I have often wondered what others think about being a good photographer? Are you just born with it, or can you actually become a great photographer by just learning.
I look at some many pictures on this site and am sometimes just in awe. It seems so many people are just 'born' with it; I mean you either have it or you don't. I believe myself to be in the don't, was not born with it, and am really trying to become better.
So many people seem to have a natural abiltiy to think or look outside the box, even though I try to think outside, it seems sometimes I feel like a mime in the box that just can't get out.
I know that I can take a decent photo every once in a while, but there are so many of you that seem to take good photo after good photo, in fact sometimes I try to look for an average photo but they all seem amazing. Maybe it's just me.
I think its just like anything else... some people are just good at it even without any kind of training. But even those who are not naturally good at it can become better with practice/training. I think the same for cooking, drawing, etc. I also think that the right editing can make a regular picture way better, just like the right seasoning in a soup.
I think even the best photographers can learn new techniques and different ways of looking at something. Since I've been playing with editing in Picasa, photoshop elements, and now picnik.com, I've seen a huge improvement in my pictures. I take a little more time on a picture then I would have a year ago and it is showing. So yes, I believe we can learn how to take a decent picture and learn what we can do to improve a picture during the editing process.
well, i just looked through your photos, and you have some great ones. you have a good eye, and the compositions and technique is awesome! i don't know, i think if someone has a passion for it, and works really hard at it, they can become a good photographer. i like this project for that reason, i am learning so much by using my camera everyday.
I think that some people are born with it, but it's not impossible to acquire talent. It's just like with anything else. c:
And then, a lot of it is about the equipment, too. I know there are a lot of shots that I could never get (until I get a DSLR).
About thinking outside the box, that is one thing I think that you have to be born with. Some people have creative minds, some people have logical minds, some people have a combination. It all depends on the luck of the draw.
I'm struggling to find a concise way of saying what I'm trying to say, here, but I don't think you can look at the question directly as a nature/nurture one, because there's two aspects to it: having an artistic eye, and being able to use the equipment to achieve your vision.
I would say you either do or don't have the artistic eye, that's nature, but the ability to use the equipment is a 50/50; you can be just born with a natural affinity for figuring out what makes a good photograph, but if not you can always learn the rules. Whether you have the artistic bent to then apply those rules in an effective way is back to the nature thing.
So, I think, you can either be born one, or learn to do it up to, but not at, the point of making them truly artistic (although it still can be approximated well), but it's still possible to be born with no chance at all of even learning it.
I think Steve and Stephanie sum it up well re. the artistic eye...Generally I struggle to spot something that would make a good photo, my girlfiend and her son can borrow my camera for 2 minutes and come away with some great looking photos - things I just wouldn't think about taking... Although I hope I'm getting a bit better after 10 months of doing this :-)
It goes both ways - I know "professionals" that do weddings for a living, but I can't stand there work! They are in no way "bad" at all, it's just not my style :) Everyone is born with some type of creativity, and I think thats what makes a good photographer. (so it's a "born with it" for me!)
I agree with much of what has been said. It's too simplistic to frame this as an "either/or" discussion. There's some people that can just pick up a camera and have that 'eye' for a photo, whereas others need to be trained but can become very good. Technically, some people know how to use a camera well and can pick up its functionality very quickly, but they don't have the creative ability to take interesting shots. The marriage of both creative and technical would be the ideal partnership, as you need vision and then the ability to see the vision through.
I also think that people who can think in abstract terms are probably better natural photographers than those less able to, as they can think in terms of shapes and colours instead of objects. The best photos intrinsically appeal to our basest emotions, and although when we see a photo that we like we see a chair, a car, a face and so on, what we are actually looking at is colours, shapes, lines and symmetry. Those pictures that conform to an unconscious 'order' are usually the most appealing. It's why we try to adhere to the rule of thirds!
Thanks everyone for their thoughts. I really appreciate them. I am not really sure where I was going with this. I just look around and see so many good pictures and then I look at mine and I do not get the same reaction. I am not sure if its because I am my own toughest critic or if its something else. In any event, I was hoping that becoming a better photographer is something that could be acquired by learning and that it was not something that you had to be 'born' with.
