boojum
Ignoble Miscreant
I own some cameras.
Are YOU a photographer?
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Archiver
Veteran
Earlier, I said that I feel that the title of photographer is something that I constantly strive to earn through reliably producing desired results, and this didn't really happen until around 2011-2012. But before that, I was already on a photographic odyssey which took me through Melbourne, interstate and overseas. In 2009, I went on the road trip of a lifetime with my 5D Mark II, three months driving around Australia. Along the way, there were many stops for photography, and I was able to capture this at a lake somewhere in Queensland. I wish I had made a note of the location.
5D II - Memories of Journeys Past by Archiver, on Flickr
Canon 5D Mark II
Canon EF 24-105mm f4 L
In 2010, I acquired my Leica M9, which sent me on another leg of the odyssey, but I was still rocking the 5D Mark II. This was taken at Moora Moora Reservoir in Halls Gap, a country town about three and a half hours northwest of Melbourne. I took many such images on that trip, which began to show me that I could, in fact, do this.
70-200L - Moora Moora Reservoir by Archiver, on Flickr
Canon 5D Mark II
Canon EF 70-200mm f4 IS L
By 2014, I had done a lot of work, learning techniques like exposure fusion for things like real estate photography. This was taken at the high end restaurant Vue De Monde, on the 55th floor of the famous Rialto building in Melbourne. By this time, such an image was quite routine for me.
5D II - A Restaurant with a Vue II by Archiver, on Flickr
Canon 5D Mark II
Canon EF 16-35mm f2.8 II L
5D II - Memories of Journeys Past by Archiver, on FlickrCanon 5D Mark II
Canon EF 24-105mm f4 L
In 2010, I acquired my Leica M9, which sent me on another leg of the odyssey, but I was still rocking the 5D Mark II. This was taken at Moora Moora Reservoir in Halls Gap, a country town about three and a half hours northwest of Melbourne. I took many such images on that trip, which began to show me that I could, in fact, do this.
70-200L - Moora Moora Reservoir by Archiver, on FlickrCanon 5D Mark II
Canon EF 70-200mm f4 IS L
By 2014, I had done a lot of work, learning techniques like exposure fusion for things like real estate photography. This was taken at the high end restaurant Vue De Monde, on the 55th floor of the famous Rialto building in Melbourne. By this time, such an image was quite routine for me.
5D II - A Restaurant with a Vue II by Archiver, on FlickrCanon 5D Mark II
Canon EF 16-35mm f2.8 II L
bulevardi
Well-known
Well... everyone with a phone takes pictures.
So almost everyone is a photographer. ;-)
Everyone with a phone also types messages, so a lot of people are writers. ;-)
Richard G
Veteran
That Vue de Monde shot reminds me of Eggleston’s jet lounge shot.Earlier, I said that I feel that the title of photographer is something that I constantly strive to earn through reliably producing desired results, and this didn't really happen until around 2011-2012. But before that, I was already on a photographic odyssey which took me through Melbourne, interstate and overseas. In 2009, I went on the road trip of a lifetime with my 5D Mark II, three months driving around Australia. Along the way, there were many stops for photography, and I was able to capture this at a lake somewhere in Queensland. I wish I had made a note of the location.
Canon 5D Mark II
Canon EF 24-105mm f4 L
In 2010, I acquired my Leica M9, which sent me on another leg of the odyssey, but I was still rocking the 5D Mark II. This was taken at Moora Moora Reservoir in Halls Gap, a country town about three and a half hours northwest of Melbourne. I took many such images on that trip, which began to show me that I could, in fact, do this.
Canon 5D Mark II
Canon EF 70-200mm f4 IS L
By 2014, I had done a lot of work, learning techniques like exposure fusion for things like real estate photography. This was taken at the high end restaurant Vue De Monde, on the 55th floor of the famous Rialto building in Melbourne. By this time, such an image was quite routine for me.
Canon 5D Mark II
Canon EF 16-35mm f2.8 II L
purgum923
Member
I wouldn’t call myself a photographer, at least not yet. I dabbled with 35mm film when I was younger, but never really continued with it. I recently picked up a camera again and started shooting, learning the basics along the way. It’s changed how I see things now. Composition, light, and shadows stand out in ways they didn’t before. I’m less focused on making something look pretty and more interested in telling a story through the image. Photography is just a hobby for me, not something I do for a living, but it’s become a creative outlet I had forgotten about over the years and am glad to have rediscovered.
Erik van Straten
Veteran
This one is from 1973.
I already felt that I was a photographer at the age of 4, so in 1958. I still remember that feeling.
This is the first photo I took I really liked. I like this one still.
Nikkormat Ftn, Nikkor H Auto 50mm f2, Utrecht.
I already felt that I was a photographer at the age of 4, so in 1958. I still remember that feeling.
This is the first photo I took I really liked. I like this one still.
Nikkormat Ftn, Nikkor H Auto 50mm f2, Utrecht.
Bill Clark
Veteran
Yes.
Made photographs at important events.
Made photographs at important events.
Rayt
Nonplayer Character
Just a hobbyist. To call myself a photographer would be an insult to photographers.
Rick Waldroup
Well-known
I fancy myself as a great snapshot shooter, I think... 🙂
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boojum
Ignoble Miscreant
For this to have even a shred of meaning we need agree on the definition of photographer. Until then we are all describing something different. Not at all unlike Kipling's story of the six blind men and the elephant.
But don't let that stop you or even slow you down. ;o)
But don't let that stop you or even slow you down. ;o)
Bolo Kukus
Well-known
To me, the only sensible answer to this is I own (too) many film and digital cameras and two mobile phones with built-in cameras, and I (sort of) use them all at one time or another.
Therefore, yes, I am a photographer.
