Key to be a good photographer?

[r_benavides]

Hi everybody!

What would you say is the key to be a good photographer?

I know is not something to that you can describe with a word..
But what is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think about it?

Thanks for your responses!!

 

[aphil]

A good eye and good equipment. You have to see beyond the surface to bring forth an amazing shot that will touch people's hearts. In order to deliver the shot, you need a good camera that is able to capture the shot in a professional manner.

 

[ohiotom76]

There's a thought that photography tends to fall into two categories, either a mirror of yourself or a window to the world. Whichever type you find yourself leaning towards, become more aware of it and embrace it.

 

[Clazzi]

The first thing I thought of is to have a good eye. You don't necessarily need the best equipment to take great photographs. There are some who think that the key to producing great photographs is to first buy the best equipment they can afford, even spending thousands on it. While their photographs look very crisp and clear - evident that they are using expensive equipment - they lack a solid understanding of the fundamentals like composition and lighting.

One thing to remember: a great photographer can make anyone beautiful.

 

[r_benavides]

A good eye and good equipment. You have to see beyond the surface to bring forth an amazing shot that will touch people's hearts. In order to deliver the shot, you need a good camera that is able to capture the shot in a professional manner.

Yeah! I know that the talent you may have is important... but the camera is a huge factor.!
There is a lot of cameras out there! It's kind of hard to decide for one. OR at least for one that fits your needs.

 

[r_benavides]

There's a thought that photography tends to fall into two categories, either a mirror of yourself or a window to the world. Whichever type you find yourself leaning towards, become more aware of it and embrace it.

I don't who had that thought... LOL But it was a pretty good one!
Thanks for the reply! Great add!

 

[r_benavides]

The first thing I thought of is to have a good eye. You don't necessarily need the best equipment to take great photographs. There are some who think that the key to producing great photographs is to first buy the best equipment they can afford, even spending thousands on it. While their photographs look very crisp and clear - evident that they are using expensive equipment - they lack a solid understanding of the fundamentals like composition and lighting.

One thing to remember: a great photographer can make anyone beautiful.

That's true! I'm always told my photos are very good.. (simple ones.. nothing major) and what I use is my cellphone.. Of course it has a pretty decent camera.. but still.. its a phone!

I'm not saying you can consider your self a photographer out 2 0 3 good pictures.. but for an amateur like me.. The equipment was not that important.

 

[Victor Leigh]

I would say a good photographer needs to able to see things in ways which other people don't. Also a lot of patience. I have seen some fantastic photographs and I can appreciate how much time it took for the photographer to get just the right shot.

 

[Sandra Piddock]

The best photographs are real works of art, and as stunning as any painting. While obviously the equipment has something to do with it, the photographer needs to see beyond what's in front of him. They say the camera never lies, but the best photographers can at least use their cameras in a way that makes it economical with the actuality.

 

[Jessi]

I know is not something to that you can describe with a word..
But what is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think about it?

Well if I wanted to describe it in a word, I would say "lighting." Lighting makes all the difference to a picture. I don't even mean necessarily the quality, but even the absence of light can completely change the mood of a photo.

 

[OmarFW]

You must capture what you want to express with a photo. If a photo doesn't express anything then it's a worthless one. Be original with your photography. Anyone can take a nice looking black and white photo of a rose and because of that everyone does. Do something that takes a lot of effort and emphasizes to people just by looking at it that it was difficult to take.

 

[r_benavides]

I would say a good photographer needs to able to see things in ways which other people don't. Also a lot of patience. I have seen some fantastic photographs and I can appreciate how much time it took for the photographer to get just the right shot.

Some people take this art for granted. Think its just "taking pictures". And it's so much more than that! I'm really trying to get all the tips and easy ways to learn.. so I can get good quality work. Im just a beginner but I'm %100 sure that it takes more than just a click to get a really great picture.

