Photography Myths & Misconceptions

Hi everyone! There are many great tutorials on these forums that provide a solid foundation for the beginner photographer. And for the most part, the community at POTN is very knowledgeable and capable in photography. However, I will occasionally find misinformation in posts which tells me that the user either misunderstood a concept, or has some false or missing data. Sometimes, the myth or misconception will have become so widespread that it becomes almost universally accepted.

So with this thread, I would like to quash any and all such myths and misconceptions about photography. If you have come across info that's totally wrong, or even incomplete or inaccurate, please post it below and help clear it up for us!

Myth #1 - If I shoot I will be rich and famous and remembered forever an iconic legend
Myth #2 - I'm special I don't need training
Myth #3 - I have better gear I am a better photographer
Myth #4 - I was here first and captured an exclusive (think Zabriskie Point in Death Valley)
Myth #5 - I can retire on my photographers pension

This should start things rolling ...

Don't shoot all your landscapes at F22.

Myth #6 - Equipment doesn't matter, it's all in the photographer.

Anyone who believes this one can send me all of their equipment, and I'll send them a Canon 300HS Point and Shoot.

M mode all the time is better.

Shockey wrote in post #13239896
Don't shoot all your landscapes at F22.

Can you explain further so that people have the reasoning behind this?

va_rider wrote in post #13239910
Myth #6 - Equipment doesn't matter, it's all in the photographer.

Anyone who believes this one can send me all of their equipment, and I'll send them a Canon 300HS Point and Shoot.

You hear this a lot. I think a better statement might be, "Equipment doesn't matter as much as know-how". Or something along those lines.

Myth #7 Now that I have arrived the real work is over.

I just heard legendary photographer Jerry Uelsmann speak and he was incredibly funny and real about the craft. He just blasted the notion that fame and experience make the job any easier. He stated that sometimes negatives will sit in his enlargers for weeks at a time while he is trying to get an image to come together.

http://www.google.com …CEcQsAQ&biw=142​3&bih=1064

Myth #132: If I tilt the camera on an angle, people will think I'm creative and the photo will be more "artistic."
Fact: Any moron can tilt a camera. There's nothing creative about it.

Myth #133: Spot coloring is a really cool post-processing technique utilized by the best professionals.
Fact: It requires no skill and is mostly utilized by amateurs pretending to be professionals, to hide the fact that there's nothing special about their images.

Myth #17: High Speed Sync is used to stop motion with a fast shutter speed while using flash.
Fact: The value of high speed sync is the ability to use large apertures to blur the background in bright environments.

Myth #8, running one image through photomatix gives you an HDR. No, it just gives you a tonemapped image, you have not improved the dynamic range of the image; just utilized software to do something you don't know how to do conventionally.

Curtis N wrote in post #13240400
Myth #17: High Speed Sync is used to stop motion with a fast shutter speed while using flash.
Fact: The value of high speed sync is the ability to use large apertures to blur the background in bright environments.

High speed sync can also be used to stop motion that requires a faster shutter speed than your max sync speed. Don't take my word for it, I actually never need HHS, but I did enjoy watching Joe McNally rig up about 600 speedlights in HHS mode to shoot some skateboarders riding a pool.

Myth: if you donate your services to my "silent auction, raffle, sports club, etc", you will get tons of business in return.
Fact: no, you probably will not. Give your services away if you want to support the cause, but don't give with any expectation of huge return. it rarely happens.

Curtis N wrote in post #13240391
Myth #132: If I tilt the camera on an angle, people will think I'm creative and the photo will be more "artistic."
Fact: Any moron can tilt a camera. There's nothing creative about it.

And these would be the same people that can't seem to leveling the frame properly for shots in which they don't tilt the camera.

Curtis N wrote in post #13240391
Myth #133: Spot coloring is a really cool post-processing technique utilized by the best professionals.
Fact: It requires no skill and is mostly utilized by amateurs pretending to be professionals, to hide the fact that there's nothing special about their images.

I don't think I've ever seen a photo with spot coloring that I liked. Where I did find it used very effectively was in Schindler's List. Very powerful stuff.

Myth #4,654: All myths can be quashed once and for all in a single thread.