[Kimera]

I appreciate all the feedback. At this time I’m serious all right: serious about forgetting the whole business end entirely, and just focus (har har) on the craft.
One way or another, I will have a few bucks in my pocket resulting from doing something I really enjoy. That, to me, will be success.

As for all the hundreds of thousands of bucks required to actually make a living at this, that’s not my dream or goal at all, so I’m not worried.

By the way, I see a pattern; it seems whenever I or anyone requests critiques of photos, it tends to drift toward how much money a business costs. This amuses me since repeatedly I’ve said I DON’T want to advertise myself as a pro, or even BE a pro. I have no ambitions in that direction at all, but it doesn’t mean I would refuse to learn to be a better photographer!

Thanks again for the input. I do take it all in. Once more, tho’, I DO NOT WANT TO BE A PROFESSIONAL, AND I’M NOT ADVERTISING A BUSINESS. If I make some money, it’s incidental. That’s all.

Have a great day everybody.

🙂

[Kimera]

Wow, very wide range of views here; one says ‘you can be a photographer with what you have’, and ‘if you can’t afford the equipment to go into business, then you simply cannot go into business’ .. hmm.

I stand by my idea to ‘enjoy what I have instead of worry about the things you dont have’.  🙂

I DO like the vase assignment, and the manual readup which, by the way, was already started… that’ll wait for a visit to Mom’s as she has the vases and the room to arrange them.

chefdarren, thanks again for the clearup. Now I have another question – please remind me where you saw the aviator pic. I’d like to study it again, and I don’t know which one you mean. It’s probably because I didn’t title it that, so it’s not a word I’d immediately refer to my photos.

[Kimera]

chefdarren,
I like to consider myself one of the rulebreakers who has an idea of which rule is being broken, and why.
I may not know anywhere near enough to rank as a marketable photographer, but I have a hunger for whatever knowledge I can acquire (free online tutorials, library books, social meetups with other photographers, etc), therefore I’ve learned to a rudimentary degree what NOT to do.
I am and have been an artist most of my life, and my camera is simply another medium… easier to clean than paintbrushes, lol.

Your comment, while I get the gist of it, seems to come across as sweeping away anybody who hasn’t got the training or gear to qualify as an ‘artist’ in your books. Please correct me if I’ve misunderstood you.

For the record, I am a beginner/amateur, but that doesn’t make me untalented or clueless.

I mean this with the best regard for your opinion, just had to state my own as I felt it pertained to me somehow.

[Kimera]

Gotcha, browneyedgirl,
Thanks for clarifying that. In the meantime I’ll still let my friends, etc know that they can certainly ask for a bargain photo shoot (which gives me experience).
The Canon I have now is capable of much better images than perhaps you saw earlier – I took the bulk of them with the Olympus C808oWZ. I myself find the images grainy most of the time ..
Was it you who were saying a Rebel XS is not very good?

 

[Kimera]

To add to my lengthy comment (heh.. got a bit overdramatic there, didn’t I, sorry) .. I really DO appreciate people’s comments, lest anyone think I ask for feedback but then don’t regard it. I do.

Can I ask for something specific then, in the way of assistance here?

Would someone make a suggestion of an assignment so I can give it thought, and get to work on a concrete task? I’d be happy to upload the result for critique. I want to be evaluated based on gear and knowledge I have NOW, rather than propelled along with advice about what I have to get and learn first.

Does that make sense?

Suggest a photo assignment. I’ll take on the first one that’s up my alley.  🙂

[Kimera]

cheesenode,

EXACTLY!!! That’s how I feel. The fact that I want to improve my skills has somehow prompted my nearbys to get on my case and URGE me
to have a business, but I really just enjoy taking pictures of stuff that interests me.

🙂

[Kimera]

hi Stef,
that’s just it: I absolutely do not have $200; for that matter, I get less than that after rent and bills are paid, and I still need groceries. The equipment I have is gifts, with the exception of the Olympus I got for $50. I’m not whining – this is my reality and I accept it – just telling you how it is at my end.

cameraclicker,
free online tutorials and library books are definitely the way I’ve been going. I do try to make use of them whenever possible. I just finished reading a book given to me by a friend ‘The Moment it Clicks” by Joe McNally. I totally agree with you about that.

browneyedgirl,
I’m sorry if I’m not understanding you right, but I keep getting the impression you’re thinking I advertise myself as a pro. Again, correct me if I’m mistaken. There’s no way I would, at my present skill level, market myself as a wedding photographer. It’s just how it was worded, I guess.  🙂

soaringturkeys,
I like the idea of renting equipment, and if I eventually come into a more financially sound situation, there’s a place near me which has this service.

