Comments on: Photography’s Old Boys Club Is Gone Forever — Now Success Is Up to You

By: Paul "pabloconrad" Conrad

Paul "pabloconrad" Conrad — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 17:54:13 +0000

Just one more thought:

Knowing what camera a photographer used is like knowing what spoons a great chef used. Knowing doesn't help in creating the final product.

It's the dedication, passion, skill and talent.

By: Paul "pabloconrad" Conrad

Paul "pabloconrad" Conrad — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 17:42:24 +0000

When I first decided I wanted to become a pro, I went out and bought a Nikon F3 & MD-4, SB-16, and new Nikkor lenses. Soon after, a FE2 & MD-12 and another SB-16.

I read everything under the sun to improve my photography. How to precess film, composition, moment, news value, etc.

But the one thing no photographer, amateur or pro, can buy is passion, skill, or talent. That's what separates the pros from amateurs.

When people ask me what camera I used to shoot a certain photo, I just smile and say "You tell me. It really doesn't matter."

Pros use all their skills and talents to say something. The use the camera as their voice.

And as Gary Miller says, this phase in photography's evolution will fade like snow in the desert.

By: gary miller

gary miller — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 22:14:49 +0000

The old boys club never died. The new snap shot photographers with little talent of posing , lighting, color , & sales stoled the moment but will fade like snow on the deserts face. There is no polishing and learning. No education and understanding. Get out there do it fast and do it cheap. The craftsmen or old boys club as you call them ... where people learned from the masters and paid their dues is the true heros of studio wedding & portrait photograhy.

By: Heidi

Heidi — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 18:21:23 +0000

I was showing and selling my photography at a fair. A customer says to me, "These are terrific! You must have the best camera ever!" Yes, and I sent the camera on a bus trip around the country, and it came home with all these photographs for me! You're right, isn't technology amazing!?

By: JR

JR — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 17:05:35 +0000

"zoom lenses with built-in GPS"
Hmmm-where can I get one of these?
I'm an old boy and I've never heard of a zoom lens with built in GPS, but if it gives me an edge over the competition

By: Adam

Adam — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 13:56:22 +0000

Once, a shoe manufacturer sent a sales guy to a third world country. He asked him to check the market out for opportunities. The salesman returned with bad news."Most people are barefoot," he said. "They just don't wear shoes. There's simply no market."Feeling a little unsure, the shoe manufacturer sent another guy. Upon the second sales guy's return, he said this."Everyone is barefoot. There is a HUGE market to take."

By: Diane

Diane — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 19:27:36 +0000

As a female photographer I've seen that "old boys club" at events, concerts etc. Pushy guys with 2 bodies and 5 different lenses and me with my pithy pentax ZX7. Money doesn't buy p.o.v. and while great equipment helps its a pale substitute for perspective.

By: Rohn Engh

Rohn Engh — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:43:00 +0000

I like the way Elliott Erwii said it. "If you've got no responsibility and don't have to generate a certain amount of cash each month, and can live on a shoestring, and are ambitious enough, then you might have a chance. You can be dedicated but that is no guarantee that you'll make it. I rely on a hunch, a little luck, and some cunning."

By: Jeffrey Blake Adams

Jeffrey Blake Adams — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:36:25 +0000

an great uncle of mine said photography is 90% knowing where to stand... our knowledge of light and the subject, our "eye" lets us know where to stand...

By: Doug Pruden

Doug Pruden — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:07:26 +0000

Amen, brother. Well said. Creativity and imagination are gifts that can be nurtured, but never purchased. This is not a problem in just the photographic community, but all over the world in many industries. It is the dark side of the internet age, as increased interconnectivity gives people the false impression that difficult things are easily accomplished.

By: Nick Coyne

Nick Coyne — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:47:23 +0000

Great post, thanks.