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How Differently The Same Ugly/Ordinary Location Looks To Professional Photographer Vs Amateur
One of the struggles of a beginner photographer is seeing the world in a different way.
We’ve all become so blind to the beauty around us that you have to retrain your brain to see things in a new way.
Beginner photographers are always asking me how I find such amazing locations. My answer, open your eyes, they’re all around you. You really don’t have to go anywhere.
This was one of my biggest fears when I first started. I thought I had to have the best locations to have full control over the environment I would be shooting in.
But after a while, I decided to challenge myself and let my clients choose a location. This would force me to find good spots on the spot the day of the session.
That’s when I discovered that almost any location can be a good location, you just have to learn how to see it.
Here are some photos showing what the locations look like and then showing how I see them.
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Agreed...if he really wants to show the difference, he should show the raw image.
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Processing is part of the difference between an amateur and professional, so yes there is some processing in these photos but the point is what a pro can capture in any situation, which these photos show. And yes, a pro will have pro lenses -- which also separates pros from amateurs. This shouldn't dissuade amateurs from continuing to shoot: every pro started as an amateur, but became a pro by practice, success, failure, education, research and mentorship: all valuable to making their photos outstanding and worth paying for.
It's not a pro. There are millions of such photos. Pro no longer blur the background. Look at the fashion photos.
This reminds me of Laura and Mary from Little House on the Prairie. Especially since Laura wore pink and Mary wore blue.
I can imagine it's worse for men with something hanging down there, living it's own life
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That ain't a content turkey. I want to see what happened 30 seconds later!
props to the photographer taking pictures without a tripod and a kid on his back. i know from experience how hard it is when the kids "help". but it's worth the help to have them part of what you do
Martin, expensive gear isn't necessary. If you have a cheaper 'slower' telephoto lens, you could compose the image with the subject closer to the lens and the background further away... and still get that smoother background. I also don't think he's doing much other than a white balance correction in photoshop to amplify the mood in the shot. But who cares anyway... he's demonstrating a way of composing shots that amateurs sometimes haven't figured out yet. More knowledge for the people. Thanks Phillip!
What the hell is up there???? These boys are always looking up at something.
I love how the girls get deeper in the water as the photos progress (you can tell because the denim smocks are dry above the waterline). At that age, idve been aching to just start swimming in that beautiful, clear water... hoping to see that at the end of this post!
Yeah... because absolutely no pro photographer uses filters, matte boxes, or their camera controls anymore. :-^
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Most of pics consist in: 1) lowering camera 2) applying some warm filter 3) make use of field depth of lens
4) composition and choosing objects from the environment that can be incorporated into the picture 5) positioning - not just for composition, but also to catch the light at the right angle
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Focus at the subject, blur the surroundings. A different way to take pictures, but no ugly locations at all. Nice pictures!
In other words, everything is a great location when you digitally alter the hell out of them.
Ugly? You need to really re-define your perception. If that is ugly to you, then what is beautiful?
This isn't amateur vs professional. It's someone taking a picture of the location the photographer is shooting vs what the photographer captured so we can see the photog's skills.
I want to see an article comparing an amateur vs professional's photos.
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I need to show this to my husband. I usually take all our photos and so any photo with him in it looks incredible because I understand that angle and position matter. He just stands there and takes the photo from his height without regard to what's in the background, so pictures of me look boring. Ugh. A photographers lament. FYI ANY CAMERA can take great photos when the person using the camera knows what they are doing. One of my photographer friends loves to use cheap cameras to show people just how easy it can be.
This may be laughable, but I have taken decent photos with cheap camera phones.
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My question, is it really "professional" or just crazy expensive equipment and willing to get in position? Every one of the "armature" photos is with a c**p camera and way to far back.
Maybe not crazy expensive, but at least prosumer level - a full frame Sony and a 200mm lens = ~5000$. But you're right, not to diminish the photographer's work, which is obviously really good, the title of this post should be: How Differently The Same Ugly/Ordinary Location Looks With a Professional Camera Equipment Vs Amateur. To keep it the way they presented it they should give the same camera and lens to two photographers.
