If you’re lucky, you’ll meet some great photographers. It’s a real privilege to work with them, isn’t it? There are elements in common that most good photographers have. But, above anything else, they all have one thing in common.
What is a good photographer?
I should start by saying what I mean by a “good photographer”. A good photographer takes a good photo. To do that, they know how to compose and expose a photo. They then use the camera and lens that best suits the job they want to do. Those are all subjective choices and what they decide is best for them is not necessarily the case for everyone. It’s important that they know it.
They happily accept that others will take a completely different approach to getting the best shot. Those photos may not be to their liking. However, they note other methods of photography.
Good photographers also look at different camera systems to discover what they can do for them.
Bad photographers and failed photography
Thus, one can conclude that the opposite is true for bad photographers who are quick to criticize others while thinking that their point of view is the only one. They always believe that the way they get a photo and the camera system they use is the only way. Similarly, if they don’t like a particular genre or style, they believe it has no value to anyone. They cannot take any criticism of the system they use and are annoyed by anyone giving an opinion that differs from their own.
My proof for that? Look at the comments section of most camera reviews; you’ll see people jumping up and down and making mocking comments about the kit. They will then attack the person who wrote the review and sometimes their photography.
Compare their photos with galleries of people complimenting other people’s articles and photos. People with a more positive outlook always take better photos. Those with the worst attitudes will have no galleries and hide behind a false personality to cover up (possibly) their legitimately low views.
Oddly enough, people with opposing views commented on an article more often than those with a positive opinion. It’s as if they’re trying to make up for their incompetence by trying to take others down.
The best camera is not the one you have with you
Camera brands have very little to do with successful photography. Good photographers will appreciate the good points of the kit and accept their camera is not perfect. A bad photographer will defend their choice of camera to the death, no matter what, and take every opportunity to snipe others. A camera is just a camera; a good photographer will take good pictures with it, no matter the brand or model.
You are better than you think (unless you already believe it)
Many good photographers don’t appreciate their skills. They are also not modest about the quality of their work. However, they realize that they are on a journey of constant growth. Moreover, they are always looking for ways to make their photography better. Whether through experimenting with new techniques, shooting the same subject multiple times in different conditions, or researching new genres, their photographic abilities improve. Bad photographers always have the idea of exaggerating their skills.
A common factor many bad photographers use to rationalize their belief that their way is best is that they use years of experience to validate their point of view. “I’ve been photographing for 35 years.” That’s rarely a rational justification, as some of the most interesting photographic work comes from young photographers.
Do you share your knowledge?
Good photographers always share their knowledge passionately. Their generous spirit is essential to them. They are passionate about helping others become better at what they do. They also celebrate the success of other photographers. Look at most of the big names in photography; they are famous for communicating what they have discovered and the skills they have honed.
The tallest flower, plucked for the first time.
Tallest tiger, hunted for the first time.
The tallest tree, cut down for the first time.
Anyone who becomes successful at what they do becomes a target for others who will try to destroy their success. That’s almost expected behavior in the modern world, thanks to internet trolling. It is similarly appalling behavior in some of the media, and even some of our leaders incite hatred. This sad thing that reflects the darkest side of human nature is something that we should not accept in photography.
But it also happens in the world of photography. I have seen it even at the club level. One wishes club leaders to support their soon-to-be members, but I’ve seen them ruthlessly attack someone else’s work better than their own. Such run clubs are rarely successful, and sometimes, such actions spoil the enthusiasm of talented beginners.
Likewise, the big names in photography are often the target of envy scorn by the less successful. Rejecting criticism comes easily to the successful photographer; After all, they have nothing to prove.
A successful photographer can change the last word of the poem above to “take a photo”, although the haiku seventy-five format will no longer work. That’s okay because the most successful photographers rarely stick to convention.
One thing that makes a good photographer great
However, there is one thing that makes a good photographer stand out. It is their passion that shines through in their photography. It’s probably one of the hardest things to convey in an image. It’s more than just technical ability, getting the right exposure or depth of field right. It’s not just about composing footage to follow one composition rule of another. It certainly has nothing to do with the lens or the camera. Integrating our emotions is what we should strive to achieve when taking pictures.
How do you do it? If you find joy in a sunrise, marvel at the finest details of an ant, a profound friendliness towards your model, marvel at the feather patterns of a bird, excitement When you see a predator or fascinate with abstract patterns, you have succeeded.
Sadly, though, there will always be people who don’t read that passion in your images. But that’s their problem, not yours.
