Level of quality in work
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- differenz
I'm sure you have seen this number of times, someone got a new camera (let's say Canon 5D Mark II) and thinks he can do best ever music videos and short films. Sadly, you see his work and you know that it's shit. But others that have no clue of what the quality level is, will say it's brilliant just because it's filmed with that sort of camera, giving the whole video "film look". But in reality, it's shit, no composition, framing all wrong and so on. I don't have any particular examples here but as I said.. I'm sure you have seen this already.
The same thing goes for the blooming photography "business", everyone seems to be a great photographer now days, or at least, they think they are great photographers. When you look at their work, you just see that it's not good but others that have no clue, once again.. praise the work as being the most brilliant ever. I was recently in a company of few individuals which are all amateur photographers going to the same course (lectures about taking photographs).. and this one guy made some photos for some singer and was showing them to us on his iPhone. I didn't like them and I have even explained why.. because it was shot to look very professionally and on a high budget, it lacked lighting and overall, it lacked some story behind it. I have explained these certain details just to make him understand why it's mediocre and how he can improve the further work but instead.. they all said I was right but that it doesn't matter, it's good as it is. But it's not!
Is the quality of work being downgraded with this new technology and instant photographers? I remember I used to take photos with my ancient Nikon FM2, fighting against weather and lighting all the time but it was worth it because I made some nice photos which I haven't seen for days until they god developed. Some times I used to close myself in the dark room to develop B/W photos, that was also struggle because it's not that easy to make a good, quality photograph.
.. now, all of a sudden everyone can make photographs, think they are great .. but to anyone who ever had a chance to read anything about photography those pictures look just mediocre.
So without any frustration, my question is this, is the quality of such work being degraded with these instant photographers?
- dMullins0
Is this a reference to Nicholaus Goossen?
- this guy?
http://en.wikipedia.…
.. nope. Why would you think that?differenz - lol!bigtrick
- heheheHombre_Lobo
- Hahahahaha - so random...mg33
- ha!miesvan
- careful...duckofrubber
- this guy?
- uan0
I would say yes, BUT it doesn't matter, as long as there is still professional work around, you will see the difference.
I think it's great that the equipment is accessible now to a wide range of people. Finally talent will make the difference and not the equipment.
Now on another note, the lack of talent (in- and outside the industry) is very disturbing.
- bigtrick0
short answer: there are more photographers, and therefore there are more bad photographers as well as more good photographers. there have always been no-talent cunts able to get people to take them seriously - and now because there are more photographers overall, it then follows that there are more photographers that are also no-talent cunts.
- Hombre_Lobo0
I totally see your point and agree whole heatedly,
but those people who say 'oh yeh it looks great' only because the image is sharp, but lacks any type of thoughts on framing composition light etc are those who will produce 2nd rate images, so no i dont think it is being downgraded.Knowing your trade is invaluable, particularly the old school methods which you point out.
You should thank yourself lucky that you even notice these things, it shows you think more critically than others and as a result im sure you produce better work.
- harlequino0
Upgrading and democratizing tools is not a new idea. Innovators will always be innovators, and the cream will always rise to the top.
- differenz0
All great answers. I'm glad you think that way. I guess the thing that pisses me off the most is the fact that people just don't see these details, yet.. they want to be in this business or consider themselves professionals. Everyone who can click thinks he's a pro.
- jaylarson0
takes a brain to see the difference between a snapshot and a photograph
- twokids0
There are two ways to handle the constant change in technology - move forward and embrace it or get left behind.
Anyone who can click and creates something and sells it IS A PRO. Whether or not they comply to your standards, which come from a different time. They create a new standard by what they do.
You have to decide how to adapt to technology, not bitch about it. How does the change in technology affect what you thought was 'quality' today. Maybe that standard doesnt apply anymore?
Adapt or die.
- inteliboy0
Framing and composition can be taught in schools. It's a skill but not talent, nor quality. What is hard to find is emotion and an original feeling or thought. I really just don't get that with most digital/amateur dslr owners with their 1.4 lens and a copy of photoshop.
Plus DSLR video, is just that, video. Still the same jittery shutter speed video that just looks bad. But people seem to be loving it, and loving these overly processed HDR junk you see everywhere. So I dunno...
A wake up call was a few years back when I scored a 16mm camera for a day, sourced a reel of stock, loaded it up and lugged it out to the forest super early in the morning. Got some footage that I really liked, telecined, and edited it together. Was a good release and was fun. But then hitting vimeo, I mean, so many people were shooting similar shit with absolute ease, at random times, with their dslrs, no thought... it all just meant nothing.
- ESKEMA0
These new Cameras turned Photo / Video in the new easy to step in thing. It already happened to design, music dj's, etc...
In the long run, the good will still be shooting, the bad will jump in the next thing and another cycle begins.
- dirtydesign0
terry richardson?
- Knuckleberry0
I completely agree. I have a few friends that are photographers. One of them went through training/ school and is great. One bought a camera and decided to start "shooting" everything... horribly.
I agree completely with what nosaj said about everything... except the music part. Self taught musicians are usually the most creative and groundbreaking... Mr. Hendrix.
- instrmntl0
Macro Lens + Hi-Res = Photography Gold
i hate that equation and completely agree. it drives me nuts.
- vaxorcist0
whatever... we thought the same thing in the 80's when autofocus came out... and those vietnam photographers thought the same thing with autoexposure came out.... and the 50's photographers thought the same thing when the Nikon F could shoot 36 shots with a motor drive rather than their Speed Graphics 1 shot at a time....
....etc...
But I do see that the learning curve may be faster for a dedicated person with talent, skill can be acquired through dilligent practice, there are fewer old-prof gatekeepers of sacred knowledge these days, and for me that's a good thing....
- davebellechique0
quality floats on top.
it's just fine that about everyone can take a more or less decent picture.
the democratisation of artistic skills only drives us into more perfection, pushes us to work harder and make better work
- davebellechique0
my family album from when i was young are full with horribly exposed and bad framed pictures, now the camera does it for you and your kids will go into eternity looking good : P
- vaxorcist0
I just finished a test shoot with a 5D/Mk II, a lot of lights, L lenses etc...
and I looked at the impeccibly lit and composed images..... and I see.... alot of near-misses... I often didn't emotionally connect as well as I would have liked to with the models.... there's a certain lack of chemistry here sometimes... it was a test shoot, and that's okay, but I'm seeing how doing so many tests that you think much more about your interaction with people than anything else, it begins to show in images with more charisma and connection... some models do that almost automatically, most don't so we have to cajole them.... an interesting skill I'm learning..
- ckentish0
You sound very elitist. I am 100% behind democratisation of all media and as someone said above the cream will rise to the top.
The difference now is that the cream will become successful through democratic opinion and not just a few elite taste-makers at the top.
- cannonball19780
let your own work be the comment you make about quality