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Long lenses (expensive!), wider aperture, and good soft sun light. Shoot as many as possible for the perfect moment. Then, photoshop them to pump up warmth and saturation. Sounds easy but you know,,,
Long lenses can be had for cheap enough - it's the ultra-fast lenses with the widest apertures that'll put the largest dent in your wallet every time...
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Long glass. Wide open aperture. Shoot low. Warm the white balance. Done.
This kind of effect is one of the ones I love the most in photography. Such a dreamy, fairytale like vibe. What lense do you use, if I may ask. 85 mm f/1.2 or 1.8?
Thanks so much! All of these were taken with a 40 year old Nikkor 200mm f2 manual focus lens.
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Maybe if all the amateurs had 300mm f/2.8 lens, they too could shoot waaaaay better portraits.
They'd still be usurped by the pros who'd know far better to use an 80-90mm lens for portrait work (on full-frame at least), and how to take their camera out of 'P' mode in order to actually take full advantage of that f/2.8
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I dig em. Photoshop is a tool and I believe you use it very well. What lens tele lens do you use?
Thank you Andrew! I used a 40 year old Nikkor 200mm f2 manual focus lens.
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Everyone thinks they are a photographer, but it takes practice and often a good eye. I have that problem at work. We have a paid photographer who is really just someone with an expensive camera. So most of the photos we used are take by a hobbyist who has a better eye.
Same here. I am tired of proffessional photos thag fail to acknowledge horizon and that you do not tilt the horizon.
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Why the constant amateur photog hate on BP? Professional photographers aren't blessed with some magical talent. They use tools and tactics. Now, those same tools and tactics are available to everyone, and they feel the need to complain.
I like to learn something new, and they share their experience.
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I think location is irrelevant here. Composition is the key term; seeing the frame and capturing it. The Pro Vs Am comparisons in this article are not very accurate, unless you're saying an Amatuer is trying to frame the whole "environment" rather than seeing or focusing on a particular "subject". Post editing is essential for any photo, not necessarily applying tons of filters or boosting the contrast into pseudo-HDR oblivion. The photographer here used some great soft focus and vignette effects to make his subjects "pop" and draw the viewers eyes in. Simple but effective ways to enhance any photo. BUT..... Composition and being able to frame your subject or landscape accordingly will trump any filter or effect every time.
The locations aren’t intrinsically bad, but a long lens and tasty bokeh always adds drama. Plucking the subject out of the landscape is popular and why Apple made the new phone have that feature.
Obviously, the common component to all of these "after" shots is a low angle, a long-a*s lens, and wide open aperture.
I see the problem, gotta get rid of that ugly stream, forest and lush grass.... I think the pics would be much better in my beautiful condo complex with the occasional half dead bush and messed up black top parking lot. If you want a water setting, we have a car wash area that has a hose.
To a certain degree, that "stalkerish" behaviour is a GOOD thing. I love photographing my own children, and can assure you kids always act MUCH more naturally and photograph way better when they can forget about you being there and stop trying to pose for the camera! It's just plain good photography, and no more sleezy and disturbing than using the exact same techniques to get a good picture of skittish wildlife.
Load More Replies... Yeah... because absolutely no pro photographer uses filters, matte boxes, or their camera controls anymore. :-^
Load More Replies... Most of pics consist in: 1) lowering camera 2) applying some warm filter 3) make use of field depth of lens
4) composition and choosing objects from the environment that can be incorporated into the picture 5) positioning - not just for composition, but also to catch the light at the right angle
Load More Replies... Focus at the subject, blur the surroundings. A different way to take pictures, but no ugly locations at all. Nice pictures!
In other words, everything is a great location when you digitally alter the hell out of them.
Ugly? You need to really re-define your perception. If that is ugly to you, then what is beautiful?
This isn't amateur vs professional. It's someone taking a picture of the location the photographer is shooting vs what the photographer captured so we can see the photog's skills.
I want to see an article comparing an amateur vs professional's photos.
