Do you think people who use "point and click" cameras should NOT call themselves "photographers"?

Question

Even if their work is really professional looking? A real photographer is in it for how good the picture is not the equipment they use. Do you think that is true? It's the person not the camera?

If a person has a good eye as they say they can take excellent pictures with a crappy camea phone or throw away point and clicks in my opinion!!! What do you think?

Answer 1

I think the eyes behind the camera make the artist. A professional photographer might want equipment that is more versatile or more durable than a point and shoot camera, but the equipment does not make anyone any less capable of taking great photos.

I invite you to visit my little Flickr site, http://www.flickr.com/photos/samfeinstein/ I only have 45 phots up so far. I'm not saying that I'm a great photographer or anything (or even that I took all of the photos - my wife took two), but look at the pictures and THEN look at the different cameras. If you like any of them at all, I'll bet that it has nothing to do with whether I used my over-$2,000 set of a Nikon D200 and Nikkor lens or my under-$200 Nikon Coolpix 4 MP camera.

I'm not a pro photographer, but I'd rather make my living with the camera that I know I can count on time after time than anything else, though. Someone who makes their living can legitimately call themselves a professional photographer. This does not mean that they are any good at taking photographs.

Answer 2

It is not the tools, but what you do with them that matters.

People can call themselves what ever they want, but it doesn't make you a true "whatever", or not if you call yourself "whatever".

The person matters much more than the equipment they use. If you don't have the ability to compose images in your head, the best pro equipment in the world won't do more than make it easier for them to take properly focused, and lit photos, that are uninspired, pedestrian, or dull. A talented photographer can make even the cheapest equipment work in their favor to create unique, and compelling images. One thing that experience allows, is the knowledge of how most types of cameras, and film perform under any conditions. This allows taking advantage of some specific characteristic of cheap cameras to achieve an artistic effect.

I was stuck using an old point & shoot 35mm camera. It had no real ability to adjust anything, and a simple telephoto/standard adjustment. It did however use 35mm film, and for the three years that it was my only camera, I was able to consistently get some great photos in every roll of film, by knowing hwo the films I used performed under any conditions, and then working around the limitations imposed by not being able to adjust aperature, shutter speed, etc. What having a better camera allowed me, was more range of conditions I can shoot a given subject, better control over the composition of my photos, and the ability to do things like double expose a shot, take long exposure shots, and such.

I will often pick up a throwaway for some specific idea, and still use that old point & shoot, and our old crappy digital when I am inspired to try and get a certain look, or feel.

Anyone who understands the basics of photography, and takes photos on a regular, and frequent basis has the right to call themselves a photographer. They may be terrible, but a terrible photographer is still a photographer. On the other hand, unless they have a unique style, can capture, or compose photos that convey mood, feeling, or concepts, they can not call themselves an artist, or not honestly. Additionally, you can only call yourself a professional photographer if you get paid for your work enough to support yourself doing it, and your work is either shown, published, or produces studio product.

Answer 3

Lots of people dub themselves professionals. Most are, some aren't. I've made some damned impressive photos with my year and a half old point and shoot, but I've made better ones with my DLSR. I do portrait photography, and when I go to my local photo-spot that a lot of other photographers use, it saddens me to see someone with a long-zoom P&S or an ultra-thin, ultra trendy P&S acting like a professional.

It's definitely not just manual controls that SLRs have over P&Ss; the image quality is night and day at 100% zoom. It's rather moronic to think that you can make a living doing portraits with a P&S. I won't explain the difference in sensor size or the fact that P&Ss can't give you anywhere near the amount of bokeh an SLR will. That's another lesson all together.

But then again, what makes you a professional depends on way more factors than what type of camera you have.

People who try and get into the business with a point and shoot need to do a lot of research to find out what they're getting themselves into.

So, no. But it's not just the camera. You have to have good business skills, customer relations, and actual photography skills.

Answer 4

A very wise man said quite recently in the UK 'Amateur Photographer' Magazine that the best camera you can possibly have is the one that exists between your ears. That is so true, it's not the camera you have, but your ability to use it to take good photographs.For this reason, I often get a little annoyed and make tart comments when people on here ask is a Canon better than a Nikon etc. It is true that a compact may not have creative controls which might be necessary to assist in taking better photographs and most I have seen taken on camera phones are pretty ropey(due possibly to the lens). Also, in the digital world, most manufacturers have done away with viewfinders, making the photographer rely on holding the camera at arm's length to view the scene on the rear screen. This, to my mind , is a nonsense and leads inevitably to camera shake. as any slight movement of the body will be magnified by the extension of the arms held out rigidly. I was always taught to take a photograph with the camera held in the right hand and supported by the left with the elbows tucked tightly against the side of the body. To sum up - in the hands of a reasonably competent photographer a compact can turn in stunning shots - unfortunately they are often used by incompetents who would take a lousy shot whatever camera he/she was using.

Answer 5

It depends. If they can consistently get well-composed pictures with a cheap camera, then they probably can earn the title. But part of being a photographer, I think, is investing in the interest. If the only camera you'll ever get is on your phone, and you don't want to do better than disposable cameras, I don't think you're really all that interested. I'm not saying you have to get anything expensive, or that if you can't AFFORD to get anything better ... but a real photographer cares about the quality of their images. And you can definately get better quality out of a $40 camera than your cellphone.

Answer 6

I've seen some crap photos taken by so called professional photographers. You should check out my friend's sister's wedding photos. All are crap. Very sad.

I am a recreational photographer, and I have a great digital camera. Yes, it's basically point and click, but I've used it to take some very textured and interesting photos. It's partly in the eye, and also in being able to manipulate light and shadow. The professional quality cameras (the SLRs) are pretty cool. They have a wider zoom and the picture quality can't be beat. But if you don't have a talent behind it, it's just a very expensive toy. Check out some great photos taken by amateurs at http://www.flickr.com/

Answer 7

It sounds like someone has bragged to you about their new camera phone. You got irritate with this person, and want our opinion if you have a right to get upset or not. I don't have any cellular phone because I don't feel the need to have one. Maybe you should go get yourself one, and try it out. You might feel better, and enjoy the person with this camera phone better. You will be surprise to know this: The other day I saw on TV, this man took a picture of one of celebrities. He got $ 150,00 for it. Hope you have a better day today.

Answer 8

Feminism is a concept I have difficulty supporting as it is. I feel that all races and genders of people should be equal. And it seems like singling out a race or gender to seek specific changes that try to balance the scales only further separate us as people. Equal freedom to do anything you desire (within the constraints of the laws of man and science) already exists. Somethings are more challenging to a woman vs a man, and vice versa, and certainly we don't want to eliminate the differences that define gender, do we? Everyone, man and woman, have subjective views and ideas based on whatever has been revealed to them by other people through books and media. It is not brainwashed, it is incomplete data. How often do people, in general, seek out knowledge to discover all the information to base their decision? They would never rest. And who could be trusted to compile ALL of the necessary information on a particular subject without bias or involuntary omissions, saving us the time of searching? If only there was some way to remove the influence of money from society without changing things too much...

Answer 9

A photographer is someone who makes photographic images. Whether with a camera phone or a $2000 SLR. A good eye cannot be bought, it must be learned and shaped. Happy shooting!

Answer 10

i don't think that it really matters what equipment you have. the reason for using the professional or 'prosumer' cameras is just that you have more control over the outcome, as far depth-of-field and shutter speed.