Do you consider yourself to be a photographer?

Ken Nadvornick · May 9, 2014

snapguy said:
I really get steamed when I am taking photographs with a large camera and somebody comes up to me and asks "are you a photographer?" I say, "no, I am a cream cheese sandwich."

The corollary is when I am standing next to the fully-deployed 8x10 and someone approaches and asks...

"Can you still get film for that?"

I usually just answer...

"No."

...then patiently watch their facial expressions to see how long it takes for that to register.

Ken

Alan Klein · May 9, 2014

I don't recall anyone ever asking me whether I was a photographer. Unless you want to know whether someone is a pro photographer, why would anyone ask? Today, everyone shoots pictures practically especially since cell phones. I mean, does anyone ask you if you use a phone? ("Oh yes. I'm a pro-phone user. Headphones, wifi, apps, the whole works!"

DWThomas · May 9, 2014

I tend to prefer being Dave -- as opposed to Dave the Photographer, but if folks want to call me a photographer, so be it. I'm a hobbyist, but I enter work in local shows and sell one every now and then. And this year, by invitation, I had a solo show, albeit in a rather modest local venue. I view my work as experimentation and playing with personal challenges, not marketing to the public, but OK, I use cameras, I guess I'm a photographer.

kb3lms · May 9, 2014

Yes, I do.

benjiboy · May 9, 2014

I think after 63 years of practicing the craft I'm entitled to call myself a photographer.

Ian Grant · May 9, 2014

Do you consider yourself to be a photographer?

I consider myself to be an artist using photography as my preferred medium,m I was also a sculptor for a while.

Anyone using a camera is a photographer regardless of how good so in some ways it's a fairly meaningless word, particularly as anyone with a camera phone can claim to be one.

Ian

gone · May 9, 2014

That's a common (and funny) misconception.....that some one has to be making money to be called something. Very bourgeoisie. Money don't mean a thing, as the song goes. Lots of talented people write, paint, play music, photograph, etc w/o commercializing things. And a lot of no-talents make a ton of money. It's really not about that. Crazy idea.

As for your question, I just carry a camera. I'm a Professional Camera Carrier-Grade 2. Someday, praise Ansel, I hope to make Grade 1, but I'm happy where I am.

Maris · May 9, 2014

I call myself a photograph maker with emphasis on the maker part. If anyone asks I tell them I do camera work and darkroom work too. This to avoid the appellation photographer which in recent times has become so debased that I reckon it is empty of useful meaning.

A one end of the scale are people who make pictures out of light-sensitive materials and conduct the entire process themselves. Further along in the classification are people who own telephones with lenses. And at the far end are artists who may not actually use a camera or make pictures themselves but direct others. Yep, they get photographic credits too.

antmar · May 9, 2014

Please let me add my humble opinion to your interesting conversation.
I think that there are people who live from photography and people who live for photography.
After 28 years of a passionate affair with this God given mistress I am sure that I belong to the second group and that I envy all of you who can be professional photographers and live for photography as well.

benjiboy · May 9, 2014

momus said:
That's a common (and funny) misconception.....that some one has to be making money to be called something. Very bourgeoisie. Money don't mean a thing, as the song goes. Lots of talented people write, paint, play music, photograph, etc w/o commercializing things. And a lot of no-talents make a ton of money. It's really not about that. Crazy idea.

As for your question, I just carry a camera. I'm a Professional Camera Carrier-Grade 2. Someday, praise Ansel, I hope to make Grade 1, but I'm happy where I am.

Very true ,there are many pro photographers I wouldn't pay in spring washers.

Sent from my KFOT using Tapatalk

hoffy · May 9, 2014

Lets look at it this way.

If you ride bikes, do you call yourself a person who rides bikes or a cyclist?*

*Actually, there is another name for them in Australia - MAMIL (Middle Aged Men in Lycra)

ambaker · May 9, 2014

I've never been asked that question.

If I was, I probably alternate between...

Uh, yeah... Why, am I holding it wrong?

And

No... Camera thief...

