I was around cameras all my life, but I only when I bought my first dslr, I started to actually think about how each setting would influence the photo, and I eventually had lots of fun playing around with different settings, motives and eventually photography became an hobby of mine.
What I am trying to say: hobbyists may not need “good” gear, but they still need the “right” gear, i.e. gear that makes the hobby enjoyable.
Well, camera phones equipment determines photo quality. Typically that’s the only exposure to photography so I understand why they are asking these questions .
I think sometimes it’s just having something to talk about, some way to engage and be interested/friendly. I can’t really say, “wow, nice photo, you must have hit that focal length just right,” if I think that means you kept a distance from your subject the length of a Ford Focus.
Ya, I understand that. I sorta blame the camera phone. Back in the 90s, before digital cameras came out, I never got the equipment question. Comments were closer to what pencils artists were getting. "How long did you practice to get this good? Did you take classes or you just read books to learn how to draw? "
But as camera phones became more filtered and more “creative”, the more people associated better photos with better cameras.
My mother has been using the same camera since the 90s and has only rellaced equipment if it was really unfixably broken. She did photography as her only source of income up until pretty recently and still does it as a hobby. Going on shoots with her quickly made me realize that the quality of an artistic piece doesnt directly correlate with the price and newness of their equipment at a pretty young age. She complained a lot about talking to other photographers at classes/conventions and being forced to listen to some dudebro talk about the specs of their equipment and how expensive it was as well as feeling constantly advertised to. Its interesting how prevelent this is in even non tech focused artistic pursuits. I wonder if this is a direct result of capitalisms influence on art or if some artists would still blame their short comings on material failure even without the profit motive encouraging that narrative.
I wouldn’t call myself a photographer at all, not even amateur, but I also had someone once comment that I “must have a very expensive camera” in response to a lucky shot I got once of a horizontal lightning bolt in the sky.
they really do don’t they. I’ve never had anybody ask me how I got that framing to look nice or why I chose this lens over the other to shoot, it’s always “what camera do you have”, well my friend I have an intro to photography camera called Canon 90D, now pls stfu about the gear I’m using,
I think it’s when camera phones started to get more creative that is when I noticed the equipment question.
Back in the 90s I was shooting film and never got the equipment question. It’s always wow, what technique did you do to get this shot? Or what are simple things I can do to make my shots look like that?
Amateur/hobbiest photographer here.
What boils me is when people who sees my picture and say “Wow! Nice photo, you must have an expensive camera”.
It’s never your years of shooting or your passion to the craft. It’s always down to " What camera is that from".
I also shoot 35mm film as well. Even then, people only care about the camera.
It’s not ridiculous for a non hobbyist to assume you need “good” gear to get good results. They are literally ignorant.
Also, good gear helps. But if you don’t know what you’re doing, then the best gear won’t do you much good.
I was around cameras all my life, but I only when I bought my first dslr, I started to actually think about how each setting would influence the photo, and I eventually had lots of fun playing around with different settings, motives and eventually photography became an hobby of mine.
What I am trying to say: hobbyists may not need “good” gear, but they still need the “right” gear, i.e. gear that makes the hobby enjoyable.
Well, camera phones equipment determines photo quality. Typically that’s the only exposure to photography so I understand why they are asking these questions .
I think sometimes it’s just having something to talk about, some way to engage and be interested/friendly. I can’t really say, “wow, nice photo, you must have hit that focal length just right,” if I think that means you kept a distance from your subject the length of a Ford Focus.
Ya, I understand that. I sorta blame the camera phone. Back in the 90s, before digital cameras came out, I never got the equipment question. Comments were closer to what pencils artists were getting. "How long did you practice to get this good? Did you take classes or you just read books to learn how to draw? "
But as camera phones became more filtered and more “creative”, the more people associated better photos with better cameras.
My mother has been using the same camera since the 90s and has only rellaced equipment if it was really unfixably broken. She did photography as her only source of income up until pretty recently and still does it as a hobby. Going on shoots with her quickly made me realize that the quality of an artistic piece doesnt directly correlate with the price and newness of their equipment at a pretty young age. She complained a lot about talking to other photographers at classes/conventions and being forced to listen to some dudebro talk about the specs of their equipment and how expensive it was as well as feeling constantly advertised to. Its interesting how prevelent this is in even non tech focused artistic pursuits. I wonder if this is a direct result of capitalisms influence on art or if some artists would still blame their short comings on material failure even without the profit motive encouraging that narrative.
I used to used Facebook groups for photography and there are 2 types of people. Artists and Equipmentist.
One talked about how to use lighting and the other talked about the lumen output for a certain speed light.
Mostly tech bros. They are always the ones suggesting hiring “models” for photoshoots.
You press a button. Relax, chief
Super easy.
Barely an inconvenience
I wouldn’t call myself a photographer at all, not even amateur, but I also had someone once comment that I “must have a very expensive camera” in response to a lucky shot I got once of a horizontal lightning bolt in the sky.
The camera was a Sony Cybershot T-200.
they really do don’t they. I’ve never had anybody ask me how I got that framing to look nice or why I chose this lens over the other to shoot, it’s always “what camera do you have”, well my friend I have an intro to photography camera called Canon 90D, now pls stfu about the gear I’m using,
I think it’s when camera phones started to get more creative that is when I noticed the equipment question.
Back in the 90s I was shooting film and never got the equipment question. It’s always wow, what technique did you do to get this shot? Or what are simple things I can do to make my shots look like that?
Nikon or Canon?
Minolta.
Just take some good photos with a crappy disposable.
I can’t remember what year it was, but the Canadian armed forces had a photo contest and the winning shot was literally from a disposable camera.
Give me a kids camera and golden hour and I’ll get you some bangers.
“These are great but… Why is Hulk Hogan in every shot?”
Screw Hugan. Randy Johnson is the real American hero.
luckily, as an actor, the only thing I need for my craft is my body, my voice, and rich parents.