Man, most people don't know how to use cameras.

bjordan wrote in post #8123522
I learned recently that a rattlesnake is the only reptile in California that can be legally killed without a fishing license. You can use that in your online trivia club.

Back OT (I guess), I prefer learning from books. The information is almost always far more concise, well-written, comprehensive, and with better pedagogy than any webpage or forum. The intertubes are sometimes great for advice on very specific issues, but not for learning a new subject.

We have a massive problem here with "manga" which loosly translates to "comic" in western countries. The problem is that kids (and more and more parents) believe that manga about, for example, the Edo era in Japan has value as a teaching medium. Of course, it's jammed full of highly stylistic comic "drama", and per page the word count is perhaps under 10 or 20! But throw in a few real names, such as Tokugawa Ieyasu or Shimazu Hisamitsu, and the kids scream, "Look! I'm learning history, ok?!?!?!?!?"

Also, recently there have been a string of offences here where scientists have faked data within peer-reviewed research papers! One even took about 3 years to be uncovered because the other scientists assumed that the information was far more concise, well-written, comprehensive and with more pedagogy than could be found elsewhere.

I suppose what I'm saying is that we all need to be wary....even when it's non-fiction, it can be fictitious!

skygod44 wrote in post #8123603
I suppose what I'm saying is that we all need to be wary....even when it's non-fiction, it can be fictitious!

Unless it's Ken Rockwell. <runs>

j/k good points.

bjordan wrote in post #8123722
Unless it's Ken Rockwell. <runs>
j/k good points.

Ol' Uncle Ken.......I wondered if anyone would bring him into this, especially considering it's about people who can't use a camera.


Truth be told, I find him quite funny sometimes.
[Runs very quickly.....]

skygod44 wrote in post #8123894
Ol' Uncle Ken.......I wondered if anyone would bring him into this, especially considering it's about people who can't use a camera.


Truth be told, I find him quite funny sometimes.
[Runs very quickly.....]

Master Ken is a true word ninja.

... or is that a truth-word ninja... the truth is in there, hiding in the shadows, waiting to strike the non-wary (which is most).

skygod44 wrote in post #8122271
See.......I knew that given enough time, Roy and I would agree on something.
I read every night because if I didn't I'm pretty sure my slide into cognitive oblivion would be even quicker than it is now!


I didn't write that Roy! It was Roger!!! He's so rude isn't he.

I had decided not to contribute to this thread any more, as I thought 'skygod will only make some snide comment'. But I tried one more post - and was proved right.

Veemac wrote in post #8084401
It's pretty easy to tell the difference between those whose native tongue is not English and those who are just illiterate/too lazy to make an attempt to write coherently. It makes me throw up in my mouth a little bit when I see a post that looks something like "o hai ppl i hv a ? 4 u can u hlp me hehe y dont my pix look gud i just got a 1d lol n it roolz!!!1!!11! but u no ok well tnx bye".

I don't remember where it was, but someone on a forum wrote a post about receiving a resume with a cover letter written in text-speak. You know where it ended up...

bjordan wrote in post #8088578
Yeah, you can always spot a loser because their cameras don't cost enough. They're as bad as the losers that buy more camera than their skill justifies.

There's at least one I know of that's a member here...

20droger wrote in post #8089811
O where's Professor Higgins when we truly need him?

"The rain in Spain on the table make a stain..."

I'm sure it's been said but I'd be thankful that it still takes a lot of learning to take good photos, otherwise all of the pros would be out of a job.

If I had the patience and time to do so, I would have read this entire thread. As is, I have to be satisfied with reading just the first few and last few pages of it. Even with that sample size, it provided a lot of entertainment.

You can see the modest list of equipment in my sig, and that comes along with less than 6 months' worth of experience. But I've become very happy with what I shoot, and I'm always working on improving my technique.

I will proudly state that my camera has never been in Green Box (at least, not in my hands) nor any of the other "Scene" modes. Is that what they're even called?

truello wrote in post #8127764
I'm sure it's been said but I'd be thankful that it still takes a lot of learning to take good photos, otherwise all of the pros would be out of a job.

