[Sharra]

I never had a problem with the Spyder3 in any of XP, Vista, 7 or 8 on either desktop displays or laptops. Reviews I’ve come across have rated the Spyder4 and ColorMunki as being pretty equal in price, features and usability. Maybe other posters would like to weigh in? CPowers might benefit from the discussion or maybe get more confused! 🙂

[Sharra]

CC, which one do you use? I’ve been using the Spyder 3 Pro for a few years now, but I’m wondering if I should upgrade with the Spyder 4 or ColorMunki. I’m using it on two Samsung 27″ S27B350 LED monitors.

[Sharra]

Ebi, you made some good points and wrote it in such a way where I wanted to read it, without calling me an idiot, but maybe you were still thinking it. But this is exactly what Bill, Thomas, and I have been trying to stress—if you take the time for formulate your thoughts in an engaging manner, we and others will be more apt to want to read what you have to say. If people don’t want to hear what you have to say or they’re defensive and make excuses about your comments, that would be the time for you to move on and let them continue as they have been if they don’t value what should come across as insightful help.

I should clarify about the names I mentioned. I’m not a fan of everything any of them shoot, including Leibovitz. There are just some shots from her and the others that I find quite amazing and others that I don’t have much interest in. As with everyone, there are those photographers that catch their eye with some of said photographer’s images. I wouldn’t be surprised if there are photographers who have select images that invoke an emotional response from you, too.

When I talk about getting the respect of the photographic community, like Bill, when I hear from people that I have an great photo, it’s usually from family and friends. I learn nothing from that. But if such praise comes from a group of other photographers at a local gathering or submissions to an online forum or contest, I’m of the mindset that if those people find something in those photos, then perhaps I can expand on that and begin pitching my services to potential clients. Maybe that’s the wrong approach to take, but I suppose I’m just not comfortable yet in going up to someone and saying “Hey, let me shoot your wedding!” unless I have the validation from others that I could make a go of it, perhaps not full-time, but a gig here and there.

As with Thomas, I’d still love to see some of your work. You mentioned shooting a book in another forum and I thought you had mentioned writing a couple (perhaps it was just shooting them, too?). In any event, if you want to share the book titles, that would be great, but I’ll leave it at that if you would rather not say.

You still may not give a fuck about what I think, but I still felt something needed to be said to clarify my previous posts. In no way am I trying to monopolize the conversation.

[Sharra]

Ebi, I’m not sure where you got the idea I was trying to take over a conversation. My post was based on thinking you were being rude, which you have acknowledged here towards me and to others in other forums and posts. If I’m an idiot for that, there’s not much I can do to change your mind since you don’t care what I or anyone else thinks anyway. I’m not going to fight you over this, so if we agree to disagree, that’s fine with me, too.

[Sharra]

Calling someone an idiot isn’t malice? Or the liberal use of profanity? Go figure…

[Sharra]

Well said, Thomas and Bill. Now if we could convince a certain poster that complete and utter malice and self-righteous arrogance serve no purpose.

[Sharra]

I expected no less even after I thought you might be different from responding to another thread you recently started. I’m of the opinion, as I’m sure there are others who feel the same way, that aspiring photographers are not going to improve if the ebis of the world continually tell them their work is a fucking piece of shit. They won’t listen to that and they’ll continue as they have all along with no chance of improving. There is nothing wrong with an approach like “Your photo lacks this and this and that, but here are ways you can improve it…” said with some tact even if you’re looking at the worst photo you’ve ever seen. Friends and family will always like their stuff, but it’s the rest of the world that matters if they have any chance of succeeding. I’m no psychologist, but positive reinforcement goes a lot further than negative and harsh criticism can be dealt once the photographer has more expectations placed on them from potential clients.

As for having no interest in showing your portfolio, I won’t pursue the issue, but I have to wonder, what are you afraid of? I’m sure you’ve heard the term “Put up or shut up.”

Enough said. Say what you will, but I consider the debate closed.

[Sharra]

I posted in another thread my thoughts about you before reading this, but after seeing this I got the impression that you do have at least some humility after all. Whether this thread was precipitated by a need to justify your previous posts, a need to tone it down after all the criticism you’ve been getting lately, or something else completely, only you can say.

I will never compete with the Adams, Petersons, Leibovitzs or McNallys of the world (do I get ridiculed for the names that inspire me?), but I’d like to think I can take a decent photograph every now and then. I will never consider myself a professional and I know all too well what it takes to be great so I’ll just be content being where I am with the drive to improve, but it will be at my own pace. Photography has, and will continue to be a creative outlet for me, and if some of the shots I take bring pleasure to others, so much the better. If there are offers of compensation for what I can provide, then great, but I will never solicit myself as a pro or ask for money until I can gain the respect of the photographic community. I’m perfectly content providing for my family in an IT capacity and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.

