Great pictures?!?!

Okay, let's try this one...

What makes great pictures, Camera, or the Photographer??

The answer might be obvious, but with the new technologies, i.e. Digital Cameras, and photoshop are constantly improving..which might win out over us .. poor starving Photographers..

Live well my friends..

0 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Sarika Jain on December 23, 2009 at 11:34pm

ya camera and photographer together is must for this.
fine art digital photography

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Lori Aull on December 27, 2009 at 10:01pm

I feel that today's photographer needs to know software basics. Many fight this... I'm not sure why. In reality it has given us new mediums and media. We once had a button ... now we have a brush. If we don't take the time to embrace this then the new kids on the block {who've only known the brush} will cut new ground while we're taking senior portraits.

I've taken shots for about 14 years... and the last six has offered me the ability to be an artist. You'd think almost all photographers would be thrilled. I am.

btw; Blessings Back Howard.....

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Lori Aull on December 28, 2009 at 8:38pm

p.s. I have to add here; It's never the camera. In that I disagree with most of the comments in here. My neice loves her family I gave her a okay camera... at times she's taken better shots than I - because she adored her subject. At the end of the day it's all about what you love.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by nathan mccreery on December 29, 2009 at 12:06pm

What you are saying is so true. If you photograph things that you are interested in or love, and have engagement with, the chances are much better that you will get nice photographs. Of course, the other side of the coin is that you must have knowledge of the photographic process to make it work. I am not a proponent of the notion that better equipment will make better photographs. Annnnnnd, a person needs to become a student of art and the creative process. Otherwise, the occasional great photograph that occurs is a random event and not the result of purposeful preparation and planning. "Chance favors the prepared!" It is always the love, passion and knowledge of the photographer that results in great images

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Lori Aull on December 29, 2009 at 9:26pm

Nathan, your absolutely correct. 100% You'll learn more by studying art then buying more expensive equipment. ;o) JMHO.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Bill Dobbs on December 27, 2009 at 10:25pm

I would agree that some types of photographs cannot be taken by certain cameras. To exagerate for effect, consider the pinhole camera: it does not have the resolving power to capture fine detail so using a pinhole camera for shooting hoar frost would be a lesson in futility. On the other hand, pinhole photography is experiencing a resurgance because its look is hard to replicate using modern equipment and software. I still use conventional B&W film and darkroom because clients still want the look it produces, although most of my work is now digital camera and computer.

However, the equipment side of the discussion can only be taken so far (about 1/10 of the way in my opinion) because the fundamental aspect of good photography is creativity and the next is craft (or technical skill); both of which reside entirely with the photographer. I bristle at the mention of "you have a xyz brand camera so you must be a good photographer".

So to answer the question in brief, I feel a good photograph, depending on the desired result, is a result of 90% photographer, 10% correct application of equipment.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by J Golden on March 28, 2010 at 2:31am

i think its the photographer also, there is an image hanging in the smithsonian shot with a holga, they cost around 20 bucks and believe me they have a mind thats all there own.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ed Harp on March 28, 2010 at 8:14pm

A camera never made a great picture. I've had great pictures with a point and shoot. I judge many photo contests and surprisingly one particular contest was won taken with a film point and shoot camera. Equipment allows us to do somethings easier.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Chris Reynolds on March 29, 2010 at 5:48pm

my friend took an amazing sunset.. outstanding.. printed to an 8x10.. came out gorgeous.. this was taken on her cell phone at 5mpix.. see the point? :)