Does this happen to anyone else?

[omghidanielle]

Does anyone ever say to you 'Nice camera' as opposed to 'Nice pictures'? It kind of amuses me (although I guess I can kind of understand the thought process behind it?) when people at my work were checking out my vacation pictures. I was talking about it with my husband and a friend recently and we were cracking up trying to apply that logic to other talents or professions. Like 'Oh man, did you hear that drum solo? Man...that guy must have an awesome drum kit!' or 'Whoa...look at that facelift. That Doctor must have had a GREAT scalpel!'

 

[CMHusband]

Great post. Nice Keyboard!!!

 

[bob100]

I was talking about it with my husband and a friend recently and we were cracking up trying to apply that logic to other talents or professions. Like 'Oh man, did you hear that drum solo? Man...that guy must have an awesome drum kit!' or 'Whoa...look at that facelift. That Doctor must have had a GREAT scalpel!'

but does the analogy to other professions really compare?
A doctor has years of college, medical school, residency, etc. before lifting that scalpel.
A photographer can have years of college, studying, internships, etc. before clicking that shutter button but I've known some people owning a camera for six months producing good pics.
Is it the result of long and arduous training? experience? luck? or will buying expensive "L" lens and full frame bodies produce good pics?
or maybe going to Joe McNally seminars produces good pics ...
But then many people see my Rebel and kit lens and ask if I'm a professional photographer

 

[AlbertZeroK]

I think this is a continuation of the discussion of if the popular photographers of our time are a result of talent or markeing?

But the camera can give a medicour photographer an edge. That is not true of a scalpel.

I do a thing with the kids i teach. I line up six photos taken with different equipment. It is interesting that they think some of the best pictures came from the$ 79 sanyo camera they use for class!

 

[Frantasmic]

I've more often heard "Man, your camera takes nice pictures."

 

[WDWFigment]

My camera takes pretty nice photos. Although I want to upgrade to a newer one because I hear it takes better photos. For the record, this also explains why Mark and Jeff have better photos than me. Their cameras are around triple the nice-ness of mine.

 

[uncle duck]

yes they do.
I could post a page or two on this, but i'll save you the pain. a good photo starts with the person taking the pic. cheap to exspinsive equimpment, and photoshoping the duck droppings out of it won't turn a boring photo into a good one.

wife says one more camera and se'll see me in court.

Go Canon Rebels

 

[photo_chick]

It's the equivalent to "Wow, that's a nice painting. You must have some expensive brushes." to me.

 

[annnewjerz]

I get what you're saying...but when people give me the "wow, you have a nice camera" when they see my pictures, I just agree that I do, because those are my exact thoughts. I LOVE my camera.

When someone gives me the "your camera takes nice pictures"...I agree again, because even if I was to hand it over on auto to someone and have them take a picture, I really do think that more often than not, the picture from my camera will look nicer (even if just slightly so) than a picture with their 5 year old p&s that they got on Black Friday for $49.99. Do I do most of the work to get the pictures to come out even nicer? Sure, and I do agree that it's more the photographer and less the camera, but I don't sweat it. If they ask what camera I have and want to run out and buy it and then wonder why our pictures don't look the same...that's fine with me!

 

[MarkBarbieri]

I'm often asked what camera or even what software I use by people that want their pictures to look more like mine. I just smile and tell them. The one that annoys me much more is when people, especially co-workers, tell me that I should do photography for a living. I'm pretty sure that it is meant as a compliment, but it always sounds like a criticism of my work in my real job.

 

[annnewjerz]

it always sounds like a criticism of my work in my real job.

 

[MICKEY88]

I'm often asked what camera or even what software I use by people that want their pictures to look more like mine. I just smile and tell them. The one that annoys me much more is when people, especially co-workers, tell me that I should do photography for a living. I'm pretty sure that it is meant as a compliment, but it always sounds like a criticism of my work in my real job.

I get the same thing from my coworkers all the time, I look 'em in the eye and say nope, I'm staying here just to make your life miserable..

 

[TheGoofster]

The one that annoys me much more is when people, especially co-workers, tell me that I should do photography for a living. I'm pretty sure that it is meant as a compliment, but it always sounds like a criticism of my work in my real job.

Hmm, I never get that said to me, which must mean 1 of 2 things:

1) I'm really good at my real job
or
2)that I'm not really good ......

Let's just stick to the assumption that I'm really good at my real job.

 

[Suburbanmom]

When I go to my friend's house for dinner tonight, I'm going to tell how good the meal is and that she must have a great set of pots and pans.

 

[Zoesmama03]

Yes I get great photos, what camera do you have, or I want your camera.

YES better tools help but it still takes the time and patience to learn to use them. I don't let it get to me too much, just smile and say thanks and tell what I have. Its their money if they think a more expensive camera will automatically make them take great pics they can go for it and learn. In a sense I agree even on Auto the pic is likely to be a bit different in a better way.

 

[pgowder]

Someone at my office bought one of my prints in a charity auction. The next day they called me to tell me that they bought it. His wife purchased it and when they got home figured out it was me. He loved the photo and since he is also a DSLR shooter wanted to ask some questions. Guess what the question was?

So what camera and lens did you use to get that photo?

Should have said my iPhone!

 

[MICKEY88]

Someone at my office bought one of my prints in a charity auction. The next day they called me to tell me that they bought it. His wife purchased it and when they got home figured out it was me. He loved the photo and since he is also a DSLR shooter wanted to ask some questions. Guess what the question was?

So what camera and lens did you use to get that photo?

Should have said my iPhone!

either that or

A 10 dollar disposable

 

[JoeDif]

I've more often heard "Man, your camera takes nice pictures."

Next time you hear that say "Thanks, I bought it at the same store Shakespeare bought his pens".