[Sharra]

@BEG I do agree that ebi seems to have a “holier than thou” attitude towards photography. The harsh negativity, profanity and immaturity leave little to be desired. It’s easy to trash talk without anything to back it up, so, ebi, if you’re reading this, please post a link to your business site so that we can all see how things should be done and what equipment is needed to get it right. Who knows, I may learn something from your techniques and be inspired to try some of what I see. But until I (and the rest of us) can see something that backs up the “all talk and no action”, I’ll leave it at that and take the “whatever” approach to your future posts. I’m fully expecting a backlash from you, but that does little except reinforce my point. Please feel free to prove me wrong! I haven’t been on here in God knows how long, so I missed your link if you mentioned it elsewhere. But I have to agree with Thomas in another forum post that the YANAP site has gone sorely downhill since its inception. It’s a shame really…

However, BEG, I have to say that I think you’ve been guilty of being pompous as well. A case in point is the valley girl “ewwww, gag me with a spoon” approach on the first page of what has become YANAP’s most popular thread, which you started. I’m not going to get into a war of words over it, nor am I going to point out other posts where I thought you possessed an air of superiority over your peers of any level or experience, so if you feel, too, that you need to say something, please do so tactfully.

I think the poster I have the most respect for here on YANAP is CameraClicker, a fellow Canadian.

[Sharra]

It’s a shame how off-track and bitter this thread has become. Even though she adamantly denies it, it’s seems to me browneyedgirl’s intent was to publicize her idea of bad photography and invite others to do the same rather than ” provide constructive criticism and helpful advice”. A need for attention? Possibly. As for her Wix page, can “aspiring photographer” and “clients” appear on the same page? Regardless or time frame, that screams fauxtographer to me.

Have her images gotten better? Yes. Could I still find fault in them? Sure. Is it worth arguing about? Not really, but I do expect a shit storm will follow because negative criticism is a tough pill to swallow when you’re caught in your own deceit. I will defend my position if asked to do so.

[Sharra]

CC: Thanks for your input. I started out with the original Rebel 9 years ago, but I got a good deal on a used Nikon D300 in 2008 and haven’t looked back. I have far too much invested in Nikon FX lenses now to consider going to Canon. I just got a phenomenal deal on a 24mm 1.4 G that I’ll sell my slow 80-400 4.5-5.6 to help pay for so now with the exception of the 18-200 3.5-5.6 on my D300, I have nothing less than f/4. I just heard great things about the 5D III and how pros are buying adapters for one of the greatest lenses there is (the  Nikon 14-24 2.8 G) to mount on their Canon pro bodies. I guess I won’t fall for the hype and save my pennies for the D4 or whatever comes out next. Oh, wait, there won’t be any pennies left in Canada soon. 🙂

Yes, I’m a grammar freak. I just didn’t anyone to take it the wrong way. “You’re” and “your” are already “ur”. Cursive writing is already going the way of the dinosaur in favour of teaching keyboarding skills.

[Sharra]

Calgary, AB

[Sharra]

I don’t have the 5D III but I’m thinking of getting one with an adapter for my Nikon lenses (see my list in Let’s Talk Photography -> What’s in your camera bag). Waste of money?

As for a couple other comments here – nothing to do with photography, just nit-picky grammar stuff – sorry if you’re offended or you feel I’m talking down to you…

CC: “Is “These shots only start at $100.” the same as “These shots start at only $100.”? Definitely! Modifiers like “only” affect the word immediately following them, so “only start” is like “I only eat oranges” meaning I am capable of just eating and nothing else like sleeping, walking, etc., rather than ” I eat only oranges” where I will eat nothing else BUT oranges. A Phrase like “…start at only $100” emphasizes the price, which is the word(s) FOLLOWING the modifier ONLY.

Bre: “As far as the likes thing, I personally think it’s a fun way to keep up with people and there work.” Obviously, you meant “their”. This is by far the word pair that I see misused the most. Sadly, I’ve seen it happen on occasion by literary professionals as well.

[Sharra]

IHF: I have a shot in the bathroom, too! 🙂 I can’t hang everything on the wall, so many of my photos end up in photo books highlighting events with my family over the year. I’m looking to backtrack those books to 2001, but I haven’t had the time or energy to take on such a large project yet. I’d like to have most of them done over the next year though…

[Sharra]

IHF: I did that assignment for myself a couple years ago and now have a nice 24″ x 18″ landscape shot hanging on my living room wall. 🙂

[Author]

Posts