What makes a photographer?
This question, if asked of 100 people, would get answered in 100 different ways.
It is subjective in nature and open to interpretation. The changes in Photography in the past twenty years are huge. Technology has advanced exponentially, peoples views of the world around them are more open, and many more people have access to equipment that will take a pretty good photograph quite easily. The term "automagically" comes to mind (yes, this is actually a word according to Dictionary.com).
I benefited from the expertise and knowledge of several mentors as I learned photography. The "old school" as they say now. The basic techniques were learned through trial, error, and repetition. Success was appreciated because achieving it was difficult and time consuming. Patience was required and frustration was always lurking in the darkroom corners. The final product was something to be appreciated when done well.
Not so in today's world of instant gratification, full program exposure, autofocus, compositional grid-lines assisted, auto-upload, GPS embedded, auto print, digital wonders.
Please don't misunderstand this....I am not a photography traditionalist or a photo elitist. I embraced digital photography from its inception and enjoy every one of its many virtues! I just feel the basics are necessary to learn and full automation is a crutch in a learning environment. The ability to walk in to any situation and calculate the exposure necessary to shoot a photograph demonstrates knowledge and skill.
Just because you can run out to Best Buy, Ritz Camera, or one of the on-line photo warehouses and purchase a great camera does not make you a photographer. Using a single technique very well does not make you a photographer. Having the largest camera bag with the most equipment does not make you a photographer. A photographer is a person that possesses a working knowledge of camera handling, exposure, composition, and vision, and is able to create an image that communicates.
I feel sure there are many who will disagree with me and that's fine. My experience tells me those people with an active real interest in photography, although they started like so many with the fully automated do-it-all camera, will seek out this knowledge and learn in order to become better photographers.
There are many like me who are more than willing to share this knowledge and these skills with anyone willing to listen.The mentors I had were all great people willing to share of their time, knowledge and friendship. My very special thanks to Boris Bauer, Jim Silliman, Barbara Bishop,and "Fritz". You shared with me and asked that I carry on the tradition. I have, I am, and I will continue to do so.
Keep shooting!
