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05-24-2020, 12:04 PM - 1 Like   #1
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It’s not your kit, and it’s not your ability...

Seen on Petapixel (a short extract). Click on the link for the full story.

QuoteQuote:
Are you a very practical, handy person?
Can you read a manual and both enjoy it, and understand it? The issue you are likely to have is that you have excellent technical skills in your photography, but ones that don’t capture mood, feeling or experience well.

Are you a very creative, dreamy, ideas person?
You are likely to have the opposite problem. Your photos will probably full of mood and emotion. You’ll be able to recognize in the world around you wonderful moments of human expression, or evocative moods in the changing weather. But technically? You’ll likely struggle as you try and kick that bit of your brain that is underutilized into action.

How You Live Your Life is Reflected in How You Take Photos
What a profound notion. It makes one think, too.


Last edited by Wasp; 05-24-2020 at 01:04 PM. Reason: There is more
05-24-2020, 12:18 PM - 5 Likes   #2
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Too binary,very few people are either,totally,one thing or the other.Most of us are a complex mix of practicality and emotion bound up with conflicting human frailties!!
05-24-2020, 12:19 PM - 3 Likes   #3
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Then forget all that and look through this group...

Crap wildlife photography Public Group | Facebook
05-24-2020, 12:49 PM - 8 Likes   #4
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QuoteOriginally posted by Wasp Quote
Seen on Petapixel.

What a profound notion. It makes one think, too.
My experience as a photography teacher is that this is true and we all tend to either do one well or the other. But that's where education and training (formal or informal) helps.

In my intro photo courses, it's mostly technical because that IMO is easier to teach and also what the students want to know; how-to. The paradox, however, is that although the technical has the most benefit for those who are more interested in the aesthetic and feeling of the moment or light or composition, they (naturally) hate it and it's the technophiles that embrace it. Easier to improve what we're already good at.

This sort of then backfires in the advanced photo course where I teach more of the art and less of the craft of photography, and the technical ones really struggle to see light and color and compositional elements.

Although the goal is to be good at both function and form, I'd say I might have a 30% success rate with teenaged students who still have soft spongy gray matter that can absorb new ideas for both the head and the heart. I should also add, that some blossom early and others blossom late.

05-24-2020, 01:05 PM - 4 Likes   #5
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I don't know.

I think it all comes down to people who want to improve and are willing to make the effort, do improve and those who don't continue to shoot what they shoot. Clearly it typically isn't just the gear, as there folks who switch brands and suddenly -- Hey Presto! -- their photos with their new brand look exactly the same as the old ones.

I do actually think that (especially these days) the technical parts of photography are easier to improve than the composition, finding interesting subjects, and capturing good light. But there are lots of books and helps for those who are interested in improving.
05-24-2020, 01:19 PM - 2 Likes   #6
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Well I'm definitely in the dreamer/creative category. Manuals and I don't get along.
05-24-2020, 01:20 PM - 5 Likes   #7
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I think it sums up well all those who think that buying a "sharp" lens will make them a better photographer

05-24-2020, 02:19 PM - 3 Likes   #8
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The technical stuff can be learnt by anyone though, which is why the internet is so full of technically immaculate but utterly soulless photos.

The creative side tends to be more instinctive, and is pretty much impossible to learn for those who haven't got a natural eye for it. Just learning lots of compositional rules isn't enough.

And many of the dreamy creative types have actually got a very thorough knowledge of the technical aspects of photography. I think the article is making the same false assumption that technically minded photographers often make -- they assume that the dreamy creative types are trying to take technically perfect photos but failing, when in fact the dreamers are often deliberately using technical "flaws" as part of their creative vision.
05-24-2020, 04:11 PM - 4 Likes   #9
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QuoteOriginally posted by boriscleto Quote
Then forget all that and look through this group...

Crap wildlife photography Public Group | Facebook
I've found the FB group for my photos...
05-24-2020, 04:21 PM   #10
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I'm more on the technical side. I've never really had an eye for art. Maybe that's why I like doing BIF. It's a technical challenge.
05-24-2020, 09:05 PM - 1 Like   #11
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In my experiences, I've found the technical, practical people also excel in math and science, and tend to think and do things in a very linear manner (i.e. going from point A to B to C to D to E and so forth). Whereas, the creative, dreamy people excel in the languages, humanities, and arts, and tend to think and act in very a non-linear manner (i.e. going from point D to A to C to E to B and so forth). I think it is probably easier for the dreamy, creative person to learn and master the technical, practical skills needed to be a great photographer than for the technical, practical person to learn how to think and see creativly and dreamy. The truely great photographers, artists and innovators are/were a rare combination of, and absoulte masters of both personality types. Think Ansel Adams, David Yarrow, Steve Jobs.

Last edited by DWS1; 05-24-2020 at 09:23 PM.
05-24-2020, 09:09 PM   #12
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QuoteOriginally posted by Wasp Quote
Seen on Petapixel (a short extract). Click on the link for the full story.

What a profound notion. It makes one think, too.
Pretty much it’s horse doo doo.
05-24-2020, 10:45 PM - 5 Likes   #13
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I had a work colleague a few years ago who was very technically minded. We were both looking at purchasing DSLRs at the same time and spent a little time comparing notes. I was set on the top level Pentax at the time (K-7) as I had several K-mount lenses. He was undecided and compiled a vast series of spreadsheets detailing features/price/weight of several different brands and models. it was painful for me to watch him trying to make a decision. Anyway the big day came and he turned up with a brand new Nikon of some description. A week or so later, I politely inquired if he could bring in some images so we could compare results. I was rebuffed with the excuse he had not even put batteries in the camera as he had not finished reading the manual and did not want to risk blowing something up.

Yes it takes all types.
05-25-2020, 02:16 AM - 3 Likes   #14
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I worked with a guy a bit like that, he read and practically memorised the manual before using any product.

It pains me to say that he takes better photos than me both technically and artistically.
05-25-2020, 02:27 AM - 1 Like   #15
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I think its a combo of skills and being able to balance them appropriately. The technical folk often find a home in landscape and architectural work, the creatives in asking why and doingw wird stuff plus street scenes etc my brother in law has a phenomenal ‘eye’ for a pic and often finds shots where I would find a blank wall. My skill was specialised towards a very particulare genre. I can lament the fact that I would love to take spectacular landscape stuff but I just lack the eye for it but am thankful for the ability to do what I did well and to have had fun doing it.
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