whats a real photographer anyways ?

[E. von Hoegh]

In this interweb age we now live in anyone can become an ex spurt at just about anything they like.

And I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

We're all ex spurts.

 

[Pioneer]

We're all ex spurts.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Cousin Ralphs' are a pain in the ass, even when they are not taking images.

 

[E. von Hoegh]

It can be difficult when, in order to acquire your avocation, you have spent years, much money, sweat and toil to achieve a level of expertise and standing worthy of respect, but the only label available to you is one that people also use to describe their niece who takes nice pictures of the brunch she is about to eat.
Labels and definitions are funny things. People argue about them, but they only have value if they are helpful.
The label "photographer" doesn't have much value any more, because it isn't really very helpful. It is used to describe too many things.
Adding the word "real" in front of it as an intended modifier doesn't make much of a difference.
I have no reason to doubt that Michael Firstlight does work that is worthy of a label that differentiates it from those pictures of brunch. I'm afraid however, that "photographer" or "real photographer" or even "professional photographer" all have been applied to too many types of people to tell us much.
FWIW, I wouldn't exclude the "cousin Ralphys" of the world from the label photographer. You just need to be willing to add "selfish fool of a" in front of the term.

I think this is it in a nutshell.

 

[E. von Hoegh]

Cousin Ralphs' are a pain in the ass, even when they are not taking images.

Ralph by name and effect.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

You can become a Professional Photographers of America (PPA) Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) if you pay your dues and can pass a 25 question multiple guess exam like this.
...

Gaaa...

I see your point. That horrible test has as much to do with being a photographer as being able to read musical notation makes one a musician.

 

[removed account4]

the term 'real' implies and equates as being a full-time working pro to many

according to the narrow definition you posted about what some believe a real photographer is ( or isn't ),
most of the people who frequent this website don't make the cut ( including you ).
your profile page suggests you are not currently a full-time working, professional photographer, but a software engineer.
sorry to ask, but did you get a link to ralph's work?
can you provide a link to your website ( its not listed on your profile page or signature)?
i enjoy looking at the photography of people who post in the forums so i can see where they are coming from ( and it doesn't matter to me
if they are a real photographer or an unreal photographer ).
(unfortunately lots of people on photrio/and the inter web post commentary but have fake names and no visuals make it hard ... )
i've got work in the photrio gallery, and a few links in my signature that show
some of the photographs i have produced (both personal and for clients, and i can provide a CV if necessary)
so it really isn't hard to see where i am coming from.
nice cascade/falls in the gallery btw !

 

[BrianShaw]

How about this:
Real = competent.
Not real = incompetent.

Pleaseprovide the standard against which “competence” is assessed and the authoritative body who certified “competence”.

 

[bdial]

If some random person happens to see some other random person out and about holding a camera, the first person is likely to think that the second is a photographer.
And he would be correct.

 

[BrianShaw]

If some random person happens to see some other random person out and about holding a camera, the first person is likely to think that the second is a photographer.
And he would be correct.

... or a mobile phone.

 

[BrianVS]

How about any photographer that runs all of their images through a Fourier Transform and throws away all of the imaginary components.

I'd rather have some imagination than being labeled as a "real photographer" and being bound by whatever that means.

 

[gr82bart]

How about any photographer that runs all of their images through a Fourier Transform and throws away all of the imaginary components.

I'd rather have some imagination than being labeled as a "real photographer" and being bound by whatever that means.

+1

 

[Craig75]

according to the narrow definition you posted about what some believe a real photographer is ( or isn't ),
most of the people who frequent this website don't make the cut ( including you ).
your profile page suggests you are not currently a full-time working, professional photographer, but a software engineer.
sorry to ask, but did you get a link to ralph's work?
can you provide a link to your website ( its not listed on your profile page or signature)?
i enjoy looking at the photography of people who post in the forums so i can see where they are coming from ( and it doesn't matter to me
if they are a real photographer or an unreal photographer ).
(unfortunately lots of people on photrio/and the inter web post commentary but have fake names and no visuals make it hard ... )
i've got work in the photrio gallery, and a few links in my signature that show
some of the photographs i have produced (both personal and for clients, and i can provide a CV if necessary)
so it really isn't hard to see where i am coming from.
nice cascade/falls in the gallery btw !

if your mind was open you'd accept michael's point as view as entirely valid for him.

see.. anyone can play the open mind game.

dont be so judgey. you arent teacher

 

[removed account4]

if your mind was open you'd accept michael's point as view as entirely valid for him.

see.. anyone can play the open mind game.

dont be so judgey. you arent teacher

so someone isn't alllowed to ask where someone is coming from
when he makes a narrow definition of what a real photographer is,
professes to be a real photographer, and then his definition doesnt apply for him ?
that is why i wanted to see his work so i could see where he was coming from,

so because *I* want to learn more i am closed minded and judgy ? what a crock, sorry ...

