Why use this picture?

A BLOG REVISITED…

After my post on ‘What ever happened to good photography, I’ve had a few inquiries as to why I chose the picture of the pretty blonde with the ‘hot’ highlights as an example image. Well the answer is simple; it’s because this shot is a difficult one to accomplish and that this young lady with pale blonde hair standing in the blazing DIRECT sunlight still has plenty of DETAIL in her hair. What you would see with a pale blonde head of hair in direct sunlight in a shot taken by an unexperienced photographer would probably be HOT WHITE AREAS WITH NO DETAIL. I guess you could say this shot is somewhat of a photographic achievement when it comes to digital photography. That’s why I chose this image as an example.

Also, to clarify one other matter with my prior post. I would just like to state that it was not intended for any well established professionals! It was primarily intended to point out the lack of true professionals now entering the market and highlighting the massive number of non-professionals entering the market by simply going out and purchasing a DSLR and labeling themselves as a “PROFESSIONAL”. I can assure you it take YEARS to become professional at ANYTHING! How many MECHANICS do you know that just went and bought a wrench and opened a shop the very next week and if you do know any that did this how many of them would you actually hire?

I’m probably going to step on some MORE TOES here, but I’m personally doubting that taking a class at your local camera shop can give anyone the skills needed to become a working professional. If you plan to take these classes in hopes of gaining enough skills to make a serious career change then perhaps you need to speak candidly (no pun intended) to those teaching the classes to confirm if they are designed to provide a PROFESSIONAL LEVEL of education. How do most PROS get their education? We work for a few years with another professional photographer as an assistant or we work for a company that offers education as part of an on the job training program. Some of us get college degrees in photography in addition to on the job training. There is no QUICK ROAD to success in this business as even after we learn the skills there are many dues to be paid…

So, for those of you who may be thinking I’m a bit TOO COMPETITIVE. This simply isn’t the case. I have a DEEP APPRECIATION for the ART of what I do and I take GREAT OFFENSE to the CRAP that is quickly flooding the internet that is being labeled as ‘Professional’ work by many who have obviously never had any serious photography training or experience. If you know what you’re doing I welcome your competition with open arms! If you own and camera and don’t know how to take on the technical challenges that true professional work will bring I take offense to your calling yourself a photographer and I seriously take offense to your calling yourself a PROFESSIONAL. By the way, I have many FRIENDS who are TRUE PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS.

~ by Cindi Kay on July 4, 2007.