Internet Experts: Who to listen to?

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texchappy

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Since I've been down for the count lately (back), I've been reading photography blogs and watching vlogs. I've read some Zack Arias blogs and watched Jared Polin (Froknowsphoto.com), Matt Granger (That Nikon Guy), and Digital Rev Tv (Top Gear with cameras).

I know there is a wide variety of 'expertise' shall we say out there. There's some that needs to be taken with a grain of salt (Ken Rockwell).

So IYHO, who gives solid photography insight and who is best avoided?

TIA,
Tony
 
The internet is great if you already know the answer, and can therefore judge whether the information is any good.

But what do you what to know? There's quite a lot of good information on my own site, for example.

Cheers,

R.
 
texchappy said:
So IYHO, who gives solid photography insight and who is best avoided?
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I haven't heard of half the blogs you mention but for the few that I have heard of I can say that none of them gives any kind of photography insight whatsoever. They all seem to be about camera gear. There's nothing wrong with that and I like to read about gear and technical stuff as much as the next guy but I would hardly label that as 'solid photography insight'.

I find www.americansuburbx.com to give a very good collection of all sorts of different photography insights. Lots of Galleries, Interviews and Essays about great photographers. As I said, it's a collection of information, not a blog.
 
C.Hudson said:
Would one have to know the answer first to judge if your information is any good?
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To some extent, yes. But equally, with over 40 books published and countless magazine articles, I've a better track record than most.

From http://www.rogerandfrances.com/subscription/ps ignore gurus.html, on gurus and why to avoid them:

Photography sometimes attracts people with a very high opinion of their own expertise, and a predilection for bossing others about. Listen to some of them, and you will be amazed that silver halide photography ever succeeded at all, given that it is so difficult, complicated, and expensive.

and

From time to time, you will find that your work takes a real leap forward. Sometimes this is because you suddenly understand something you didn't understand before. Other times, there may seem to be no reason at all: just an unexpected blessing from the gods of photography.

It is these leaps that can give rise to guru-worship. Either you work something out for yourself, or you try something that someone else has recommended, and it works so well that there is little sense in trying anything else. You therefore decide that you have found the One True Path, and either set yourself up as a guru teaching that path, or sing the praises of the guru who taught you.

and

Never trust anyone whose vocabulary does not include the phrase, "I could be wrong":

Cheers,

R.
 
There is good advice out there, but the same people will also spout BS.

I actually have some time for Ken Rockwell, he's probably the most popular photo blogger out there, and he's always got a good word for film. He's very fond of his own opinions, but he's taking some pretty nice landscape pictures too. Read some of it, but discard what does not make sense to you, and he's quite a good read.

Steve Huff is good if you're interested in mirrorless cameras, and he is very enthusiastic in general. Seems like a nice guy too.

Roger Hicks' website is good, particularly if you're interested in travel.
 
I read all the popular photo guys sites for enjoyment, but I don't base any of my own opinions on theirs or their information. Only way to find out what works and what doesn't is to do it yourself.

Otherwise, I take advice from guys like like John Sypal from 'tokyocamerastyle' or Severin Koller much more seriously - if someones giving advice they should be an extremely good photographer, IMO. None of the popular ones are any more than amateurs with an big interest in gear. Not that there's anything really wrong with that.
 
The internet has a lot of signal and a lot of noise. As you gain experience you will be able to filter out much of the noise.

Just don't pay for content from sources who do not have editors or any other sort of peer review. There's a reason why professional journalists don't publish in a vacuum.

I believe Roger Hick's site is valuable.

The Luminous Landscape has many contributors who are knowledgable and reasonably unbiased. Many understand the principles of digital imaging technology. DPREVIEW's staff writers are well informed. Some people don't trust them though. I do. I also like Erwin Puts but he's rather specialized. The Online Photogrpaher is often entertaining and diverse. I rarely find their technical discussions and equiptment evolutions to be useful... But that's probably my problem, not theirs. Ken Rockwell must generate page views to earn a living. This means he will often sacrifice quality and coherence to generate controversy.

I
 
Roger Hicks said:
To some extent, yes. But equally, with over 40 books published and countless magazine articles, I've a better track record than most.

From http://www.rogerandfrances.com/subscription/ps ignore gurus.html, on gurus and why to avoid them:

Photography sometimes attracts people with a very high opinion of their own expertise, and a predilection for bossing others about. Listen to some of them, and you will be amazed that silver halide photography ever succeeded at all, given that it is so difficult, complicated, and expensive.

and

From time to time, you will find that your work takes a real leap forward. Sometimes this is because you suddenly understand something you didn't understand before. Other times, there may seem to be no reason at all: just an unexpected blessing from the gods of photography.

It is these leaps that can give rise to guru-worship. Either you work something out for yourself, or you try something that someone else has recommended, and it works so well that there is little sense in trying anything else. You therefore decide that you have found the One True Path, and either set yourself up as a guru teaching that path, or sing the praises of the guru who taught you.

and

Never trust anyone whose vocabulary does not include the phrase, "I could be wrong":

Cheers,

R.
Click to expand...

The only Internet advice you will ever need.
 
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