Author Topic: Incompetence confessions  (Read 16565 times)

Jacques Pochoy

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Re: Incompetence confessions
« Reply #15 on: November 22, 2016, 17:59:03 »
Ah... In old times I did manage to develop negatives and get prints done through my enlarger, but never managed to gear it to gallery level, while seeing friends mastering it "effortlessly" ! Flashes at that time (bulbs) were so complicated to manage (hot, dangerous, need a computer while measuring distances, fill-in either black or white, etc.)!
In more modern era (since the FA), freedom ! You could take a picture agains the sun and still see something !

The digital era, just brought back everything to the computer, so it seems quite easier, and the latest Speedlights... Well they just work (don't ask me how)!
But taking picture is still trying to put in a small frame a wonderful scenery (or portrait), happily, since the 6x6 era, the framing is almost perfect (left is left and top is top).

You don't have to learn German anymore to understand how to operate the camera (Schwarzschild, Scheimpflug, etc.), but hear or read complicated and weird theories on pixels and alpha blendings, YCbCr, TSV, TSL, SVG... Duuh !

Photography is the most wonderful toy for incompetent adults... :o
“A photograph is a moral decision taken in one eighth of a second. ” ― Salman Rushdie, The Ground Beneath Her Feet.

BW

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Re: Incompetence confessions
« Reply #16 on: November 22, 2016, 18:06:24 »
I fail to develop themes and create coherent portfolios of work. I'm too scattershot!
I totally understand. My portfolio would look like pictures randomly choosen by a lottery machine ::)

Frank Fremerey

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Re: Incompetence confessions
« Reply #17 on: November 22, 2016, 18:09:56 »
I totally understand. My portfolio would look like pictures randomly choosen by a lottery machine ::)

ditto, that is what I mean by presentation. I did follow certain topics over the years, but I need someone to help me sort them through and put them into context
You are out there. You and your camera. You can shoot or not shoot as you please. Discover the world, Your world. Show it to us. Or we might never see it.

Me: https://youpic.com/photographer/frankfremerey/

Anthony

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Re: Incompetence confessions
« Reply #18 on: November 22, 2016, 18:29:07 »
100% clueless on these two subjects.
I don't claim to be an expert on these two, but I learned a lot from this book https://www.amazon.co.uk/Layers-Complete-Photoshops-Powerful-Feature/dp/0321749588
Anthony Macaulay

elsa hoffmann

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Re: Incompetence confessions
« Reply #19 on: November 22, 2016, 18:45:40 »
matt is a good teacher - I just am unable to follow instructions on PS in a book - so I watch video tutorials. But whatever rocks your boats - learning how to use layers is the single most useful thing Photoshop offers.
"You don’t take a photograph – you make it” – Ansel Adams. Thats why I use photoshop.
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John Geerts

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Re: Incompetence confessions
« Reply #20 on: November 22, 2016, 21:18:12 »
What is incompetence?  Perhaps a complete failure in the old days of the wet darkroom.  And completely incompetent with sports and that kind of action  ;) 

And now in the age of digital processing there is so much going on, that with continuous learning I feel stepped backwards...  But then there is always another day...

Airy

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Re: Incompetence confessions
« Reply #21 on: November 22, 2016, 22:34:39 »
matt is a good teacher - I just am unable to follow instructions on PS in a book.

Same here. Strangely enough, I read many books, but those - I can't.
Airy Magnien

Pistnbroke

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Re: Incompetence confessions
« Reply #22 on: November 23, 2016, 15:49:35 »
Flash is easy ..stick it in the shoe and only shoot landscape ..crop to portrait ( or get a flash flipper)
Sharpness is easy ....picture control ..sharp +9   job done
Layers / photoshop ....the wife does that ...easy
Always listen to old people or when they die you live on in ignorance

elsa hoffmann

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Re: Incompetence confessions
« Reply #23 on: November 23, 2016, 16:03:49 »
oh and this is the worst - but I have decided that this one I WILL wax before the year is out.

PEN TOOL in Photoshop...
"You don’t take a photograph – you make it” – Ansel Adams. Thats why I use photoshop.
www.phototourscapetown.com
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elsa hoffmann

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Re: Incompetence confessions
« Reply #24 on: November 23, 2016, 16:04:37 »
Flash is easy ..stick it in the shoe and only shoot landscape ..crop to portrait ( or get a flash flipper)
Sharpness is easy ....picture control ..sharp +9   job done
Layers / photoshop ....the wife does that ...easy

Good thing I dont need a wife then  ;D ;D ;D
"You don’t take a photograph – you make it” – Ansel Adams. Thats why I use photoshop.
www.phototourscapetown.com
www.elsa.co.za. www.intimateimages.co.za

elsa hoffmann

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Re: Incompetence confessions
« Reply #25 on: November 23, 2016, 16:06:19 »
Same here. Strangely enough, I read many books, but those - I can't.

I probably have more video tutorials in my library than anyone else I know. no kidding (Lynda.com excluded) And I actually DO watch them. hence the pen tool (again) being on my list of to-do
"You don’t take a photograph – you make it” – Ansel Adams. Thats why I use photoshop.
www.phototourscapetown.com
www.elsa.co.za. www.intimateimages.co.za

Asle F

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Re: Incompetence confessions
« Reply #26 on: November 23, 2016, 18:23:18 »
Even if I have had cameras with auto focus since 1989, I have never mastered it. I just can't figure out how to trust AF. I have tried several times, but every times I have to go manual focus for getting my pictures. The same about speedlights automatic.

All about jpeg-generating inside the camera has been out of my interest, and I am total incompetent at that, but that is a choice I have made for convenience.
There is no illusion, it just looks that way.

elsa hoffmann

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Re: Incompetence confessions
« Reply #27 on: November 23, 2016, 18:46:39 »
Even if I have had cameras with auto focus since 1989, I have never mastered it. I just can't figure out how to trust AF. I have tried several times, but every times I have to go manual focus for getting my pictures. The same about speedlights automatic.

All about jpeg-generating inside the camera has been out of my interest, and I am total incompetent at that, but that is a choice I have made for convenience.

But your photoshop skills are good ! :) I am the opposite (which is quite apt) in that I cant use Manual focus !
"You don’t take a photograph – you make it” – Ansel Adams. Thats why I use photoshop.
www.phototourscapetown.com
www.elsa.co.za. www.intimateimages.co.za

PedroS

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Re: Incompetence confessions
« Reply #28 on: November 23, 2016, 19:08:07 »
My daughter told me several times.... "Dad, do make art with your photos"

That phrase has it all.

Erik Lund

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Re: Incompetence confessions
« Reply #29 on: November 24, 2016, 15:54:03 »
ELSA ASLE

Too funny  ;D

Thank you  8)
Erik Lund