Comments on: Every Dumbass With A Camera

By: APELurker

APELurker — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 08:29:34 +0000

@j.,
It would be true if we were comparing apples to oranges… which by looking at the posting picture and reading some of the comments I think we are not… In this case (as in the statement “every photographer with a camera is a dumbass”) would be more like saying: “every homo sapiens is a human therefore every human is a homo sapiens”… For the record, I don’t agree with either (dumbasses = photographers/people with cameras) but can see how bigots can be found in both categories.

By: mattmattmatt

mattmattmatt — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:51:54 +0000

@Dogterrarium, I guess you don’t understand sarcasm.

By: Dogterrarium

Dogterrarium — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:47:10 +0000

@mattmattmatt,
No, this dumb-ass got into the game in his early 40’s and bought his own equipment.

By: bernard

bernard — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 08:03:36 +0000

As one of those dumbasses with a camera (who certainly does not think he is a photographer), I think there might be a *slight* ring of truth in this statement.

To say its down to digital is a bit simplistic. Sure it reduces the cost of “becoming a person with photographic equipment”.

The same as Internet groups makes it easier to become “a computer engineer professional”. Reading “Dummies guide for networks” doesn’t make you an engineer.

However, its not like everyone who has a pair of scissors thinks he is a doctor, or everyone who has a screwdriver thinks he is a mechanic.

I like taking photographs (I’m not good enough to make photographs). I don’t think I am a photographer. However, I would love to do it as a job.

This type of argument is used in any profession. An computer *engineer* does not like when someone does a multiple choice test and gets the “qualification” Microsoft Certified *Engineer*.

This does not make him/her an engineer.

I guess it comes down to a large part of fear of encroachment from “non-professionals” and (I’d hope) a want to keep quality work, and a high-standard, in the profession.

Commenter 23 (Mark Gamba) is right: if the people who decide on what is “professional quality” start using clearly amateur photographers because “its cheap” – that’s worse than me calling myself a photographer.

From reading about photography as a profession, it seems inevitable in the world where publications are reducing (or cutting completely) photography staff.

A little less hate, and abit more explanation for your reasoning might help.

regards
bernard
/puts on flame retardent suit.

By: You Are

You Are — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:12:30 +0000

Why not?

What’s the difference?

Who’s asking?

What’s it to you?

By: Gordon Moat

Gordon Moat — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 20:31:49 +0000

I could see Terry Richardson shooting that same image in the mirror.

By: JH

JH — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 10:43:50 +0000

@John Thomas, John Thomas (uncountable)

1. (idiomatic, slang) The penis

By: Photo-Chimp.com - Photography in Alaska and around the World » Blog Archive » Series of Comments on Photo Editor

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 22:39:20 +0000

[...] Specific to this post: http://www.aphotoeditor.com/2009/10/14/every-dumbass-with-a-camera/ [...]

By: Kevin Halliburton

Kevin Halliburton — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:22:28 +0000

The only image maker who should be remotely embarrassed by his current body of work is the one who no longer able to scoff contemptuously at what he was creating a year ago.

By: Daily Digest for October 15th – Alex Vernon.com | Alex Vernon.com

Daily Digest for October 15th – Alex Vernon.com | Alex Vernon.com — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 05:27:30 +0000

[...] Shared Every Dumbass With A Camera. [...]

By: mattmattmatt

mattmattmatt — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 02:07:02 +0000

Shouldn’t it read…

“Every rich kid who’s parents can afford thousands of dollars worth of photo equipment thinks he is a photographer”

By: Michael Schulz

Michael Schulz — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 01:41:15 +0000

@John Thomas, I agree with Dean. Nicole didn’t bother to put her URL in her comment. Looked through her work. She’s got a client list and is a working pro. Now let’s see what you have to offer and what your foundation is.

Mike

By: Dumbass

Dumbass — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:51:40 +0000

hey he stole my name….what a jackass!

By: Dean

Dean — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 23:27:46 +0000

@andreas., I’m 100% certain that Testino complains and complains and complains, and John Thomas’ rebuke of nicole was dead on. However, I’d like to see Thomas’ work as a photographer or editor or whatever platform he’s critiquing from. People in glass houses…..

