"I Am A Photographer!"

[Q.G.]

You could always answer that you do make/take photographs.

 

[eddym]

I've never understood why the words "photographer" and "artist" are regarded as pretentious. Is it just because there's no requirement for a degree to be either (at least where I live)? Is it pretentious to say "I'm an engineer"?

I'm an artist working in photography and music. Simple statement of fact, no pretentiousness.

- CJ

Well said, Cheryl. I say "I am a photographer" not because I do it for money, but because it is how I define myself. Some years ago I came to the realization that I was not a doctor nor a fireman nor a lawyer nor an Indian chief; I am a photographer. Income (or not) has nothing to do with it. It's a matter of self-identity.

 

[bythewei]

Interesting topic.

But my photography mentors once told me that you do not call yourself a photographer, Like how you do not call yourself a fine arts photographer until others say you are.

So why not ask the people around you instead?

 

[David Brown]

But my photography mentors once told me that you do not call yourself a photographer, ...

:confused:
What did your "mentors" call themselves?

Let's see:

When I was teaching, I was called a teacher.
When I was installing systems, I was an installer.
When I play drums, I'm a drummer.
If I sang, I would be a singer.

I make photographs, so I'm ...

Seriously folks, this isn't that hard. But, in all fairness, perhaps the mentors were just saying to be humble.

Let's get back to music, for example. A lot of people "play around" with music, or even simply own an instrument, but don't really play. They are not musicians, and believe me, actual musicians know the difference.

Likewise, simply owning, and even occasionally using, a camera does not make you a photographer. But intentionally making photographs, as opposed to taking snapshots of events, gets one a lot closer. Developing a certain level of skill so that one has control over what they are doing and can make the images they wish to, separates the photographers from the camera owners. I think one knows when one reaches that level. If you don't know whether or not you're a photographer, then maybe you are not.

 

[Domenico Foschi]

:confused: If you don't know whether or not you're a photographer, then maybe you are not.

!!!!

 

[Ed Sukach]

=David Brown;849659... Developing a certain level of skill so that one has control over what they are doing and can make the images they wish to, separates the photographers from the camera owners. I think one knows when one reaches that level. If you don't know whether or not you're a photographer, then maybe you are not.

A matter of degree, here.

I do NOT invariably, absoultely KNOW that I am making the images I wan't to (make).
Most of my most significant successes have been *wonderful* suprises - far more satisfying that the image I had "in mind".

In my "pre-concious" state, I am a far "better" photographer,than I am with crushing awreness to what I am doing.

- And I like it like that!

If this makes me something other than a "photographer" - so be it. I'd rather be characterized as a Human Being, anyway.

If my work was totally predictable - I think I would give it up... it would be nothing more than sheer boredom!!

 

[phc]

Can I refer you to this entry in my blog? I was talking with Larry Towell:

“I sometimes wonder” I said, “whether I really am a photographer.”
“So do I,” he replied. “I wonder whether I’m really a photographer too.”

Cheers, Paul.

 

[srmcnamara]

Calling yourself a photographer seems rather different than calling yourself a good photographer. I generally call myself Steven.

 

[Sirius Glass]

 

[rudolf]

I think being the photographer, or more correctly - calling oneself the photographer - occurs just when one treats photography very serious.
I do, so I'm the photographer.

I don't see it pretentious.
Also, I don't think there's need for reserving that word only for professionals. You know - when I drive a car, I'm a driver, so when I make some photography - I'm a photographer (like rternbach and others said). Period.

However, here in Poland, there's a long history behind who deserves to be a photographer. Or an artist photographer, which is, obviously, harder to define. One day, years ago (in 70's? no, it was earlier, back in 40's? oh, nevermind), one of our Polish Photography Masters, Bulhak, proposed a new word (sic!) for whoever is an artist photographer. That word is quite controversial nowadays, and personally - I don't like it at all, and dont' use it.
(it's in Polish "fotografik" which stands for "artist photographer", instead of simple and non-pretentious "fotograf" standing for "photographer").
That word was reserved for "real artist", in contrast to ordinary craftsmen.

So, I think every APUG member is, in fact photographer (and I won't go into the discussion who the artist is).
Best regards,

 

[Robert Kresa]

In polish NG edition, there is a note concerning "professional" category: a professional may be one, whose photographic earnings are not less than 30% of total income. Maybe then, the photographer is one, whose thoughts are not less than 50% of thinking in general? And concerning pictures - the more your photographs are visible to others, the more you are a photographer. And where is less pictures than words describing them - you're an artist photographer.

 

[Ektagraphic]

I don't really call myself a photographer. I ususally just say I am into Photography or I really enjoy photography. I am usually pretty humble. Most people that don't see me with a camera don't know I'm into photography.

 

[Anscojohn]

At what point did you start calling yourself a photographer or artist, and not feel self-conscious or haughty about it? To me, calling myself a photographer for the longest time felt like I was being pretentious. It's like I am putting myself at the same level as Cartier-Bresson, Mann, or Adams.

I am still working on carrying my camera around town and not feeling like a tool.

********
You could be a "semi-professional photrapher-" the definition for which I read years ago--viz. "Someone who owns four or five cameras and who has a spouse who works for a living."

 

[benjiboy]

It's not when you call yourself a photographer, It's when other people do,I've been shooting film for more than fity years and I'm not a photographer yet, but I know a few people who are.

 

[Michel Hardy-Vallée]

I think I started using the term when I first found out that my knowledge had some importance in my selection for a job. I had applied to be a communications officer for a nonprofit, and it involved doing many things: web, writing, IT, translation, etc, and photography.

At that point I was still at the "idiot with a camera" stage, I had just discovered APUG and I was still shooting with nothing but a sometimes unreliable Praktica L. On my résumé, I added in the "extra" section my photographic knowledge. Later on, after I was hired, I overheard my boss saying to another employee that one of the reason why I was selected was because I was a photographer. They needed me to cover one of their events, and were discussing whether or not they should hire a photog.

So, I upgraded my kit to a Pentax Spotmatic F, which I just loved, and served me well for a long time. I switched it to Nikon to make sure lenses and spare parts would be more easily available when I was on assignments outside of Montréal.

Since then, I did a few assignments for that job, put together two exhibitions, sold a couple of prints, and made myself a business card. I started as being "the photographer" on my first job assignments to eventually "a photographer" after I made a few.

I would say that calling myself a "photographer" to me is still dependent on how stable my commitment is. There are times when I'm much more of a teacher (my current job) than a photographer, and so I say "I'm also a photographer" instead of just "I'm a photographer."

Part of the reason why is I actually had a jury ask me how I would balance my time between contract work and teaching! Not really a problem, since I don't make contracts regularly, but I think the words I had used to describe myself were strong enough that they created the impression I was a full-time pro.

These days, I'm an also-photographer.

 

[jgcull]

>>You could be a "semi-professional photrapher-" the definition for which I read years ago--viz. "Someone who owns four or five cameras and who has a spouse who works for a living."<<

hahaha

 

[rternbach]

"And I yam what I yam and I yam what I yam that I yam"--Popeye