Originally posted by sehsuan
YSLee, i'm still learning. i acknowledged Wolfgang's advice. are you offering any help here? nope.
I am, like Larry has put it. It's a matter if you're willing to accept it.
i prefer to do sports because i have my background in sports in my earlier days. i doubt you were one in the first place, so please go and challenge yourself for your ippt first. sportspeople can see sports through another viewpoint that you don't possess.
Now that is a seriously flawed logic; a fallacy of weak induction. I'm sure there are a fair number of sports photogs who aren't sportsperson themselves, and I don't doubt their ability to shoot sports. Furthermore, if I advance your weak analogy further, does that mean a versatile sportsphotog has to have played in all the sports he or she is covering?
of all advice and opinions given, only Wolfgang, Binbeto, Dagger and Jeffgoh have given constructive comments/criticism. what are you giving?
Advice that is not sugar coated. And advice that goes beyond mere technicalities.
or let's put it this way - for the number of years you've shot, you should be shooting much better than i can, with the equipment you've bought with your own money. and in your way of speech, i'm using something that isn't paid by my own money yet, and i have been shooting experimentally for a maximum of 8 months to date - if i can have shots comparable to your standard, you should go shoot yourself
This is irelevant, anyone who starts out (save for prodigies) will not do well, but I'm not questioning your ability; I'm questioning your attitude.
people talk about measurbating camera equipment - similarly i don't have a fantastic bike, but i still use it and ride lots - but i can't be so sure Mr Lee is a gutsy cyclist instead of one bike measurabator.
I take my approach in photography to every aspect of what I do. I bought a decent bike, and have no qualms about it. I'm curious to know where you got the impression of a bike measurabator from. However, as I have heard from reliable friends, aren't you considering a $4000 bicycle?
i can only respect YS if he can just bit the bullet and admit he's still hanging on to the past. anyway, what happened was in my family, not his, so i wonder why he's still hanging on so grudgingly to it even right now.
Indeed, I am still hanging on to the past. I've never been in denial of that. But once again, have you ever wondered why people (I'm not the only one) do so? It takes quite an event to happen for people to hang on to months down the road.
Since we're here, I'm not going to sugarcoat it.
You badmouthed (that's putting it nicely here) your father in a public forum with over 3000 members, and god knows how many lurkers.
Days later, you show absolutely no remorse over it.
To top it all off, you decided that you'd do photography only when you get a 10D, or a 1D or a 1Ds, so you decided to "quit" (using the word very loosely here).
Frankly, that attitude to photography is awful, and the way you treat a person who is close to you (for goodness sake, he's your DAD) is downright revolting.
Photography is just that; taking photos. Photography doesn't require a digital SLR, it doesn't require a fancy pants AF system, it doesn't require top of the line equipment. Anyone with the heart and passion can become great photographers regardless of what equipment they use. I approach photography with the mindset that regardless of what equipment I have, I'll do my very best to take great pictures. And even I don't, I'll think about where I went wrong first before I start blaming my equipment, my computer, or what not. I listen to people I know who are better than I am, and certainly while it's not all praise (lotsa brickbats as well), I take whatever I can. Harsh words might not be pleasent, and while I don't like to hear them I still have to accept them.
But you, sehsuan, you went on and on whining about wanting your dad's 10D that was so disgusting that made a lot of us (I do mean a lot) here thinking about what kind of person you are. You refused to stop your tantrum, continually insiting you need a 10D,despite some very kind words from people who are much better than you, both in character and photography-wise. I have to admit, if it's attention you wanted, you most certainly got it.
So it's been a few months down the road. Guess what? Your recent behaviour hasn't changed by that much to warrant me to let go of the past. You want attention, recognition, and praise; it's quite blatent in your various actions, both offline and online (the walls have ears).
I'll give you my best piece of advice. It might not improve your photography overnight, but it might take you further than you possibly could have ever been:
Ask yourself and answer honestly (no excuses): Have you been faultless all this while? Are your actions being driven been working towards your growth as a person? Not for fleeting concepts like fame, recognition and wealth, but proper knowledge and character traits which you and the rest of us can be proud of. If you can never surmount the flaws in your character as present, you'll never reach the heights you desire to attain.
I don't claim to be a saint, but I do my best to improve myself. What have you done? Honestly?
PS. As a business student, I can tell you the quickest way to financial ruin (both personal and corporate) is to have more loans than necessary. I certainly hope the interest rate on the 10D and the bicycle isn't too high.
