Should I be honored or intimidated?

You all know how much I enjoy taking pictures.....and I've been planning to take a photography course soon so that I will actually know what I'm doing. I've also been shopping for a new digital camera so that I can get serious with my photography since the one I have now just doesn't do all that I want it to.

Well, yesterday, I was browsing some digital photography websites just trying to learn about different cameras and techiniques. I found one site that I liked that had some forums on digital photography and galleries for people to post their photos. I decided to join that site and post a few of my pictures in the "beginner's" gallery so that I could get some feedback on my photos. Last night, when I went back to the site to see if anyone has commented on my photos, they weren't there anymore. I thought to myself, "Well I guess my photos weren't good enough and they removed them."

So this morning, I received an email from the owner of the site:

Robin, I removed several of your pics from the "New to Photography" gallery and transferred them to the "Photo Critiques" gallery.

New to Photography is meant for raw beginners but from looking your images I feel you are not in that category. Please advise me if otherwise.

Regards,

Kevin Power
PassionForPixels



So he has moved my photos in with all the professional photographers!!!! I emailed him back and thanked him for the compliment, but that I really am a beginner. It's kind of intimidating to see my photos posted next to some really beautiful shots taken by professionals.

I think that's terrific! You may be a beginner, but you obviously have some innate talent. Imagine what you'll do after you take a course! Bravo!

I think that's wonderful! I'm glad you're being recognized for your talent!

Originally Posted by mamacat

I think that's terrific! You may be a beginner, but you obviously have some innate talent. Imagine what you'll do after you take a course! Bravo!

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Thanks! My mother was a professional photographer......maybe I inherited a little of her talent. I just wish that I had gotten interested in photography before she died so that we could have shared that with each other.

Obviously, I like these pictures since I posted them to that site, but I definitely don't see them as being good enough to post alongside the professionals! It's pretty intimidating!!!





And of course.....I had to put some pictures of my babies in there!

Robin...

How wonderful! I definately think you should feel honored. I think your pictures are truly gorgeous...very touching. I also have a budding passion for photography; I am also looking to get a new DC in the coming year so I can work my new hobby. Good luck with everything! Also...if you do not mind, could you PM me (or post here) that site that you posted your pics on; I would be interested in seeing others work and getting a feel for the site.

Sarah

Originally Posted by Cyclesarah

Robin...

How wonderful!

I definately think you should feel honored. I think your pictures are truly gorgeous...very touching. I also have a budding passion for photography; I am also looking to get a new DC in the coming year so I can work my new hobby. Good luck with everything! Also...if you do not mind, could you PM me (or post here) that site that you posted your pics on; I would be interested in seeing others work and getting a feel for the site.

Sarah

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Here's the site Sarah: Passion for Pixels

I've decided that I'm going to invest in a digital SLR camera because if I want to get serious about this hobby, then I am going to have to have a serious camera. Initially, I was going to get a film camera, but with technology moving the way it is.....a professional digital camera is the way to go. The newer SLR's have features and resolutions that meet or exceed most film cameras. Plus, you don't have to waste a lot of money on processing a bunch of photos that are duds that you end up throwing away. You can review your pictures beforehand and then only process the good ones....which saves a ton of money in the long run. I'll sometimes take over 100 pictures and only get 1 or 2 that are "keepers" in my opinion. I'd hate to have to pay for developing 100 pictures just to see that I only got a couple of good ones.

I'm leaning toward getting the Nikon D70 or the Canon EOS 20D but some others have also caught my interest. I just need to do some more research on cameras and decide which one will be right for my needs.

Those pictures are awesome Robin! i wish i have 1/2 your talent. What camera did you use to take those pictures? i like the 1st one a lot...

Canon 20D 20D 20D!!! Well at least that is my dream camera. Currently i'm using the G3 and am a sucker for Canon cameras

whoa...I can see why he moved them to the other section.

They're quite good shots. I especially like the first one. There's a lot of textures in that photo and it came off beautifully.

Thanks so much, Robin. I am going to go check it out! I am also torn about which new camera to get...I am with you, you want a serious camera, but which one?? I am still doing my research - and saving my pennies!! When you decide I would love to hear abotu which one you go with!
Oh...I forgot to mention that I, too, was going to go with film at first...but now I really think digital is the way to go. Film is neat, but the future is digital and you can do so much with it. I also have the habit of taking a TON of pics, too, with a few good ones, so a DC will save me $$ in the long run!

Originally Posted by Hobbester

Those pictures are awesome Robin! i wish i have 1/2 your talent. What camera did you use to take those pictures? i like the 1st one a lot...

Canon 20D 20D 20D!!! Well at least that is my dream camera. Currently i'm using the G3 and am a sucker for Canon cameras

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Sheesh Pearly......I've always been jealous of YOUR pictures!!! You have a lot of talent!

I'm currently using a Sony CD300 which I inherited from my mother when she died. It's about 3 years old, but at the time, she paid over $1,000 for it and it was one of the top of the line digital cameras. It still does a good job and I really like it.......but now that I'm trying to get more serious about my photography, I'm beginning to see its limitations.

One thing I found interesting while doing my research on digital cameras is that all megapixels are NOT created equal. I thought that my 3.2 megapixel Sony was outdated because I was seeing newer cameras coming out with 8-10 megapixels for really cheap prices. But depending on the type of sensors the camera has and the size of the pixels.....that will determine picture quality......not just how many megapixels a camera has. I found out that my Sony has something called CCD sensors which mean that my 3.2 megapixel camera is going to have much better picture quality than an 8 megapixel camera that costs $100 and uses cheap sensors.

If you're interested in learning about digital cameras, here's a great site to check out: Digital Photography Review

Robin, I agree with the site admin...those are NOT beginner's photos! Simply beautiful photography. I'm sure the other, real beginners would have been quite intimidated by your photos had they stayed there.

