Don't spend too much time on forums!

I've found an interview type article with Giulio Sciorio and some words of wisdom for an aspiring photographer, which I wanted to share:

"Dont get caught up in the technical side of photography. Lean by shooting film with a junky camera. You’ll respect yourself later and will sharpen your skills at seeing much faster then someone who spent thousands of dollars on the latest camera everyone is talking about on the forum. So often I shoot with my Holga or my Yashica TLR just to loosen up and stop thinking about anything other then the light, subject, lines and feeling.
Also stay away from forums. Most commentaries are negative and don’t really shoot much rather, they get lost in the specs of the cameras. Don’t get me wrong I love looking at the latest and greatest cameras but I ask myself, ‘Am I shooting enough? Why do I have time to care about what camera is being released. I need to shoot more.”
Focus on the craft. Learn what makes a good photography good. Plan your shots out in advance but also assign yourself shoots that are fun and loose and don’t worry about not knowing Photoshop.
Don’t let the grumpy photographers scare you. Yes the business (if your goal is to start a business) is very challenging but those who have a bad attitude simply did not run their business right and are basing their lives in fear. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, welcome them. That’s how you learn. Yes right now you suck and you don’t have a clue. Keep that mindset! You might one day think you know a lot about photography then you meet someone who knows way more then you and are very chill and you realize you still suck so you study and shoot more. Just keep shooting.

If you don’t know what to shoot shoot anything. Do a series on found garbage, photography peoples feet while taking a walk. Shoot whatever just keep shooting.

Regardless of what you shoot keep in mind that its #1 A BUSINESS. Treat it as such. #2 Market #3 Shoot and #4 Get paid. If you market and build a brand you’ll do fine. Just don’t think you’re hot sh*t, there’s always someone better and nothing is original so don’t even think about it."

Aleness wrote in post #13652236
Regardless of what you shoot keep in mind that its #1 A BUSINESS. Treat it as such. #2 Market #3 Shoot and #4 Get paid. If you market and build a brand you’ll do fine. Just don’t think you’re hot sh*t, there’s always someone better and nothing is original so don’t even think about it."

pretty much... 80% business, 20% photography

well its not always #1 a business. For some like myself its 0% business.
but you're pretty much right.
dont spend too much time on forums when you could be shooting. They are useful for ideas and info, I disagree that shooting film is needed, why move backwards with technology when its not needed. Be good with what you have access too.
Same goes for gear, no need to care about the newest and best, use what you have and learn how to utilize it

I stopped reading after the first few sentences. Silly stuff.

I agree a lot with what you have stated. I am just starting my photography hobby and spend much time here when I should be shooting and trying to improve. When I do shoot, I believe I make leaps and bounds bettering my photgraphy skills.

I do think though that even though there is negative things here, there is much knowledge to be gained on beneficial forums like this. I have tried to photograph in my own way but also take reference from others shots. It sometimes helps me plan out how to an excute a shot.

I'd love to turn this into a business but for me it's a great hobby. I think too many people expect this to become a business just because they've bought an expensive camera.

Who is Giulio Sciorio?

nicksan wrote in post #13655054
I stopped reading after the first few sentences. Silly stuff.

Hmmm... 21,266 posts.
Obviously you spend too much time here.
Therefore, you felt guilty and stopped reading

iluxa007 wrote in post #13655780
Hmmm... 21,266 posts.
Obviously you spend too much time here.
Therefore, you felt guilty and stopped reading

I have over 30,000 posts and kept reading. Still thought it was silly. Silly because it was token "be different for the sake of being different" advice you slap on a blog somewhere to sound like you know what you're talking about without going in depth at all.

I still don't know who this guy is and why we should listen to him instead of our fellow forumites. I'm guessing he's a nobody who does seminars. I get spam about those all the time just because I'm easy to find on Google.

Aleness wrote in post #13652236
Also stay away from forums. Most commentaries are negative and don’t really shoot much rather, they get lost in the specs of the cameras.

Obviously never been to POTN...

I'm always open to other's ideas but this is really just another take on the same old tired rhetoric. I was waiting for the bit where "GWCs are ruining the photography business".

And like CDI, I'm ignorant to who this person is...and after reading the burst above I'm not entirely convinced it's worth the 5 seconds it would take to Google him.

nicksan wrote in post #13655054
I stopped reading after the first few sentences. Silly stuff.

Yup. As soon as any 'expert' starts telling me that I can learn faster with a ****ty camera my BS sensors go off and I stop reading.

I agree with some of the points he's making, but everybody is different. I will admit that I don't shoot as much as I want to, but I really do think that if spending money and buying new gear is what keeps you excited in this hobby, power to you! If I still just had my Rebel with a kit lens and didn't go on the internet, it would probably be sitting in a bag with a dead battery. When people say "go out and shoot, keep shooting!!!" to me that is like telling an alcoholic "stop drinking!!!' Do what works for YOU.

What else am I going to do at work?

JAE Photography wrote in post #13656384
What else am I going to do at work?

LOL! +1 on that one. I do same at work (I work 12 hour shifts)

As to who he is, he's a miami-based photog who apparently shoots for various record labels and publishers.

I don't think it's silly at all. But with stuff like:

and

neither is it (yawn) original.

As to forums, I think that's pretty much old news, too. I think most everybody already knows that forums everywhere contain gearheads that spend more time researching specs than learning how to compose a picture.

SOK wrote in post #13655791
Obviously never been to POTN...

+1 on that!

I have learned more here than anywhere else. Plus most members here actually do try to help once you weed out a slight few.