All of you are correct that there are alternative routes available. My point was actually that I don’t want to pressure myself to advance to anything pro when what I really enjoy is just the process of taking pictures.
Incidentally, I was urged to get on this site, and I’m glad I did, but the person who so strongly encouraged me is not letting up; now she’s on at me about taking community college classes.
I told her to pay my way.

That shushed her..

Thank you to all the commenters. I guess in a nutshell, my wish is to know all I can in my present circumstances, gaining mastery as I go along at my own pace, receiving pointers and ideas, and sharing this enthusiasm of photography with like-minded.

[Kimera]

hi Cameraclicker; actually I always upload my images on the small side.

I also found a no right-click script.

🙂

[Kimera]

I almost jumped when I saw the magazine cover .. OW!!!

[Kimera]

Okay,
how about if one’s low, fixed income (disability) prevents investing in equipment and education?
Am I, with my Rebel XS – avec kit lens and older 75-300mm – doomed to indefinite fauxtog status?
This is a catch-22 for me: I can’t expect to make money without good gear and training,
and I can’t afford them without making money.

At this point I feel I might as well settle for ‘serious amateur’…

In all honesty, it’s daunting to hear friends & relatives urging me to open up shop when I’m utterly unprepared for that. I’ve mentioned before that I don’t market myself as a pro; never did – I just sold some pictures people liked. I know I have a lot to learn, but given my situation the best I can do is just keep taking pictures and compare them to my earlier shots, as well as read online tutorials.

That Olympus C8080WZ served me very well. Not bad for the $50 I paid!
Still, I don’t need to hear how it’s not enough if I don’t have the top of the line products or software, or have taken extensive classes.
I’m open to critiques, tho’ as I say right now I feel it’s wiser to just relax and enjoy the camera, rather than stress myself out about what I don’t have.

[Kimera]

Hello Cameraclicker, yes, I’m certain there are other ways, but so far I haven’t found one that does what I want in Blogger. Sites like Flickr & Picasa do have slideshows but I’ve noticed that I can right-click images and save them. I don’t like that.
Anyway a local friend of mine has offered to make a site for me and host it, so perhaps that will answer this need.

🙂

 

 

[Kimera]

Hi, the setting is mystical and I see how you’re going for that ethereal look. I look at it as a whole impression, then at each element.
What the picture makes me want to do is, first, warm the girl’s face. She’s a bit ashy against the vivid greenery.
I like the wings but they seem to blend into the trees instead of being defined.

Can you copy the image (so you keep your original), then give it some shadow and depth? It wants distance. The far off trees are suggesting it but as they’re so sharp, the background looks like the backdrop in a theatre or movie.

I hope I’m not being too picky or harsh. Your idea is lovely. Keep in mind as I make these comments that I’m more of an artist than a photographer, tho’ I enjoy learning that area as well.

[Kimera]

Hi Katie,
I’ve seen that website and there’s soooooo much I want to know all at once, it’s daunting to try breaking that down to some degree of sense. As I say I’m slow to apply knowledge and theory.
I may reach a point where I decide to be content with being a hobbyist, instead of heaping all this obligation on myself and getting stressed about it.

Going out to take pictures is the way I embrace life.

Cheers!

[Kimera]

Hello, thanks for the feedback!
I completely agree with you; there’s too much I don’t know yet, and that’s why I’m not advertising services. The musician who wants portraits has decided to have me do it so I get a bit of experience (and a wee fee doesn’t hurt).
When people ask for pictures it’s always been because they liked my other work, and if they want to give  me money for a pic I already took, that’s okay with me!  🙂    I make sure they know that I’m still learning on an entry level.

That said, I appreciate the comment about seeing something in everyday life. That’s mainly what I enjoy. Viewing the results on the computer is like opening presents!

I did approach a wedding photographer to ask if I could come along as an assistant; I could watch and participate without horning in on her gig.

Thanks again,
Kim

[Kimera]

OH, and in response to the “Cannon” camera, just gives extra meaning to ‘photo shoot’.

RUN AWAYYYYYYyyyyyy…  (sorry, too much Monty Python recently)

[Author]

Posts