At other times I feel more that the images I produce label me more a snapshooter, which is well and good .
Therefore, yes, at such times I am a snapshooter.
But then a snapshooter, like a mobile phone shooter, is still a photographer. So where does that take us, and leave us?
Never mind. The weather in the Promo Valley in East Java (Indonesia) where I am now is nothing short of superb. Cooler than most places in Australia, and no bush fires turning the lush tropical forests around me into mounds of exotic charcoal.
I fancy a long walk, so now I'll forget about all this overthinking, and go out, take photos - and be a photographer.
Just for the fun of it, I intend to take at least six volcano views with my IPhone...
PS Again, excellent phots in this thread. I especially like the early image by Erik Van Straten (#65).
Therefore, yes, I am a photographer.
At other times I feel more that the images I produce label me more a snapshooter, which is well and good .
Therefore, yes, at such times I am a snapshooter.
But then a snapshooter, like a mobile phone shooter, is still a photographer. So where does that take us, and leave us?
Never mind. The weather in the Promo Valley in East Java (Indonesia) where I am now is nothing short of superb. Cooler than most places in Australia, and no bush fires turning the lush tropical forests around me into mounds of exotic charcoal.
I fancy a long walk, so now I'll forget about all this overthinking, and go out, take photos - and be a photographer.
Just for the fun of it, I intend to take at least six volcano views with my IPhone...
PS Again, excellent phots in this thread. I especially like the early image by Erik Van Straten (#65).
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Archiver
Veteran
Three blind men met an elephant. One touched its tail and proclaimed that elephants are thin and stringy. The second blind man touched its side, and said that elephants are vast and like a wall. The third touched its trunk, and concluded that they were both wrong, elephants are prehensile and muscular.
Three blind elephants met a man. The first elephant felt the man and said, 'men are flat'. The other two blind elephants felt the man, and agreed.
😉
boojum
Ignoble Miscreant
Yokosuka Mike
Abstract Clarity
I have a photo keeper rate of 100%, sometimes even higher!
Therefore not only am I a photographer, I’m a damn good one too! 😉
All the best,
Mike
Therefore not only am I a photographer, I’m a damn good one too! 😉
All the best,
Mike
Shadams
Member
All good here.
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Richard G
Veteran
Wonderful colours. Reminds me of Ernst Haas. Great shots. You qualify.
Rangefinder M-P
Rangefinder M-P
I've hacked around with cameras since '61 or '62 and, once in a while, I take a decent photo:
This is Vincent van Gogh's chair. Just goes to show that even a blind hog occasionally finds an acorn.
Mike
This is Vincent van Gogh's chair. Just goes to show that even a blind hog occasionally finds an acorn.
Mike
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Bolo Kukus
Well-known
Welcome to the club. Membership is vast and not at all exclusive, in fact quite the opposite, entirely inclusive. The world is our f/stop!!
PS (changing topics again) In my previous post, I wrote (rather my laptop wrote) Promo Valley in East Java. I meant Bromo Valley. Obviously, my MacBook has a mind of its own.
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Dogman
Veteran
Vince Lupo
Whatever
I’ve been reading and re-reading this thread and wondered how I’d respond. I can’t really point to a particular photo that caused me to say to myself ‘yes I am a photographer’, though I do have a number of photos that I’d consider touchstones/milestones throughout my almost fifty years of taking photos.
Am I a photographer? Well I did it as a full-time profession for twenty-eight years and went to school for six years for it etc, so I guess I was one during that time (at least as a ‘what do you do for a living’ response). Nowadays? Well some days I take pictures and some days I don’t, so I dunno. I guess when I’m in the moment of doing it then I suppose the answer is yes, and when I’m not doing it (which is likely more than when I am taking photos) I’m just a regular person. At this point I don’t feel the need to prove to anyone or even myself that I am one. When I think of it we pretty much all carry cameras around with us in our pockets daily without even realizing it, so can we then all claim the ‘mantle’ of being a photographer?
A propos of nothing, I recently went to the National Art Gallery in Ottawa, Ontario and saw two exhibitions there (both of which are still on). One was a photo exhibit about the camera and the street, then other was primarily a painting exhibition that had to do with winter/snow. Despite the fact that I recognized a number of the images in the photo exhibition (a few of which were by former teachers of mine), I seemed to identify more with and feel more inspired by the painting exhibit. I’m thinking of even going back to Ottawa before the painting show closes in March to spend more time with it. The photo exhibit, mmm probably not. Don’t know if that has anything to do with the question at hand, but it’s just something I considered with regards to where I’d fall in the answer.
Am I a photographer? Well I did it as a full-time profession for twenty-eight years and went to school for six years for it etc, so I guess I was one during that time (at least as a ‘what do you do for a living’ response). Nowadays? Well some days I take pictures and some days I don’t, so I dunno. I guess when I’m in the moment of doing it then I suppose the answer is yes, and when I’m not doing it (which is likely more than when I am taking photos) I’m just a regular person. At this point I don’t feel the need to prove to anyone or even myself that I am one. When I think of it we pretty much all carry cameras around with us in our pockets daily without even realizing it, so can we then all claim the ‘mantle’ of being a photographer?
A propos of nothing, I recently went to the National Art Gallery in Ottawa, Ontario and saw two exhibitions there (both of which are still on). One was a photo exhibit about the camera and the street, then other was primarily a painting exhibition that had to do with winter/snow. Despite the fact that I recognized a number of the images in the photo exhibition (a few of which were by former teachers of mine), I seemed to identify more with and feel more inspired by the painting exhibit. I’m thinking of even going back to Ottawa before the painting show closes in March to spend more time with it. The photo exhibit, mmm probably not. Don’t know if that has anything to do with the question at hand, but it’s just something I considered with regards to where I’d fall in the answer.
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