Agree or disagree>

[APOY1998]

Just some thoughts to make you think.

Buying the best equipment will never make you a better photographer.
The skill of the photographer is seeing the picture, the camera is just a means of recording it.
Being in the right place at the right time should not be luck.

[codachrome]

Re: Agree or disagree>

Buying any make of camera does not make you a good photographer
Just makes you a camera owner.
Its what you see that makes the final image.

Peter

[briansquibb]

Re: Agree or disagree>

The equipment is the limitation to the photos you can take.

The photographer is the limitation to the photos that the equipment takes

[BT Bob]

Re: Agree or disagree>

Not so sure about the final point. You can't plan for every opportunity, a certain amount of luck is inevitable in order to capture certain shots.

You're first 2 are much more simple and straightforward, and the first one is one of the main reasons I've avoided camera clubs - a large proportion of their members seem obsessed with hardware and making sure they have the latest of everything.

[Hereford_EOS2]

Re: Agree or disagree>

Having quality equipment makes the job of the photographer easier (less post-processing etc..)
That's why top photographers use quality equipment.

A great photograph is made by the photographer despite what equipment he/she is using.

[Donphotography]

Re: Agree or disagree>

How you present your image to the viewer is what counts because everything we see can be stunning if photographed with thought and attention to detail, look around the photo sites there are no end of excellent images taken with all sorts of cameras and some even with mobile phones.

[APOY1998]

Re: Agree or disagree>

Regarding my last point 'Right place Right time'.

A planned shot is something you visualise beforehand, luck is seeing the shot when you are there. Both can produce the winning shot but planning makes is easier.

Agree or disagree?

[briansquibb]

Re: Agree or disagree>

I would say luck can be in the right place at the right time - the skill is seeing and taking the shot. You cant plan for street or nature or reportage - you can just improve the chances of a good shot by planning - perhaps scanning police frequencies, listening to local radio, monitoring the internet - after that it is luck.

Clearly some static shots can be planned but then luck may be needed to get the shaft of sunshine on a building for example.

[Hereford_EOS2]

Re: Agree or disagree>

Regarding my last point 'Right place Right time'.

A planned shot is something you visualise beforehand, luck is seeing the shot when you are there.
Agree or disagree?

Disagree.
If you plan on going to a certain place at a certain time to take a certain photograph and then taking that photography, that's not luck as it is planned.
If after taking that planned shot a hot air balloon suddenly appears, the light on the hot air balloon is great and you take another wonderful photograph then that's a bit of good luck; but again you've taken an addition great photograph and again that's not luck, that is skill.

Just my view.

[APOY1998]

Re: Agree or disagree>

Yes Stephen, but in that scene with the Balloon what is the most dramatic composition, a planned shot you would have some idea beforehand making the chances of that winning shot much greater. True it takes an element of skill to think quickly to get that 'lucky' shot but it is my feeling that a good photographer can take an average shot of anything but specialising in a given field can make a great photographer.

Graham.

[EOS_Jim]

Re: Agree or disagree>

Just some thoughts to make you think.

Buying the best equipment will never make you a better photographer.

Hard one because better kit will work better in certain scenarios so can create better quality images but it won't necessarily make you a better photographer

The skill of the photographer is seeing the picture, the camera is just a means of recording it.

Absolutely

Being in the right place at the right time should not be luck.

Sometimes luck is involved - But a good photographer will have instinct that will help in catching that brief moment

[Petros]

Re: Agree or disagree>

Sometimes luck is involved

One thing that hasn't been mentioned here is practice. As someone once said, "the more I practice the luckier I get" Being in the right place at the right time with the right equipment will definitely help, but the art of seeing the image within the scene and knowing how to set up for it quickly and knowing the right moment to press the shutter only comes through time and experience.

[APOY1998]

Re: Agree or disagree>

Practice is an understanding of how the camera works with the effects of lighting and composition.

Planning is understanding the subject you are trying to photograph.

Luck is being in the right place at the right time.

A combination of all three gives you a winning picture whatever the subject.

If you go to a local show to take pictures a good shot will probably be a result of luck, the photographers eye seeing the picture as it appears. If on the other hand you set out intending to do say candids, the shots would have had some thought, an image in your mind of what you want, and this will probably yeald the best shot of the day because instead of looking for any picture you are concentrating in one area. For me this also makes a trip more rewarding and easier to select the kit rather than lug it all around.

I guess this is why photographers specialise in particular subjects, to understand it.

Graham.

[Hereford_EOS2]

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I DO NOT believe in LUCK in this scenario.

[Stan]

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Luck is being in the right place at the right time.

.....and having the camera with you
Dee and I went for a cycle ride yesterday afternoon down to the beach and along the prom. There is a zig zag path leading down and very often you will see a lizard but only breifly as he crosses the path and disappears into a crack in the rock - yesterday in the space of a few yards we saw 3 just posing and sunning themselves......but no camera. Then as we cycled along the prom, looking up at the cliffs was a kestrel hovering, no more than 30 - 40 feet away and would easily fill the frame using our 300 and converer......again no cameras !!!!!

Stan