Are Amateurs destroying Photography

mikekelley wrote in post #15206051
Amateurs, pfft. I blame the iPhone. Don't you know it's all you need these days?

Damn, and I bought an Android! Is there no hope for me Mike?

I have one of them Android phones too.

In a way, yes amateurs are destroying it but honestly, who cares? I see a lot of amateurs who are equally talented and creative, if not more than professionals, what gives professionals the sole right to take pictures for a living?

dtufino wrote in post #13747535
It seems everyone has a DSLR with a KIT lens and consider themselves a "Professional Photographer"

And what is a "Professional Photographer" to you? Someone who has more than 3 L's in this forum's signature?

Azathoth wrote in post #15213278
And what is a "Professional Photographer" to you? Someone who has more than 3 L's in this forum's signature?

I have an L series lens, and if I had a job that paid more than entry level wages, then I would likely have two or three more of the things.

Two key things separate me from real professional photographers:
1. Skill and experience
2. A desire to make money off photography

I can't remember where I read this (likely on this forum somewhere), but my favorite definition of a professional is as follows: "An amateur can create a brilliant photograph. A professional can do it on demand." I believe this is a good measure if one doesn't wish to differentiate solely based on whether one receives compensation.

As for the quality issue, the democratization of technology (in all creative fields) has led to a larger amount of sub-par material being produced. This has led to a vicious circle of lowered client / audience expectations, which leads to even less effort on the producers, ad infinitum. The large volume has also made it more difficult for those whose works are higher in quality to stand out, further discouraging them. Unless some means other than the free market can be found to encourage and sustain higher quality, it seems inevitable that society is doomed to a creative mediocracy.

Amateurs destroy photography daily, but it doesn't really have anything to do with me.

We all were once out there destroying photography.

I haven't found this to be a problem, and also, I've never heard of anyone call themselves professional when they don't know the difference between shutter speed and aperture.

Either way, what's the difference? Professionals will still be professionals and amateurs will continue to be amateurs.

Ricardo222 wrote in post #15206059
Damn, and I bought an Android! Is there no hope for me Mike?

I heard the android allows for better creativity since its an open-source operating system

PaulMix wrote in post #15214095
As for the quality issue, the democratization of technology (in all creative fields) has led to a larger amount of sub-par material being produced. This has led to a vicious circle of lowered client / audience expectations, which leads to even less effort on the producers, ad infinitum. The large volume has also made it more difficult for those whose works are higher in quality to stand out, further discouraging them. Unless some means other than the free market can be found to encourage and sustain higher quality, it seems inevitable that society is doomed to a creative mediocracy.

Sadly, you are probably correct..

Always avoid a society that praises mediocre philosophers because philosophy is an honored profession, and eschews excellent plumbers because plumbing is a humble profession. In that society, neither the philosophy nor the pipes will hold water.

Nature Nut wrote in post #15214699
I heard the android allows for better creativity since its an open-source operating system

Perhaps. However it also allows for greater error.

20droger wrote in post #15215244
Perhaps. However it also allows for greater error.

Some of the greatest mistakes are the best works of art though. Take myself for example

20droger wrote in post #15215238
Sadly, you are probably correct..

Always avoid a society that praises mediocre philosophers because philosophy is an honored profession, and eschews excellent plumbers because plumbing is a humble profession. In that society, neither the philosophy nor the pipes will hold water.

Well said sir!

Nature Nut wrote in post #15215681
Some of the greatest mistakes are the best works of art though. Take myself for example

Do I have to?

20droger wrote in post #15216719
Do I have to?

You can look in the mirror and take yourself instead. Most of us were probably a mistake or two