 

[Craig75]

so someone isn't alllowed to ask where someone is coming from
when he makes a narrow definition of what a real photographer is,
professes to be a real photographer, and then his definition doesnt apply for him ?
that is why i wanted to see his work so i could see where he was coming from,

so because *I* want to learn more i am closed minded and judgy ? what a crock, sorry ...

i've just taught you a lesson and all you can say is "what a crock"

mind too closed

 

[removed account4]

it wasn't a lesson you taught me, it was a crock of nonsense. LOL
and you claim i have a closed mind because i wanted to know where someone is coming from
and look at their work, so i could have a better understanding of his perspective ...

dont be so judgey. you arent teacher

uh huh ...

 

[faberryman]

i've just taught you a lesson and all you can say is "what a crock"

And I thought you were just blathering on. Who knew?

 

[Craig75]

it wasn't a lesson you taught me, it was a crock of nonsense. LOL
and you claim i have a closed mind because i wanted to know where someone is coming from
and look at their work, so i could have a better understanding of his perspective ...



uh huh ...

Everything's a lesson with open mind,

See, open mind game is easy to play.

 

[Sirius Glass]

One does not need a webpage to be a real photographer. If that were so, then there were no real photographers until the late twentieth century and Ansel Adams was not a real photographer. There are many real photographers who do not post on the web because the do not want their work ripped off and cannot be bothered with watermarking.

 

[Helios 1984]

the term 'real' implies and equates as being a full-time working pro to many.

Vivian Maier was a full time nanny for 40 years, photography was her hobby and she never made a dime out of it. If she isn't real then who is?

 

[removed account4]

i know what you mean helios 1984
im guessing ( and i am probably wrong )
that there are exceptions to every rule
so the people who are dispensing the
name "real" infront of the word "photographer"
can pick and choose who is allowed to into the group
wo might not be a full time working professional ( or whatever
else might be required if not now at a later date ) photographer and called a real photographer.
they better use the right kinds of cameras, processes printing techniques
read the right magazines/blogs/websites be afflliated with the right organizations, score well on the quizes &c
i wonder if there is a secret ballot ...

 

[faberryman]

A secret ballot and a secret handshake.

 

[Patrick Robert James]

This thread has some weird replies.

I avoid the label of photographer so much that when people that I meet ask me what I do (and of course in the US that is the first f'n thing they ask as if your whole worth as a person is your profession) I just tell them "nothing interesting." I avoid using the word photographer at all costs. Everyone is a photographer these days with a camera in their pocket.

Am I a real photographer? Who cares.

Professional photography organizations are a total joke too. I've belonged to them and they mean absolutely nothing other than someone paid money to use their name. The ones that bestow titles that people add after their names are completely hilarious especially after you see the images those people produce.

I don't think it is a secret handshake, but a secret circle jerk!

 

[Craig75]

Jerry
I don’t have a definition but others do.

you are right eddie, the lomo thread prompted me to start this thread, and it is going exactly as i imagined ...
at least no one has suggested if someone doesn't use a specific brand of camera or technique
or format they aren't a "real photographer" yet ...

according to the narrow definition you posted

you are right eddie, the lomo thread prompted me to start this thread, and it is going exactly as i imagined ...
at least no one has suggested if someone doesn't use a specific brand of camera or technique
or format they aren't a "real photographer" yet ...

ah the old, i dont have a definition but can define someones else definition game. That game!

you did have a definition coming in and you already knew exactly how the debate would unfold but tried to justify it as "maybe a conversation with others will open closed minds ?" So you came into your thread with preconceptions of the rest of us and how we'd respond, passed judgement on honestly and openly given definitions, whilst claiming you didnt have one yourself but hoped it would all enlighten "closed minds". That's an ugly state of mind.

amateur level fishing trip. 2 stars.

 

[faberryman]

ah the old, i dont have a definition but can define someones else definition game. That game!

you did have a definition coming in and you already knew exactly how the debate would unfold but tried to justify it as "maybe a conversation with others will open closed minds ?" So you came into your thread with preconceptions of the rest of us and how we'd respond, passed judgement on honestly and openly given definitions, whilst claiming you didnt have one yourself but hoped it would all enlighten "closed minds". That's an ugly state of mind.

Merry Christmas to you too.