As far as an SLR camera goes, Earl has recently gotten into concert photography (You know, the guys who get to be in front of the front row to take pictures? He's been getting the passes to do that!) The professionals he's been talking to have recommended Nikon cameras, but I honestly couldn't tell you which ones. I'll see if I can get him to poke in here and tell you what he's learned about those.

Robin,

Those are not what the site owner routinely sees when it comes to photographs. I would be thrilled, not intimidated that they were moved. Learn what you can from the professionals there. See if they offer a email mentor program? If they don't maybe you could prompt them to start one. My dad was a commercial photographer as a hobby when I was growing up. We had a darkroom in the garage, and he took all the photos in my Jr. High Yearbook as well as he specialized in weddings and postcards. I see a lot of quality in the eye of your camera and would say good job and keep it up!

Robin,
You are so.....talented! A NATURAL pro! Congrats!

Originally Posted by valanhb

Robin, I agree with the site admin...those are NOT beginner's photos!

Simply beautiful photography.

I'm sure the other, real beginners would have been quite intimidated by your photos had they stayed there.

As far as an SLR camera goes, Earl has recently gotten into concert photography (You know, the guys who get to be in front of the front row to take pictures? He's been getting the passes to do that!) The professionals he's been talking to have recommended Nikon cameras, but I honestly couldn't tell you which ones. I'll see if I can get him to poke in here and tell you what he's learned about those.

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BUT I AM A BEGINNER!!!

Ok....maybe I'm an "advanced beginner" but still nowhere near what the "real photographers" can do. My mother always told me that I had an "eye" for seeing the good shots....and she also said that's half the battle. I suppose that's true. But I'm still clueless as far as the technical aspects of photography. I just shoot what I like.

With my mother having been a professional photographer....she always had Nikons and would have probably recommended a Nikon. But the Canon looks nice too and I know that both Canon and Nikon are known for their lenses. It's going to be a tough choice. Either way, I'm probably going to drop a large chunk of money no matter which one I decide to get.

Robin - you are not a "raw beginner"! I'm sure you may have learned a few things from your mom and not realized it. Tho not professional, my dad passed on what he knew to help me when I took the photo course in college. One of the most helpful tips(and easy with digital) is to take a lot of shots.

Awww, you had to include a shot of baby Cooper and Thomas!

Originally Posted by hissy

Robin,
Those are not what the site owner routinely sees when it comes to photographs. I would be thrilled, not intimidated that they were moved. Learn what you can from the professionals there. See if they offer a email mentor program? If they don't maybe you could prompt them to start one. My dad was a commercial photographer as a hobby when I was growing up. We had a darkroom in the garage, and he took all the photos in my Jr. High Yearbook as well as he specialized in weddings and postcards. I see a lot of quality in the eye of your camera and would say good job and keep it up!

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Good idea MA. I haven't fully explored the site yet...but I do know they have a lot of helpful forums to discuss all things related to digital photography.

Originally Posted by gemlady

Robin - you are not a "raw beginner"! I'm sure you may have learned a few things from your mom and not realized it. Tho not professional, my dad passed on what he knew to help me when I took the photo course in college. One of the most helpful tips(and easy with digital) is to take a lot of shots.
Awww, you had to include a shot of baby Cooper and Thomas!

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You're probably right......but you should see some of the supposed "beginner" photos posted in that gallery! They're incredible! I actually felt intimidated to post my photos in THERE at first! Some of the photos that are in the main gallery are just awesome......and I really feel intimidated having mine posted alongside some of those photos! I need to hurry up and get good!

And of course....I HAD to include a couple pictures of my boys! That's mostly what I photograph these days!

Okay Heidi told me I should poke in here so here I am

Like Heidi says, I do some concert photography here and there and talk to the pro's who do it. I myself, like the new Nikon D70 thats out now, but one the phtographers that has done it for 20+ years has really recommended Canon. One of the main reasons is that a lot of professionals use them and if something is ever to break while doing a shoot, other photograhers use Canon digital cameras, they can borrow a lens fromt hem and continue shooting. That's a good reason for me to get a Canon. One other thing they were saying too is over all, get a camera with a metal body if at all possible. They hear that the plastic on the cameras are getting really cheap and break very easily. Thats all I can really say. I see a lot of Canons used more so then Nikon, if that says anything. Btw, there is a link to one I did at the SCorpions concert here to give you an idea what I do and how close I am when I do concert phtography down below (due to copyright and a few other odds and ends, I have to shrink the pic, add copyrighted info and bring down the quality of the picture).

Originally Posted by Arg0

Okay Heidi told me I should poke in here so here I am

Like Heidi says, I do some concert photography here and there and talk to the pro's who do it. I myself, like the new Nikon D70 thats out now, but one the phtographers that has done it for 20+ years has really recommended Canon. One of the main reasons is that a lot of professionals use them and if something is ever to break while doing a shoot, other photograhers use Canon digital cameras, they can borrow a lens fromt hem and continue shooting. That's a good reason for me to get a Canon. One other thing they were saying too is over all, get a camera with a metal body if at all possible. They hear that the plastic on the cameras are getting really cheap and break very easily. Thats all I can really say. I see a lot of Canons used more so then Nikon, if that says anything.

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Earl....thanks for your input! The Nikon D70 and the Canon 20D seem fairly comparable with the exception of Canon having a higher total resolution. (but it also adds approx $500 to the base price for that resolution) I also need to take into consideration the lenses that are available for each and what they cost to get a total picture of what I need.

I told you on the Fur pictures forum, that I think you should make a coffee table book of your kitties along with your cute little captions.

I LOVE that picture of the tree that looks like a piece of art. There is no way, that picture looks like a beginners work. You do have a natural eye.