Regardless if how perfect the auto exposure and auto focus systems get, and even if a compact could take shots that look like a 1DsIII, 90% of what make a good photo has nothing to do with the camera itself. The real talent will always be finding the right subjects, composition and lighting, and then assembling them in a pleasing manner.

Hey tkbslc-

I have read and enjoyed many of your posts (here and elsewhere), and I think you're spot on for the most part. I've seen the threads that say things like "I'm disappointed in my kit lens, and I've read good reviews about the 70-200 f/4L is...should I upgrade?" Disregarding the fact, of course,that there is no overlap in the focal length - it's like buying new steak knives when you haven't taken the time to learn to use your chopsticks.

I posted elsewhere that photography seems to be one of the few hobbies where so many people try to buy more equipment to improve their performance without the benefit of practice. I mean, golfers will sometimes try to buy the latest and greatest clubs to improve their game, but at least they practice with them!

I've gotten a good bit of guilty pleasure when shooting in difficult environments with other people with dSLR's and having my pics turn out better - even with my entry level kit with some second-hand gear!

Roy Mathers wrote in post #8124767
I had decided not to contribute to this thread any more, as I thought 'skygod will only make some snide comment'. But I tried one more post - and was proved right.

Ahh, come on Roy....where's your sense of humour?

If you're going to regularly point out the errors various POTN members make in their posts - grammatical, typo or otherwise - then you should, IMO, be willing to take a modest jab for said digs.

As I said before, we all come from different backgrounds and if some people can't improve their English, it's a tad narrow minded to assume it's because they wouldn't if they could....though some are just lazy bums!!!!

Despite being a Skygod, I ain't perfick.....are you, Roy?

If you're man enough to admit you can make the odd slip, then come back into the fray and let's carry on the debate with less judgement of others' characters.

Deal?

[Insert image of Skygod holding out his hand to shake that of Roy, after which we can have a manly hug and become best of chums..........anyone got a tissue......I'm welling up!]

Oh and back to the thread, and people should practice a lot more before buying new lenses - I highly recommend everyone see Kenji's "A Week with..." thread!
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=695919

DocMike wrote in post #8128612
If I had the patience and time to do so, I would have read this entire thread. As is, I have to be satisfied with reading just the first few and last few pages of it. Even with that sample size, it provided a lot of entertainment.

You can see the modest list of equipment in my sig, and that comes along with less than 6 months' worth of experience. But I've become very happy with what I shoot, and I'm always working on improving my technique.

I will proudly state that my camera has never been in Green Box (at least, not in my hands) nor any of the other "Scene" modes. Is that what they're even called?

They're called "Basic Modes." The P, Av, Tv, and M modes are "Creative Modes."

bjordan wrote in post #8088578
They're as bad as the losers that buy more camera than their skill justifies.

Don't be an anti-snob snob.

The only justification required for an amateur to buy an expensive camera is that 1.) he wants it, and 2.) he has the money. When others think it conspicuous consumption, my observation is that a bit of jealousy is often being exposed.

The photos should speak for themselves, and not the camera used to make them. If the photos are good, who cares if it's a 1DsIII or a Holga? If the photos are bad, then who cares if it's a 1DsIII or a Holga?

The only thing they are losing is the fatness of their wallets. But lots of good stuff is available to pros and amateurs with more skill because the unskilled who must have the latest and most expensive thing can afford to indulge themselves. And then they get bored with their toy and sell it cheap. And then I buy it.

Rick "who is, of course, worthy of The List" Denney

20droger wrote in post #8129205
They're called "Basic Modes." The P, Av, Tv, and M modes are "Creative Modes."

Duly noted. Again, I have never been in the Basic modes.
And now I know I never will, given that they default to JPG and I can't get RAW.


HAH, I SAID "GET RAW!"

(Sorry, back to standard forum decorum now)

DocMike wrote in post #8128743
...I posted elsewhere that photography seems to be one of the few hobbies where so many people try to buy more equipment to improve their performance without the benefit of practice....

Obviously you've never visited a guitar forum! The "gear wh*ring" on many of those boards bears a lot of similarities.