Comments on: A Question of Definition

By: Ernesto Evensen

Ernesto Evensen — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 00:54:03 +0000

Politicians are people who, when they see light at the end of the tunnel, go out and buy some more tunnel. ~John Quinton

By: Amen: A Question of Definition « iiionu

Amen: A Question of Definition « iiionu — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 18:27:23 +0000

[...] A Question of Definition. [...]

By: Wreckom's Blog » Blog Archive » Total agreement to the following

Wreckom's Blog » Blog Archive » Total agreement to the following — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 21:38:27 +0000

[...] David Duchemin’s recent rant, needs to be read. No Comments [...]

By: Mike Mayo

Mike Mayo — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 13:23:01 +0000

Many people are obessed with labels that fit their own ideas. Being “a photographer” can mean different things to different people. Of course receiving pay makes you a professional, but it doesn’t mean that person is a better photographer than someone that does it for fun.

By: tim sabore

tim sabore — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 22:49:59 +0000

Just a tiny bit late but here is my comment…I think the use of the word “real” could mean experience. You can not be a photographer if you can not use your camera. It takes experience to work the controls quickly and cleanly. It takes experience to understand the rules of composition and it takes experience to understand when to break the rules. Some times intentions are not enough (amateur vs. professional, love vs. paycheck). When the photographer has experience, he can forget about the operation stuff with the camera controls and concentrate on the task at hand: making acceptable images. A “real photographer” is experienced and competent. A novice is not.
Just my take on this great post. Thanks.
PS-the real question: Should a photographer be called a craftsman if he has never been in a “real” darkroom? I believe you can’t call yourself a photographer if you don’t understand the art and CRAFT of photography. And no, digital imagery is not photography.

By: Elle

Elle — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 23:56:28 +0000

I LOVE THIS!

And you know it’s not just in photography….I love all art forms including photography, writing, pencil drawing, design….and so 20 years ago I chose Interior Design to take in college.

I quit after 2 years, I was discouraged by the ELITISM of our professors and teachers who had this annoying attitude that their student minions would never understand or achieve the greatness and superiority of their craft…EVER. No I will never understand that attitude about anything or anyone and have tried to remember that throughout my career. I decided to make something of myself in another profession after travelling the world following my “failure” at design school. It pays me well enough and though mostly some could only get here with a minimum of a college or university degree, I strived to be a success in my chosen industry despite my lack of formal schooling.

Flash forward to the present and the birth of my first child my passion for photography reignited. I was taking pictures like CRAZY! And not just of babies…everything. Eventually, got myself a nice entry level DSLR and took a course and only 6 months later people asking me to take their pictures and they will pay me!! Certainly I am elated to hear this at the same time I feel this anxiety of “do I deserve this??” and “but I am not a professional”. Here we go again…that old thing following me around again.

I came across this blog today and I am SOOOOO happy to have read this. For one, it reminds me to stay grounded, and helps me to keep putting one foot in front of the next…keep taking pictures, don’t forget the passion for being creative and recognize my talent for what it is, and that if I have this talent I have a reponsibility to share it with people so that this art form doesn’t become dull and boring.

Afterall, where would MUSIC be if we didn’t have these “so-called musicians” that entertain people and in dark jazzy joints in front of small crowds, inspiring FUTURE musicians with their cutting edge sounds.

In every art form, someone has to be out there in the field, just for the passion of doing it…keepin’ it alive, and keepin’ it real.

By: derrickottenbreit.ca » Calling yourself a “professional photographer” is really a matter of definition.

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 18:15:37 +0000

[...] I love and admire and encourage photographers who do this for a living. But so as not to be ambiguous, it needs to be understood that your art is not legitimized by how much money you make at it, if any. There are plenty of photographers of mediocre ability who make a living at this. There are many photographers who pay to do it, and subsidize their art by working as dentists, doctors, janitors, teachers, who are exceptional. To deny that they too are photographers merely because they choose not to sell their work, is not only ridiculous it’s offensive. (more…) [...]

By: Adam

Adam — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 17:41:59 +0000

Yea! I’m a photographer! I’ll leave it to the professionals to professionally hash out what makes a professional. Making $.03 on a print? Then I’m a pro (let’s see if the land lord will take an art print as this months payment).

By: Tim Camuso

Tim Camuso — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 03:29:48 +0000

I could not have said it better myself. Thank you from one photographer to another.

By: Kevin Van Lierop » What’s a REAL Photographer?

Kevin Van Lierop » What’s a REAL Photographer? — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 01:36:22 +0000

[...] or not someone is a ‘real’ photographer”. For a follow up article by duChemin CLICK HERE. Bourne’s comments are worth a read in my opinion, even if they are short and concise, as I [...]