Yes, one is low end camera high end image, one is high end camera low end image

To me, good photography comes from good skill and good gears couple will timely photo opportunities. Let me give some examples base on the most popular topic to date: Portrait Photography. For discussion's sake, let me break into 2 categories:

1. Candid portraiture
2. Static portraiture

1. Candids are impromptu situations where they call for immediate reaction from the photographer. When a model got into a pose or move that you like, quickly instruct her to freeze and do it again so you can take a picture. If it's done in public then anticipate a move and get ready for a clear shot. Getting a good shot and being timely takes experience and good gear. Can your camera move as fast as you? Can you switch on, focus and shoot on time? No way if you're using a camera phone or a compact digicam, no matter how experienced you are. Having LUCK is about being at the right time at the right place and having the right subject to do the right thing and you happen to get that shot. I won't rely too much on luck to get a good shot.

2. Static portraiture calls for serious concentration and attention to details from the photographer. Given an opportunity to stop and think about camera settings and study the model, newbies are still making mistakes over and over again eventhough they shot dozens of models, I am baffled. If they're using model photo sessions as practicing grounds, why can't they improve over time? Simple ... SHOOTING GIRLS is what they wanted, not improving photography. Before you even THINK of answering me on that, remember that you already shot dozens of girls in so many shooting conditions: indoor in events, outdoor under the sun, in shade, daytime, nighttime, bright lights, low lights, etc. and I am not surprised some of you shot the same girl over and over again! Improved? No? It's time to think again.

It's not only about the camera, not only about the lenses, not only about the 4GB card you bought that you wanna keep weeks after weeks of image without even transfering out, not only about the software you used to post process, not only about the model whether she's fat, thin, slim or sexy ... it's about the ATTITUDE, it's about the MINDSET.

Are you learning to shoot girls or learning photography? If you wanna shoot girls to impress your viewers, then you're halfway there, but if you're shooting girls just for passing time and feel that you're always behind other photographers in terms of image quality, then you're going nowhere. There's no shortcut or the end to learning photography, photography is a lifetime art, you may take it as a hobby but a hobbyist is always a hobbyist. Skill? Experience? Gear? Dun worry so much about them if you're a hobbyist ... you start somewhere, you'll END somewhere. Just shoot and enjoy while your pan is still hot.

This post has been edited by ac98: Oct 4 2007, 02:16 PM

What you're saying here is actually self-realization, something more personal rather than relating to photography. When I was using a film camera with 100% manual function I gradually learnt to move fast, then I got faster working on a automatic camera. Now ... owning the fastest camera in the world (in 2001) I can work even faster, product better images and best of all, I am more flexible, my images are more within my control, and my camera works with me, rain or shine.

Photographers who realise that they are talented are not those who constantly win photography contest or having peers polishing his shoes becoz he shoots the best pics or covering most events with outstanding image results. Good photographers spend more time SHOOTING rather than asking questions, he finds his answers OUTSIDE where the light is, the shadow is, where the subjects are, and where what moves him the most. A good photographer bring home nothing but expressions of his inner passion, created with light and shadow. People like this usually needs to only make a SPIN and he's a professional photographer already ... he knows what he wants and knows what his SUBJECTS want.

Yeah, everyone has his rights to his own opinion, but different ppl have different mindsets.
I err ... dunno how you came to the wanking subject. I guess I will stick to photography for the time being

We are talking about GOOD PHOTOGRAPHY here, not about GOOD PHOTOGRAPHER. It's about the results and not the person.