Well, this doesn't happen often, but I bit off more today than I can chew. Too large a subject to write about in one day. (I was asked yesterday what I would do if I were starting in photography right now. I know exactly what I want to say, but it's a big river with lots of turnings and tributaries.)
But I need to mention that Ctein is on vacation this week and next. His regular column will resume on July 13th.
Mike
Wow Mike, I wonder what it is you have to say. Whenever someone asks me what to do to get started in professional photography my answer is a curt Just don't.
Unless you're talking about getting started in amateur photography, in which case it'd probably be a case of the famous ask 3 photographers and get 4 answers situation.
Whatever it is you're musing, I'm always up for vidying your ramblings, ahem, writings, so I'll be here when you're done and ready.
Posted by: Miserere | Wednesday, 29 June 2011 at 01:34 PM
"if I were starting in photography right now"
Marry for money?
Posted by: hugh crawford | Wednesday, 29 June 2011 at 02:24 PM
Hmm. With a touch of satire, looking back, I think it went a bit like this for me:
1. Get given a camera. Take lots of photos. (I'm a beginner and I really like this photography thing, but boy is it expensive!)
2. Buy lots of magazines and a couple of books. Start memorising rules like the rule of thirds. Read critiques in magazines that talk about how to improve pictures of cats and flowers. Take more photos.
3. If it is a leap year, I think I need a new camera. (I don't). If it isn't a leap year, I think I need a new lens. I eventually buy a camera/lens that has scored at least 90% in one review (or preferably two), or is at least 1 frame per second or 1 stop faster than my neighbour's.
4. Go on the yearly vacation somewhere new. Takes lots of photos. Post a couple of photos online / give away a couple of prints. People are really impressed by my over saturated, over contrasty, heavily filtered landscapes.(Think I'm getting pretty good at this now)
5. Repeat between 2-4 for some amount of years.
6. (Think I'm too good for all this gear I've collected) Buy a Leica.
Pak
Posted by: Pak-Ming Wan | Wednesday, 29 June 2011 at 04:39 PM
No post from you, and Ctein is on vacation for two weeks? I want a refund!
Patrick
Posted by: Patrick Perez | Wednesday, 29 June 2011 at 05:11 PM
Hang in there, Patrick, I'm working on it.
Mike
Posted by: Mike Johnston | Wednesday, 29 June 2011 at 05:14 PM
I for one am eager to read what you have to say on the subject!
Posted by: Fer | Wednesday, 29 June 2011 at 05:16 PM
See? The answer used to be simple: buy a K1000!
Just joking...mostly. I realise that, more likely, you mean strategy.
Posted by: Rod S. | Wednesday, 29 June 2011 at 05:29 PM
On a recent vacation to Europe, I took 400 pictures with my GF1; my wife took 500 with her point-and-shoot.
Each evening, she loaded her new pictures to her laptop, selected the good ones, and posted them to Facebook. I waited until I got home, loaded mine into Lightroom, selected the good ones, "developed" them, and made work prints.
She's done. I'm still reworking pictures, reprinting them, giving up on some, and putting a few in the "art" stack.
Her pictures were part of a running narrative, and were seen and commented on by 125 friends. So far, I'm the only one who's seen mine.
I'm a photographer and she's not. Makes me wonder.
Posted by: David Littlejohn | Wednesday, 29 June 2011 at 06:25 PM
Buy an old film camera and some fim and have some fun before you buy digital and end up wedded to your computer!
Posted by: Ann Peterson | Thursday, 30 June 2011 at 02:30 AM
Can you touch on or tackle copyrighted photos that folks decide they like and put in their forum posts and comments? These folks seem to think anything on the web is free for the taking.
One site I have read even has an attorney who says the fact they are non-commerical and not-for-profit automatically insulates them from any liability as 'fair use' covers all their posting of copyrighted photos. Some even from the groups they have their forum running to make fun of.
So, is this type of use wrong, legally? Will a DMCA takedown notice really effect them? This lawyer says any DMCA notice would be unenforceable and probably illegal as they have every right to take any photos and post them - their status makes them exempt from the copyright laws.
How about an article taking this one on? I know the financial end may not be worth it, but just as I would protest any use of my work in an Tobacco ad for any reason, so would I on this forum for any reason.
Posted by: Daniel | Monday, 18 July 2011 at 08:46 PM