this post was submitted on 25 Nov 2023
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Photography
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A place to politely discuss the tools, technique and culture of photography.
This is not a good place to simply share cool photos/videos or promote your own work and projects, but rather a place to discuss photography as an art and post things that would be of interest to other photographers.
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In the past I dealt with a surprising amount of photographers who go out of their way to shit on novice photographers. Everyone was a beginner once.
It used to be very hard to get into pro photography. Now it’s super easy, so a lot of folks gate-keep every chance they get. It’s usually the ones who take mediocre photos and used that high barrier to entry to their advantage who are the worst offenders.
Talent speaks for itself. I’ve always thought: if you’re threatened by novice photographers, then maybe you should look at your own work and figure out why.
This! I'm just a novice/hobbyist/enthusiastic grandma with a camera. I'll never be a pro and I'm ok with that! I just want to learn to take nice pictures of my grandkids. I'll never be a threat. The handful of friends who have paid me to take senior pictures and kids portraits don't have the money to pay a professional.
Pet peeve: people buying a camera, immediately create a business, don't invest effort in practicing and acquiring a minimal skill set needed and then overreach in taking on clients with important events, because it's big bucks. Wedding photography especially.
I'm in no way a pro, a gear elitist, and will never shit on novice photographers. But I so often see posts in Facebook photography groups asking how they can fix their pictures, that are often unsalvageable - extreme ISO due to never having shot indoors, or cutting off limbs at the wrong places, .. they buy a novice camera, usually a crop sensor DSLR with the kit lens (Not saying you can't get nice photos with that, but you need to know the limitations and how to work with it by practicing), that theyve used a few times, immediately start a business and take on big contracts that can't be re-shot.
I've been doing this for five years as a hobbyist, have 5Tb of files stored, have booked 1on1 workshops, read up on it, and I still don't feel like taking on the responsibility of a wedding shoot. Maybe that's the other end of the spectrum, but my pet peeve really is people who don't make an effort to practice and learn, and have no issues with ruining someone's special occasion, getting paid a significant fee.
So much this. More experienced photographers love to be elitists and say things in a very snarky, “imverysmart” sort of tone.
Even when they’re saying true statements like “the gear isn’t important, it’s the photographer”, it’s just the way they say it sometimes that’s really obnoxious and annoying.
Agreed. This for sure was my first hobby people didn’t just help each other learn…
This so much
And it applies to basically every hobby
Everyone starts at the same point and we all learn in different ways and at different rates
Encouraging people will get them to pursue more into the hobby, shitting on them will just make them leave
They can be so mean sometimes.
Several times on some subreddits, a beginner asks for critique on a photo and people act as if they had acid poured on their eyes. It's cruel.
Is the photo stunning? Most of the time, not really. Does that mean they shouldn't get some advice? No!
Telling them to delete the post, or not being constrictive with their criticism is just unfair.
With beginners, I always try and be positive. If they ask for my advice, I'll tell them what's good about their photograph as well as the not so good, in a constructive way.
"The use of shallow depth of field is lovely, but maybe next time try a few different angles as I think some of them could maybe make the photo really good. Don't be afraid to experiment with moving closer or further away."
They're new, so we shouldn't hold them to the standards of more experienced photographers. It takes guts to even show your photography to the world.
My main hobby / passion is MMA. I can’t even think about shitting on a training partner cuz their form or technique is wrong. You are a good soul and we need more people like you that are willing to go out of your way to help someone learn and get better. Hopefully when I start posting I get some quality feedback that will help me improve. Really enjoying my time out of the gym with the camera 🙂
Novice photographers who post on Reddit instead of a 5min google search.
Google can't look at the photograph and tell you what's wrong. It can tell you about the rule of thirds, the golden spiral and what composition is but it can't give proper critique like we as a community can
Having the outlook that newer photographers shouldn't or don't deserve to share their photography to get some advice is really snotty, and not a good look.
Never said that. Don't be so defensive without reason. I said when they ask the same old question that can be answered directly from google far more reliably with guides that will solve every single question. Perhaps comprehend the statement before commenting.
People with experience. A lot of people on subreddits tnat are for critiquing photographs typically have a bit of experience that they can pass on. Even if they aren't experienced, they can give another perspective on how the photo could be improved or how they would have taken it.
If you think Google is more reliable than people in regards to photography, I would find your qualifications to be questionable. It's a useful tool but it isn't better than real critique from real people.
You never said it outright but saying novice photographers posting instead of googling some answers insinuates that they at least annoy you and can go as far as they shouldn't, especially when you propose the alternative is a Google search.
Inexperienced ppl steer you the wrong way. If you want to learn you do workshops. That's it. If you want critique you submit to an actual contest with people who are 100% masters in their field. Not the average Joe who knows 3 basic things and 7 wrong and acts smart. And again I didn't said that ppl sharing photography annoy me. Ppl starting out have more fantasy than ppl who have tried it all and know what works. What annoys me is lazy ppl who post "what is Kelvin".
Try Facebook group, they are still there
Sadly elitism and insecurity seems to be so rife in almost every profession and hobby. I think you see the same thing across almost the whole spectrum of human experience and it often bothers the hell out of me.