Talent vs Skills — where’s the magic coming from?

[bulevardi]

Ever notice how, after putting hours into a photo — planning, buying gear, traveling, shooting, editing, tweaking every pixel — someone says, “Wow, you’re so talented!”
And somehow, it doesn’t really feel like a compliment?
It’s like all that effort, all those years of trial and error, just got taken for granted.
Because “talent” sounds like magic dust you were born with — not something you built.

But here’s the thing: if someone’s truly born with talent, why would they even need praise? You don’t compliment a bird for flying, right?

I’ve always felt it’s more of a combo — a spark of talent maybe, but a mountain of skill, patience, and persistence that actually makes the work happen.

And funny enough, that’s also where imposter syndrome sneaks in for many. You know that little voice whispering, “You’re not really talented, you just got lucky”? Yeah, that one.
But... as with photography in general — everyone can point their phone at a sunrise and get a decent shot. The magic is already happening in front of you.
If you hear someone say: “Woah! How did you do that?”... and you feel you didn’t do anything at all, it’s the nature in front of the lens that did all the work, you just pressed a button on a phone.

Ok yeah, sometimes, turning that into something that actually moves people? That takes vision, timing, editing, technical skill, and a bit of your own soul poured in.
Maybe the truth is that talent gives you a starting line — but skill, sweat, and stubbornness get you to the finish.

Curious how you all see it. When someone calls your work “talented,” does it feel flattering or kinda dismissive?

 

[Cascadilla]

Being called talented is better than the frequent comment of "great photo, you must have a great camera!" You're right that much of what people think of as talent is actually hard work and time sent learning your craft. I have learned over the years to accept people's praise as well meaning if poorly expressed at times, in the rare moments when I get it.

 

[Luke_Miller]

...... in the rare moments when I get it.

Rare moments indeed. But my enjoyment of photography is self generated, so external praise, while appreciated, is unnecessary. I don't consider myself a great photographer rather a competent one. If I have any real talent it is in culling my shots, so only good ones see the light of day.

 

[Jonathan R]

Being called talented is better than the frequent comment of "great photo, you must have a great camera!"

This is my collection:
“So is this a hobby of yours, then?”
“What a pity you don’t do colour”
“Reminds me of the pictures they used to make in the 1960s/70s/last century/ages ago”
“Why did you take that one?”
“Who is that man?”
“You are still using film!”
“My uncle used to do this kind of thing. He’s dead now, of course.”

 

[Yokosuka Mike]

When I look at a photograph I usually think about the degree of difficulty that went into making it. The amount of effort that was required to be where he/she was to be at that spot at that time with that gear to release the shutter and capture the image. I also think about the photographer’s vision and creativity. How did the photographer see the extraordinary in the ordinary? Lastly, I think talent and skill is good, creativity is great, and being lucky is wonderful.

All the best,
Mike

 

[Vince Lupo]

Them: “Wow that’s an expensive-looking camera. You must be a great photographer!”

Me: “All it shows is that I know how to spend a lot of money. That I am great at!”

 

[bulevardi]

This is my collection:
“So is this a hobby of yours, then?”
“What a pity you don’t do colour”
“Reminds me of the pictures they used to make in the 1960s/70s/last century/ages ago”
“Why did you take that one?”
“Who is that man?”
“You are still using film!”
“My uncle used to do this kind of thing. He’s dead now, of course.”

"Nice photos, you should do something with it..."

eh, that IS what I'm doing...

 

[Jonathan R]

The dialogue I would really like to have would go like this.
Them: “Why are you showing me this?”
Me: “That’s for you to figure out. But if you aren’t interested, just let it go.”

 

[pvdhaar]

“My uncle used to do this kind of thing. He’s dead now, of course.”

Splendid! I need to remember that one.

 

[Rayt]

I agree. That’s why I use a Summi 🙂 People seem to like my Rolleiflex.

 

[Godfrey]

People try to compliment me and critique my photos, technically. Both of those things I smile and say "thank you" as they are mostly irrelevant to anything. However, when people actually look at the photos and react to them, asking questions or proving that they've seen something that either touched them or made them think, then I feel great and spend time engaging with them.

Such occurs only rarely because too many people just flip through a book of photos and barely see anything. I have a photo book I bought a couple of years ago (can't remember the name off the top of my head) which has about 150 or so excellent photos in it. I've been working my way through it, slowly, because each photo is worth savoring and thinking about, studying, reacting to. I have notes jammed into most of the pages so far. I hope to finish it by the end of the year and write the author, open a conversation. Wonderful work; that's what matters to me, not what camera or how perfect the print or printing might be.

G

 

[froyd]

I would not take a compliment on talent as a slight. While being innate is part of the definition of talent, I think most people recognize talent needs to be cultivated and honed. Many great athletes hasve been called talented, but few people would think that means these athletes do not need to work very hard to excel atwhat they do.

 

[kxl]

I just say “Thank you” and move on.

 

[Rayt]

I just say “Thank you” and move on.

Thank you, I was trained at the Sorbonne. People are always impressed. 🙂

 

[agentlossing]

I wouldn't be discouraged to be told I'm talented if someone sees a shot I put a lot of skill and effort into. Just the opposite, really. If skill can be read as talent, then I think skill is doing its job really well.

 

[valdas]

“hard work beats talent any day, but if you’re talented and work hard, it’s hard to be beat.” – Robert Griffin III
I guess it is applicable not only to sports. I knew people who took the camera for the first time and without knowing any technical aspects were able to produce amazing shots in terms of capturing the emotion, the light, the composition. With some effort they quickly reached the level of success that for people without such gift would take much much longer to attain.

 

[Saganich]

We have varying degrees of both at any particular time. Working hard to hone a skill doesn't mean I will have talent at it...and sometimes I'm just talented at something without much effort but that only gets you so far without working on the skill. People commenting mean well regardless of personal verity.

 

[Amsterdam Creatief]

I think people are born with combinations of traits that make some things easier for them or give them a head start over others pursuing those same activities.

I have always had perfect pitch and the ability to play a song I hear once back on any instrument have at hand. The more familiar I am with the instrument the better it sounds. I hated practicing music and cannot read it. I played first chair for my city’s youth symphony until I discovered girls and quit. When I did play I was always being criticized for not trying harder and settling for “good” instead of pushing myself towards great. A friend who lacks those gifts but has more of a work ethic and love for music was last chair when I quit. Now he travels around the world as a soloist. He surpassed me fairly quickly and while my skills have declined his continue to grow.

Talent gives you a head start, but that’s it.

 

[santino]

It‘s both, but talent without skills is more than skills without talent. One can acquire skills, but talent not.

 

[Dogman]

Talent enough to see, skills enough to coherently translate. That's about it.



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