Load More Replies... I need to show this to my husband. I usually take all our photos and so any photo with him in it looks incredible because I understand that angle and position matter. He just stands there and takes the photo from his height without regard to what's in the background, so pictures of me look boring. Ugh. A photographers lament. FYI ANY CAMERA can take great photos when the person using the camera knows what they are doing. One of my photographer friends loves to use cheap cameras to show people just how easy it can be.
This may be laughable, but I have taken decent photos with cheap camera phones.
Load More Replies... My question, is it really "professional" or just crazy expensive equipment and willing to get in position? Every one of the "armature" photos is with a c**p camera and way to far back.
Maybe not crazy expensive, but at least prosumer level - a full frame Sony and a 200mm lens = ~5000$. But you're right, not to diminish the photographer's work, which is obviously really good, the title of this post should be: How Differently The Same Ugly/Ordinary Location Looks With a Professional Camera Equipment Vs Amateur. To keep it the way they presented it they should give the same camera and lens to two photographers.
Load More Replies... Long lenses (expensive!), wider aperture, and good soft sun light. Shoot as many as possible for the perfect moment. Then, photoshop them to pump up warmth and saturation. Sounds easy but you know,,,
Long lenses can be had for cheap enough - it's the ultra-fast lenses with the widest apertures that'll put the largest dent in your wallet every time...
Load More Replies... Long glass. Wide open aperture. Shoot low. Warm the white balance. Done.
This kind of effect is one of the ones I love the most in photography. Such a dreamy, fairytale like vibe. What lense do you use, if I may ask. 85 mm f/1.2 or 1.8?
Thanks so much! All of these were taken with a 40 year old Nikkor 200mm f2 manual focus lens.
Load More Replies... Maybe if all the amateurs had 300mm f/2.8 lens, they too could shoot waaaaay better portraits.
They'd still be usurped by the pros who'd know far better to use an 80-90mm lens for portrait work (on full-frame at least), and how to take their camera out of 'P' mode in order to actually take full advantage of that f/2.8
Load More Replies... I dig em. Photoshop is a tool and I believe you use it very well. What lens tele lens do you use?
Thank you Andrew! I used a 40 year old Nikkor 200mm f2 manual focus lens.
Load More Replies... Everyone thinks they are a photographer, but it takes practice and often a good eye. I have that problem at work. We have a paid photographer who is really just someone with an expensive camera. So most of the photos we used are take by a hobbyist who has a better eye.
Same here. I am tired of proffessional photos thag fail to acknowledge horizon and that you do not tilt the horizon.
Load More Replies... Why the constant amateur photog hate on BP? Professional photographers aren't blessed with some magical talent. They use tools and tactics. Now, those same tools and tactics are available to everyone, and they feel the need to complain.
I like to learn something new, and they share their experience.
Load More Replies... I think location is irrelevant here. Composition is the key term; seeing the frame and capturing it. The Pro Vs Am comparisons in this article are not very accurate, unless you're saying an Amatuer is trying to frame the whole "environment" rather than seeing or focusing on a particular "subject". Post editing is essential for any photo, not necessarily applying tons of filters or boosting the contrast into pseudo-HDR oblivion. The photographer here used some great soft focus and vignette effects to make his subjects "pop" and draw the viewers eyes in. Simple but effective ways to enhance any photo. BUT..... Composition and being able to frame your subject or landscape accordingly will trump any filter or effect every time.
The locations aren’t intrinsically bad, but a long lens and tasty bokeh always adds drama. Plucking the subject out of the landscape is popular and why Apple made the new phone have that feature.
Obviously, the common component to all of these "after" shots is a low angle, a long-a*s lens, and wide open aperture.
I see the problem, gotta get rid of that ugly stream, forest and lush grass.... I think the pics would be much better in my beautiful condo complex with the occasional half dead bush and messed up black top parking lot. If you want a water setting, we have a car wash area that has a hose.
To a certain degree, that "stalkerish" behaviour is a GOOD thing. I love photographing my own children, and can assure you kids always act MUCH more naturally and photograph way better when they can forget about you being there and stop trying to pose for the camera! It's just plain good photography, and no more sleezy and disturbing than using the exact same techniques to get a good picture of skittish wildlife.
Load More Replies...