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Question: To be a photographer do you have to have an eye for it!? Or can anyone be a photographer now!?
Has it become just another job!? Or is it still an art form!?

I wonder how many photographers do it because they love it, and how many do it because there's money in it!?Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Not just an eye, but a mind for it as well!. Photography has advanced significantly in just the last 10 years with the advent of digital quality which finally competes respectably with film!.

I've met with photographers who have passion and those that have pay!.!.!. but in order to be successful in this ever expanding field, one MUST have passion and a thirst for knowledge!. Just keeping up with the technology is a never-ending quest!.

I'm sure you can tell when the passion meets with the mind!. It's found in the images - the ones that make you stop and say!.!.!. Wow, how did he or she do that!?

Galen Rowell ( http://www!.mountainlight!.com/AA-images/a!.!.!. ) was a master of light!. He was also my biggest inspiration (probably the sole inspiration that got me rock climbing for better vantage points and actually studying film types to get the effects I wanted to emulate my visions the best)!.

Anyone can be a photographer!.!.!. all one has to do is pick up a camera and start shooting!.!.!. not anyone can be a good photographer though!. Even fewer get to be Pro Photographers, and finally, Noted Photographers like Ansel Adams ( http://www!.indy!.org/files/events/ansel-a!.!.!. ), Art Wolfe ( http://www!.gettyimages!.com/Footage/Front!.!.!. ), and of course Galen Rowell are far and few between!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

For the vast majority of people, there is not a whole lot of money in photography!. Just go to a photography seminar and see how many people you run into who are actually supporting themselves with a photography business versus how many are there trying to figure out HOW to support themselves with a photography business!. (Almost all of them fall into the latter category!.)

I think most photographers do it because they enjoy it, and hope to be able to quit their day job and make money doing what they love!.

I think to be a really great photographer, you need to have an eye for it!. However, to have a successful photography business, you need to have a good head for business and know marketing!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

It is definitely an art form, think of it in the same terms as painting!. Just as anyone can capture an image with a camera anyone can put paint on a canvas, when you have skill at either is when it becomes art and that doesn't come by accident!. You have to have an eye for photography to be any good at it or for it to even be a from of art!. There isn't much money in photography so pretty much all who do it for a living tend to love it, anyone who gets into it just for money will be disappointed!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

I think anyone GOOD at photography would insist that you need an eye for it!.

A very good friend of mine is a photographer and she has a real eye for it!. She knows shadowing, lighting and how to catch that perfect shot!. Putting just anyone behind a camera may result in a picture that is only sub-par!. So, if you're planning an event that you want to keep the pictures for (like a wedding, etc!.!.!.) it's best to hire someone that knows what they're doing!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

Probably the same percent of people enter any field for one reason and continue for others!. The word "amateur" is derived from Latin "amatus" meaning for the love of it!. However, most creative professions are characterized by the passion for the subject, not the pay, as the pay is not as high as other, less ego satisfying professions!. Photography has never been known as a high paying profession, so I can tell you if you aren't in love with the field you probably not jump in with both feet!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I think its definitely still an art form and there is money to be made at it!. But most amature photographers do it because they love it! I assume it one would have to have an eye for it!. Though that kind of thing can be developed over time!. It depends on what kind of photography you are interested in!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!. I think you can basically take photos of whatever inspires you!. However, your photos may not be great, or maybe they could be better if you learn about angles, lighting, shadows, depth, cameras and lenses, etcetera!.

You can use tip or insstructional sights to help you learn!. These are some I found!.

http://photo!.net/learn/

http://lifehacker!.com/software/photograp!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

2% inspiration and 98% perspiration can get you anywhere you want!Www@QuestionHome@Com