"...You must have a really great camera!"

[Sean Setters]

I cannot tell you how many times I hear something like, "Wow, those are fantastic images. You must have a really great camera!"

I realize the first sentence is a compliment. However, when you follow the compliment with the second sentence, you're basically complimenting the capabilities of the camera and ignoring the skill and expertise of the person who took the picture. It's just like saying...

"These are fantastic h'orderves. You must have a really great oven!"

"That is a fantastic story. You must have a really great pen!"

"That is a fantastic painting. You must have really great brushes!"

Why is it that cooks, authors, and painters never hear things like that? The truth is, yes, I do have a really great camera (two, in fact). I own good cameras because I appreciate the nuances that differentiate them from other cameras (build quality, feature set, sensor size, etc). However, if you put the lowest end Rebel in my hand, I'd still produce something very similar.

/rant over

[Steve U]

Great topic Sean, well presented argument, you must have a really good keyboard.

[Photog82]

Great topic Sean, well presented argument, you must have a really good keyboard.

Excellent comment, you must have a witty fingers... sorry, I couldn't help it.

I know what you mean Sean, I have heard that too as well. However I have had compliments on my ability as well. You have to remember that most of these comments come from people who don't understand photography and think that a little point and shoot should be able take the same type of photos that you produce or something that I would produce (not that I'm comparing my work to yours).

Edit: After re-reading thekingb's comments, I think they have a point as well. I've heard people say to me, "They have that big white canon lens; no wonder their photos come out so well". I've had some photographer friends schoff at my P&S that I started out with and have a hard time admitting that the photos it produced were good just because it was taken with a P&S.

[Steve U]

[QUOTE=Photog82;68113]Excellent comment, you must have a witty fingers... sorry, I couldn't help it.[QUOTE]

Touche.

[jrw]

Despite the occassional urge to swing the heavy camera at their heads, you have to try to remember where these folks are coming from. They know there is a difference between a good DSLR and their P&S. In the back of their minds they sometimes think that if they had the same gear that they could just show up and take the same pictures. In reality, these folks just have no idea of the amount of time spent learning the basics of lighting, composition, etc. nor any appreciation of the learning curve separating those at the top of the field from those who are mastering the basics.

In order to advance photography as an art form in the public eye, it is still required to educate the public in order to increase the appreciation level.

[Sean Setters]

In order to advance photography as an art form in the public eye, it is still required to educate the public in order to increase the appreciation level.

I couldn't agree more.

[Scott Stephen]

Great topic Sean, well presented argument, you must have a really good keyboard.

Ha. Well played, sir.

[bob williams]

Sean, You are not the only would that has experienced, trust me. Just last week my son exclaimed "Wow Dad, you have some really nice pictures, of course with a camera like that you couldn't take a bad picture"---Little does he know. I didn't even bother trying to invalidate his statement. Those outside the "realm" just can't understand.

[Sean Setters]

Great topic Sean, well presented argument, you must have a really good keyboard.

I did LOL after reading that. Thank you.

Sean, You are not the only would that has experienced, trust me. Just last week my son exclaimed "Wow Dad, you have some really nice pictures, of course with a camera like that you couldn't take a bad picture"---Little does he know. I didn't even bother trying to invalidate his statement. Those outside the "realm" just can't understand.

Yeah. In inexperienced hands, a pen, chisel, paint brush, or stand mixer aren't going to produce outstanding results.

[bob williams]

Sean, You are not the only would that has experienced, trust me

OK, No more posts this early in the morning.