By: Tom

Tom — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 21:53:11 +0000

@Allen Lee Taylor,

Without question we’re going to see some really bad videos shot with 5D2, D3S et al DSLRs. But some guys are going to turn out to be very good video producers. And that, in turn, will threaten cinematographers.

A guy by the name of Darwin wrote a book about this kind of stuff. Oh wait, he wasn’t a professional photographer, so that wouldn’t count. ;^)

By: andreas.

andreas. — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 21:52:11 +0000

Man!
This industry is full of people who whine and complain huh? It’s funny, because you don’t see Mario Testino showing up on these forums and complaining about people buying cameras and calling themselves photographers do we? Why all the hate? Sure, those lifestyle shots Nicole shot may not be the best, but perhaps they are what she likes, and what her clients like..there is a need for every type of work out there…that’s what makes what we all do so so so great! Who cares what people call themselves? Why do people focus so much on what others are doing or saying? Why not focus on being a great photographer within your ability rather than bitch and complain about some cat that bought 30k of gear and is starting to take your money away from you?

By: Mark Gamba

Mark Gamba — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 21:42:04 +0000

It’s not so much the dumbasses with the camera thinking they are photographers – I’m actually ok with that, everyone starts somewhere, the problem I have is the art directors and photo editors that agree with them. At some point someone has to discern between good and bad photography. As someone said further up in the discussion anyone with a digital camera can take a pretty good photograph.

What that should have done is raise the bar – “pretty good” shouldn’t be acceptable for professional use anymore even though there was a lot of that in the days before digital. Instead it seems to have lowered the bar so that “pretty good” is what is sought after. It’s like anti-Darwinian – survival of the mediocre or something.

By: SD Griffeth

SD Griffeth — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 21:28:51 +0000

@j., Thanks. I stand corrected.

By: the cinemascapist

the cinemascapist — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 20:22:05 +0000

@Sebastian, if someone is using photography to try and become a visionary or a famous starf@#cker, then I believe they’re in the wrong profession. If it’s done for personal satisfaction and creative release (which for most, it is), then nothing should “hurt” as you state. I do believe what you said could explain the hate for some.

By: Leo Chen

Leo Chen — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 20:00:15 +0000

Oh… us photographers (if you don’t mind me calling myself that) are such arrogant and insecure bunch. Let people call themselves whatever they want. If it inspires and encourages them to reach their potential, why not just be happy for them…

By: Sebastian

Sebastian — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:59:01 +0000

@el cinesajista, first you think you’re unique, then you realize you’re just another person with a camera, pushing a button, “creative” like everyone else, but no visionary. That sure hurts.

By: Dean

Dean — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:38:46 +0000

@John Thomas, Good eye John. Now let’s see yours! :)

By: Ed Hamlin

Ed Hamlin — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:57:41 +0000

I am almost ROFL….

If a dumb A&%@ buys a camera, shoots pretty good Pics; make me think I better get better at my game. beside where would we got some of the funny pics from if it weren’t for the DA’s

By: j.

j. — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:33:56 +0000

@SD Griffeth,
I think you need to freshen up your knowledge of propositional logic. From “Every P is Q” it does not follow that “Every Q is P”. Or to make a real world example, from the proposition “every American is human” it does not follow that “every human is American”.

By: Stephan

Stephan — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:21:08 +0000

… And every dumbass with a pen is a writer. hummm.

By: Allen Lee Taylor

Allen Lee Taylor — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:08:55 +0000

@Tom,

“any dumbass still photographer with an HD video-capable DSLR suddenly thinks they are a cinematographer?”

From what I’m hearing it is already happening.

By: Allen Lee Taylor

Allen Lee Taylor — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:06:40 +0000

@SD Griffeth,

Lol!!!

By: roger

roger — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:05:08 +0000

LOL! ;+)

You mean, “every dumbass with a Nikon D3S . . . “

By: JM

JM — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:03:12 +0000

Who was it that said:
“If you buy a camera, you’re a photographer. If you buy a piano, well, you just bought a piano”.

By: Tom

Tom — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:01:18 +0000

Isn’t everyone just a dumbass with a camera at some point in their career? Or were some of you guys hand-chosen by the gods of photography?

To relate this to Rob’s main post today about 5D2 videos, how long will it be until people who make movies start complaining that any dumbass still photographer with an HD video-capable DSLR suddenly thinks they are a cinematographer?

I guess the world would be a better place without competition.