Originally posted by halfagoodman
i realise that a huge portion of photographers here are actually using this digital P&S and starting off with this, i hate to admit that i dont really recognise these ppl as photographers, but rather snappers.
Well I'm not a digital P&S user and it's time for you to have a reality check from the Ang Moh devil from Hell (me)
Lesson 1 - Defining a photographer:
According to the Cambridge Dictionary Online Edition a photographer is defined thus:
photographer
noun (C)
A photographer is a person who takes photographs, either as a job or as a hobby.
reference:
Cambridge Dictionary entry
Note that nowhere does it mention that the person has to have any knowledge of how to take a photograph, nor any skill nor anything else for that matter, it is merely the person who takes the photograph for either a job or hobby.
While it is true that a photgraph is defined as being specifically taken by camera and film you must appreciate that dictionaries take up to 30 years to change the entry of a word once a new meaning has entered general useage. Therefore any rational person would expect the digtal medium to be included next time the word is examined by the lexicographers.
Originally posted by halfagoodman
im not saying that a true photographer must carry a heavy duty SLR or use MF, but at least have used a SLR and have a general knowledge of photography, and not have a S30 or S40, shot a few digital pics which they luckily came past by and proudly proclaim themselves as a photographer.
Ahh more written garbage from you. Where do I start?
How about "have used an SLR and have a general knowledge of photography" as this is as good a place to start.
Hmm and those who only use TLR's, or View Cameras? or perhaps Pinhole Camera users? I'm quite sure that you'd be linched if you dared suggest your deadbeat theory at a Leica Rangefinder user meeting, or indeed anywhere else I can think of!
What about the guy I met a few years ago in sub-Sahran Africa who uses a turn of the century 1/4 frame view camera and hand made glass plates? Isn't he a phoographer? Well by your definition he's not. However he just happens to be the towns professional photographer and probably knows a damn sight more than you do kiddo. And he's never used an SLR in his life as he can't afford one.
Of course there are also the esoteric professional photographers whose work involves the use of such things as cold cameras, non focusable telescope cameras such as Schmidt Cameras and cryogenically cooled imagers etc. Yet again we have more examples of highly skilled professional photographers who don't use SLR's.
The cold hard reality is that
Anyone who takes a photograph by any means is a photographer however a narrow minded knob flogging moron might beg to differ.
Now to part 2 of your statements above:
and have a general knowledge of photography, and not have a S30 or S40, shot a few digital pics
Woah what a load of excrement that is. A general knowledge of photography, now that's a rich one, so does this mean that if I were to ask you the following questions (which are after all general knowledge questions) and if you can't answer them that you are no longer a photographer?
Q1 - What is Thiocarb and where is it used?
Q2 - The Scheimpflug Principle is what?
Q3 - Who was the largest producer of film in the world in 1900?
Q4 - What is the darkroom techniqued used to produce sharpness enchanced images called and how is it performed?
Q5 - What is the formula for calculating the effective guide number when using multiple flash units?
I doubt if 1 in 100 amateurs or professionals could answer all of those questions without looking up the answers, and since you are so high and mighty, can you answer them off the cuff? I doubt it!
A general knowlege of photography develops with time it is not a perquiste of being a photographer and it is not essential.
As for specifying which cameras are and aren't acceptable, well what can I say?
I hereby decree that all users of Linhof Technikas are the only true photographers in the world? Absurd isn't it? and guess what? So is your statement about the S30 or S40 users not being photographers.
Originally posted by halfagoodman
IMHO, i think that a good picture depends on 95% luck and 5% skills, and this perhaps apply to all photographers, excluding studio works.
Ahh such a limited understanding of reality.
Luck does play it's part in photography, in particular being at the right place and at the right time. However that's about all the luck there is in photography. The rest (about 90%) is down to pure skill and being able to work with what ever circumstances you are dealt.
A cold reality check here, Studio work is actually very easy to do. You have such luxuries as adjustable lighting, static or near static subjects in most cases. Of course one must not forget the studio photographers friend, the Polaroid Back. This time and labour saving device allows the photographer to preview lighting and exposure as well as composition before taking the final frame proper.
While those poor sods who shoot wildlife, sports, news, landscapes and so on get to deal with what ever they are dealt. There's no time for polaroid backs if your shooting motor sports, or for that matter soccer, wildlife or indeed the majority of ourdoor photography, news or other non studio based work.
Finally I'd suggest you come back with your half assed theories in a few years time when you've shot 1/10th of the amount of film I have and then tell me all about skill versus luck.
Originally posted by halfagoodman
i feel that throughout these 2 mths that i have been in clubsnap, i have learnt nothing. i came here with the hope of meeting some ppl who share the same ideals and establish a friendly contact with them. but sadly, i didnt find any.
With an attitude like yours that's not surprising, you should learn a bit of humility, open your eyes and look at the work others are producing, ask a few questions and maybe some of the more knowedgable posters here such as Jed, Sriram, Red Dawn or myself might answer you, however a pathetic attack like the one you've posted here will be treated with the true contempt it deserves.
The Ang Moh has spoken.
