How POTN has opened my eyes...

I too have learned an awful lot on this site, but be careful, there is quite a bit of bad information here too. Overall, this site has been a very positive influence though.

True that! Potn is the only community i am active in. I live in the philippines. And we do have local online photography groups here, but the info, sincerity and helpfulness of the peeps in potn is amazing. Thats why i try to do me best to contribute to the topics here.

Keep it up potn!

We all think we are better now than when we first started, but are all of us really as much better as we think?

I'm a lot better than I started, but I don't put myself into the great category. I'm pretty good.

tim wrote in post #15828703
Be aware that while they are some good and a few great wedding photographers here on POTN this is an amateur community. Don't aspire to be as good as the best on here, aim higher.

I would have to strongly disagree with you here Tim. Im a PPA member and Im involved with our states professional photography associations. We bring in national instructors to teach members and ive attended wppi and PPA conventions with what are considered some of the industry's best.

There are many here on POTN that are as good, there are many that are better than what the top dogs are teaching

Several frequent this wedding forum that have an A game

Lighting, posing and amount of time invested in post processing is whats separating the top people out there. Guys like Cliff Mautner & Jerry Ghionis are at the top of the game in all these areas, especially the lighting.

lots of wedding photogs here that I'd love to hangout with... over beer and talk shop, or follow them around at an eshoot or wedding, just to see what they do / how they do, etc...

umphotography wrote in post #15833585
I would have to strongly disagree with you here Tim. Im a PPA member and Im involved with our states professional photography associations. We bring in national instructors to teach members and ive attended wppi and PPA conventions with what are considered some of the industry's best.

There are many here on POTN that are as good, there are many that are better than what the top dogs are teaching

Several frequent this wedding forum that have an A game

Lighting, posing and amount of time invested in post processing is whats separating the top people out there. Guys like Cliff Mautner & Jerry Ghionis are at the top of the game in all these areas, especially the lighting.

I agree to a point, but guys like Jerry are who I'm talking about - we don't have anyone of that caliber here. We have some great photographers, but I'm talking top 20 in the world.

I always aim high.

I couldn't agree more that POTN has opened my eyes. I loved photography since I was a kid. Never had the chance to pursue it other than a year and a half with our small town's best, and most senior photographer who assisted our high school yearbook staff. What I learned from that man is still with me today.

About 5 years ago, a newborn baby was basically dropped in my lap (wife too)....that event really spurred by commitment to improve my skills and make a substantial investment in equipment. I have gone from chasing the kid around the back yard to now being "volunteered" to do prom pictures for 12 kids in a couple of days (which includes the little one's 16 year old sister).

No other forum that I have found has the depth of knowledge that POTN has. There are some fantastic threads on here that books could be written from and honestly, books have been written on, but not explained as well. I have lurked here for years but only subscribed just a few days ago.

Finally after having Photoshop on a computer for years, a couple of hints here and there on POTN have quickly elevated my Photoshop usage and results quickly.....so much so, the wife is actually beginning to "expect" really good photos for any family event. Of course that is just another way of saying "time to buy some more equipment"........gree​n screen stuff probably next for me.

Thank you to everyone on POTN who has contributed to elevating this forum and photography for the "regular" guy to new heights. Much appreciated.

Bob E.