In any event, like most of you (I think), I go through ups and downs, both here on this project and in my daily life. Sometimes I struggle to find a picture for a theme, or for the day for that matter, and other times I have way too many good shots just to pick one. I will continue this project for as long as its around and I hope, that maybe, just maybe, my skills will become better over time as well. The only problem is: Time will tell. I am not sure that whether my skills are improving or not is something that can be measured quantitatively, so it will be interesting to look back and see if I can notice a change.
I read in a photography book once, that the best photographers are the ones that are great editors. Say you take 300 photos, if you want people to think you are good show them your best 30. If you want them to think you're great, show them your best 10.
Its all in the eye ... if you can see a picture, you can take a picture, Composition is the key. Agree that the artistic eye & composition comes easier to some people, then again some people pick up the tech side of a camera better than others ... I personally need to learn the technical side of my camera.. .. .. .. i think all can be learnt ,
I wouldn't say born with it but some people just seem more naturally adept at it. The more you practice though, the more you are able to see a great shot and learn the technical skills it takes to render it as you want
I think you're born with an eye for a good photo, for detail and are generally creative.. And then learn different techniques as you go along - which makes you better because you can then use the best techniques to get the perfect pictures - a bit of both maybe?
If you're not a very creative person and don't have any kind of natural ability related to photography, I think you can still learn it.. But because you're learning and it's not natural the photos that are produced may not be as original, edgy, etcetc!? Maybe. I don't know. :')
I think its something you just have. Classes can make it better or teach you new things, but I think you either have it or you don't.
You have to have a passion for it, I think, to capture something truly wonderful. If your hearts not in it, then its gonna show in the photo. Just my opinion though. :)
Write a Reply
Sign up for a free account or Sign in to post a comment.
Tweets ahoy!
Join the Group
Pin With Me
And then, a lot of it is about the equipment, too. I know there are a lot of shots that I could never get (until I get a DSLR).
About thinking outside the box, that is one thing I think that you have to be born with. Some people have creative minds, some people have logical minds, some people have a combination. It all depends on the luck of the draw.
I would say you either do or don't have the artistic eye, that's nature, but the ability to use the equipment is a 50/50; you can be just born with a natural affinity for figuring out what makes a good photograph, but if not you can always learn the rules. Whether you have the artistic bent to then apply those rules in an effective way is back to the nature thing.
So, I think, you can either be born one, or learn to do it up to, but not at, the point of making them truly artistic (although it still can be approximated well), but it's still possible to be born with no chance at all of even learning it.
Like most things, I'd venture.
That said, as a creative and highly subjective endeavor, if you like it and enjoy it, then that is what makes it great.
I also think that people who can think in abstract terms are probably better natural photographers than those less able to, as they can think in terms of shapes and colours instead of objects. The best photos intrinsically appeal to our basest emotions, and although when we see a photo that we like we see a chair, a car, a face and so on, what we are actually looking at is colours, shapes, lines and symmetry. Those pictures that conform to an unconscious 'order' are usually the most appealing. It's why we try to adhere to the rule of thirds!
In any event, like most of you (I think), I go through ups and downs, both here on this project and in my daily life. Sometimes I struggle to find a picture for a theme, or for the day for that matter, and other times I have way too many good shots just to pick one. I will continue this project for as long as its around and I hope, that maybe, just maybe, my skills will become better over time as well. The only problem is: Time will tell. I am not sure that whether my skills are improving or not is something that can be measured quantitatively, so it will be interesting to look back and see if I can notice a change.
Thanks again.
If you're not a very creative person and don't have any kind of natural ability related to photography, I think you can still learn it.. But because you're learning and it's not natural the photos that are produced may not be as original, edgy, etcetc!? Maybe. I don't know. :')
You have to have a passion for it, I think, to capture something truly wonderful. If your hearts not in it, then its gonna show in the photo. Just my opinion though. :)