all.growns.up

yumwatch:

I find this conversation particularly germane to my situation because a) I am not a pro photographer, and yet b) I write for a blog in which c) I am occasionally called upon to “get a consumer camera and tote it around to a couple of shows and zoom in on some shots of some dude on a stage, post it on a blog, and call themselves a pro”.

So what am I to do? Not get a camera? Not go to shows? Not experiment, learn from other people, post shit on the blog I write for?

I know the difference. I have friends who are *serious* photographers, and I am NOT them. AND I have friends who are also not *serious* photographers, and yet still have a better eye than I do. I know I’m not that. But can’t I try? Can’t I learn? Can’t I aspire?

Ok, so I’m old, I’m pursuing a different vocation, I’m poor. I’m never going to be mareen or mitch or whomever. I’m going to get my economical DSLR and I probably won’t use it to its potential. I’ll take a lot of crappy pictures of bands at shows and post them and say “LOOK WORLD I AM COOL!!!” I get that.

But I also genuinely enjoy photography. It’s something my dad was passionate about, and he shared that passion with me. I was a photographer for our little yearbook in high school, and it turned out to be an important part of my self-identity as a teenager. (And the more I look back, the more I realize what a badass I was when I was a teenager, but that’s another story.)

So what if I’ll never be a “pro”? I’m looking forward to pursuing photography as a hobby, and as an important skillset that will serve me well in my career.

So what to do with me? Is this okay???

I’m about to give up because It seems that no one is getting it (and also that no one has comments on their tumblrs, sorry for all the re-blogging on my end). Buy a cheap camera, Go to shows, take photos, post them on 1,000 blogs and know in your heart of hearts that you are probably better than most of your “serious” photographer friends (although serious or not, are they professional, IE do they make a living from their photos?), all I ask is that you don’t go around calling yourself a professional. You’re a photographer, great!! Hooray! Photography is accessable to everyone and it is awesome! Yes!

What I don’t think any of you who are angry at me are getting is that I am the same as you. I own a bunch of various cameras, I blog about it - I’ve even been published in real actual books - I am not hating on you, WE ARE THE SAME. But I don’t call myself a professional, and you probably don’t either. No harm, no foul. This is specifically aimed at people who call themselves professional photographers but who aren’t any more professional at photography than I am at bathing. So before anyone else reblogs and starts being pissy, ask yourself “DO I CALL MYSELF A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAHER” That is all, people.

allgrownsup:

I think doing things digitally has made certain types of “art” generally easier and more accessible. Namely, photography. Bad lighting, bad framing, and a plethora of other rookie mistakes can now be caught on the spot thanks to the digital viewfinder and later corrected thanks to Photoshop.

While I’m happy that this new digital renaissance has opened up the door to many talented people who were maybe too intimidated to try to learn about apertures and f-stops and darkrooms and everything else back when things were on film and a single mistake cost $10 and an hour of your time in a red tinted room, I would like to say that buying a Canon Digital Rebel for $250 at Best Buy does not a professional photographer make.

Seriously. It reminds me of the time I asked that guy at the party wearing the Maiden shirt which album was his favorite and he didn’t know what I was talking about. Don’t be one of those people.

thegreatradsby:

This kind of rant makes me mad…It reminds me of a “ahh man, i liked that band way before they were famous” argument. Oh yeah….digital media is way different then working with film. So what. Maybe it is easier for some people, and not  for others. Even if it is who cares. It is inspiring a ton of people to be creative that would have never had the chance before. Who cares if there work may suck. I’m sure it makes them happy and maybe other people too. If you ask me the more creative people the better. It will just inspire more and more people. I’m a guy that makes a living working with digital media. and if it weren’t for digital imaging, i don’t know what i would be doing. But because I have had success and a lot of fun working with digital, i have slowly started going to film when i have the time/ money. Digital is just another way to make art. Just embrace the art and enjoy what you see. There is a lot of really cool stuff to find.

p.s. I’m not trying to start an online argument…or single out allgrownsup, I have just heard this before and thought id throw in my two cents.

Allgrownsup: Ok, I agree it’s inspiring and I also agree I’m super excited that the digital medium had made things more accessable and readily available for everyone (oh wait - didn’t I say that in my original post?). The only single thing I ask is that people don’t get a consumer camera and tote it around to a couple of shows and zoom in on some shots of some dude on a stage, post it on a blog, and call themselves a pro. THAT IS ALL. Not trying to open a big can of worms here, people - it’s simple: Cameras for everyone! Cameras abound! Just don’t call yourself a professional unless you are. And I say this as someone who is NOT a professional. If it doesn’t put food on your table, just call it a really fun hobby. If it buys you a steak dinner now and again, call it a fucking great hobby - but still, a hobby.

On flickr there are people who have posted entire amazing gorgeous pools of old family photos (The Secret Lives of Our Parents is my favorite so far). But most notably, this person has posted a set of his mother’s old photos from the 40s and 50s, each with it’s own fascinating story (as told by her) containing every intricate detail to accompany the photo.

My favorite photo by far, taken by his father in 1949 (tumblr users, this family photo is SO worth clicking through to see):

And my favorite excerpt from the whole book-worthy bunch, which is from another photo:

“In the hotel room on our wedding night Jerry suggested I bathe first. Avoiding his eyes, I took a few things from a small suitcase into the bathroom: nightgown, toothbrush, and little round plastic box from Dotty’s doctor.

What a long day; it felt like it had been two or three. The shower was refreshing and good. I donned the nightgown Dotty gave me at a wedding shower. The delicate tea-rose rayon fell to the floor, skimming the body lightly, bias cut following all of the curves and hollows, wide lace panels defining upper areas. It was chaste but alluring I decided, viewing a mirrored image. Then panic struck.

How would I get from bathroom to bed?

I fidgeted there in the bathroom, trying to figure this out. I wasn’t used to parading around in front of men in a nightgown. Suddenly in great relief I noticed my blue satin raincoat hung on the inside of the bathroom door, and put it on over my nightgown. I crept out to the bed shyly and quickly slipped under the sheets, raincoat and all. Jerry smiled slightly and went into the bathroom himself.

The first big hurdle in married life had been met and resolved. I shed the raincoat while Jerry showered; soon he joined me under the sheets. Appropriate events ensued.”