 

[r_benavides]

You must capture what you want to express with a photo. If a photo doesn't express anything then it's a worthless one. Be original with your photography. Anyone can take a nice looking black and white photo of a rose and because of that everyone does. Do something that takes a lot of effort and emphasizes to people just by looking at it that it was difficult to take.

That's a huge deal! I think all forms of art are essentially that: Ways to express your self or help others to do it. That's kinda of what I like about photography. How you can capture an image and express a million things. OF something that is already there! I would say its kinda of pointing something obvious.. but is not appreciated until you do it.!

 

[r_benavides]

Well if I wanted to describe it in a word, I would say "lighting." Lighting makes all the difference to a picture. I don't even mean necessarily the quality, but even the absence of light can completely change the mood of a photo.

Good point! Its something not to overlook..! I have take pictures of the same exact space with a different lighting and I totally get what you mean.! It changes the whole meaning of the picture.

Thanks for sharing!

 

[Victor Leigh]

Well if I wanted to describe it in a word, I would say "lighting." Lighting makes all the difference to a picture. I don't even mean necessarily the quality, but even the absence of light can completely change the mood of a photo.

Ah, you hit the nail right on the head there. What are photographs if they are not paintings made with light? No light, no photograph.

Just curious. Has anyone tried taking a light sculpture photograph? Like setting the aperture wide open and the speed to 0 in a place with 0 light, then using a light source, like a torch, to sculpture a picture out of this air to be captured on the film.

 

[Bloomatic]

The first thing I thought of is to have a good eye. You don't necessarily need the best equipment to take great photographs. There are some who think that the key to producing great photographs is to first buy the best equipment they can afford, even spending thousands on it. While their photographs look very crisp and clear - evident that they are using expensive equipment - they lack a solid understanding of the fundamentals like composition and lighting.

One thing to remember: a great photographer can make anyone beautiful.

I'm absolutely agree with this idea. In many cases, the talent for seeing the world through the eyes of photographer is innate and is with us, since we were small. In other cases, as with most people, is a capability that we have to train and develop over time. The sensitivity in capturing the images I think represent 60% of a good job. The rest is a good balance between technique, the equipment we use and the place, person or object that we photographed.

 

[r_benavides]

I'm absolutely agree with this idea. In many cases, the talent for seeing the world through the eyes of photographer is innate and is with us, since we were small. In other cases, as with most people, is a capability that we have to train and develop over time. The sensitivity in capturing the images I think represent 60% of a good job. The rest is a good balance between technique, the equipment we use and the place, person or object that we photographed.

Like any other talent im sure its something that you can develop over time. But I'm also sure that you need a lot effort and discipline. I mean.. you can't expect to have all this overnight. That would be just naive,

And I think you are right, its all about balance too.

Thanks for the comments!!

 

[Jessi]

Ah, you hit the nail right on the head there. What are photographs if they are not paintings made with light? No light, no photograph.

I've actually never heard it put that way. I may have to quote you on that....the bit about photographs being paintings made with light. Is that from somewhere else or how you view them?

 

[meryliz]

The word that comes to mind when describing a good photographer is genuine awareness.

Whether you're a photojournalist in a war-torn country, or you're a landscape photographer for the National Geographic, or you're a fashion photographer working for a mainstream magazine, you must be aware of your environment, of the industry's standards, of the client's needs and desires, and work accordingly.

It's also important to be aware of your own style, values and interests that would make your photos unique and reflective of you as a person and as an artist.

 

[Victor Leigh]

I've actually never heard it put that way. I may have to quote you on that....the bit about photographs being paintings made with light. Is that from somewhere else or how you view them?

No idea if that is an original statement.

What I do remember is that I came upon the idea when I was with a couple of friends on the beach one dark and stormy night. We were trying to capture the flashes of lightning out at sea.

Just for a change, we did some light sculpturing. What we did was set up the cameras with the apertures wide open set on long exposure times. Then we took a torch and stood in front of the cameras to draw something in the air with the light. That's how we ended up with photographs that were paintings made with light.

The result is something like this:

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