjoh]

I am an old time photographer. Started in 1962. My trusty Weston meter in pocket, 90% of the time concocting chemical experiments in the darkroom. Clothes always covered in brown darkroom stains. Back then it was more difficult, and it was much more of a brotherhood, with people helping each other. It was in the 80's when the pretentious guarding of secrets became a thing, and it was associated with photographers taking advantage of ad money to increase incomes. Ad money was corrupting the art of photography that I started with. I am also a painter. While it takes more time to learn the skills to draw, once having acquired the skills, I would regard the ease or difficulty in drawing, or taking a photograph as being fairly equal. I only ever shoot black and white because it is the reduction of visual information down to the simplest effects of light and dark that is all I seek. Sometimes the camera is the ideal way to do it. Sometimes chalk or pencil is easier. Whichever medium, however, it is about finding poetry. It is poetry that transforms the ordinary into something special. The poetry comes from the heart, and is the bit that is hardest to learn. Some people never do. They compose according to the rules, and let the gear do the work for them. But some people are artists who can find the extraordinary in the very ordinary. Some of them paint, some of them take photographs, but both are doing the same thing, finding their personal poetry, and communicating what is in their heart visually. For some it is narrative, for others a simple identification of beauty where others see ugliness. For me it ranges from appreciation of the world I live in to the simplest shadows and lights. I don't make images for other people. I make them purely to satisfy the passion I discovered back in 1962 and what was awakened by the wonderful people who shared their passions with me.