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Wallendo · May 9, 2014

I have been shooting images since 1970 +/-. I have never made a penny off my photographs, yet I love photography and consider myself a photographer. I also think of myself as an "amateur photographer" in the older sense of the term as someone who does this for the love of the art.

I really don't like modern labels of photography. I enjoy learning from professional photographers, but find the term "professional" to be misleading if not meaningless. The paparazzi hanging outside Miley Cyrus's house may make many thousands of dollars taking photos of her, but I do not respect them, or consider them "professional" in any way.

To me, any person who loves photography, and takes the time to learn, and makes an effort to artistically frame their images, even if taken with an iPhone, is a photographer.

adelorenzo · May 9, 2014

I have conversations with people who see me hauling around a camera or see my darkroom or whatever, they usually go something like this:

"Oh, are you a photographer?"

"Ummm... Not really, I guess I like taking pictures"

I don't know why but it feels awkward. Photography and darkroom work is just something I do for myself because I enjoy it.

Jim Jones · May 9, 2014

Was Vincent van Gogh an artist? He couldn't make a living at it. People who know something of me ask if I'm Jim Jones, the artist. No, I just dabble in photography, and sell a few prints.

Dave Swinnard · May 9, 2014

Since I was 9. Once I finished the various levels of school, I still thought of myself as a photographer first and then a "whatever" second. I actually had the opportunity to be a "commercial" photographer for almost a decade and to teach various aspects of photography for an even longer time. Now retired and after more than 50 years, I still consider myself a photographer - still learning, still practicing, and still enjoying it. (side note: having just started down the "alt." road I feel like a kid in the darkroom again, just like I did then.)

I may be the only one who refers to me as a photographer these days, but I do. It's who I am and have been for too long to change.

(I may be a "junk collector" too...)

Alan Klein · May 10, 2014

adelorenzo said:
I have conversations with people who see me hauling around a camera or see my darkroom or whatever, they usually go something like this:

"Oh, are you a photographer?"

"Ummm... Not really, I guess I like taking pictures"

I don't know why but it feels awkward. Photography and darkroom work is just something I do for myself because I enjoy it.

Actually, they are paying you a real compliment. They see you as a "real" photographer, who uses "real" cameras, not someone like themselves who snap iPhone pictures.

deisenlord · May 10, 2014

To me someone who is an artist is clearly understood to possibly not make their living from their art. They do their art because they must, no other reason. 50+ years ago if you identified yourself as a photographer you were understood to make your living as such. Today it means you have a camera and you take pictures. The word is almost completely meaningless, I guess that was my point.

removed account4 · May 10, 2014

Ken Nadvornick said:
A person is never what they want to be, but is always what they have become. Wherever you are, there you be.

The trick is in finding a way to become what one wants to be...

Ken

it has nothing to do with any of what you typed

rpsawin · May 10, 2014

When I was working as a controller I disliked the title so much that I referred to myself as the "Head Fazzo" (apparently my staff disliked being relegated to "Lesser Fazzo" positions because they never greeted me with my preferred title. My objection to the title "Controller " was because a great deal of what I was held responsible for was out of my control.

I much prefer the "Photographer" as I have far more control of my work and the various elements that impact it. That said "Head Fazzo" still has an appeal...

Best regards,

Bob
CEO CFO EIEIO, Ret.

MattKing · May 10, 2014

You should have moved here, where we seem to use the semi-equivalent "comptroller" at least hLf the time.

pbromaghin · May 11, 2014

No, I'm a software developer. I just love taking pictures and I'm trying to learn how to be good at it.

stormpetrel · May 11, 2014

I consider myself as an amateur photographer and I like it!

mauro35 · May 11, 2014

Do I consider MYSELF a photographer? I think I can pretty much consider myself whatever I wish, but society gives us the titles, decides what we can do and what we can be, depending on what other people like and decide to give value to. And that pretty much applies to art too. There is no real definition of titles, jobs, profession or skills per se. If we comply to what society standards consider to be a title, than we can use that title in front of our names. That said, I just take photographs I like for personal pleasure, so definitely I am not a photographer.

benjiboy · May 11, 2014

"Do you consider yourself a photographer", is the pope a catholic ?

Do you consider yourself to be a photographer?

Moderator

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency