A simple reply to one of my threads made me realize I'm not a Photographer

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Jeff Ascough was one of the best documentary style wedding photographers, and he's now semi-retired from weddings and pursuing street photography. His YouTube channel Walk Like Alice is replete with excellent images and commentary. He shoots with a M9 and M9 Monochrom, and 28, 35 and 50 focal lengths. If you'd like some insights from a present master in the craft, check him out.

I second what @Stuart Richardson said about the library. You can access so many photobooks from the greats. Another avenue is older camera magazines, like back issues of LFI, and partwork magazines like You And Your Camera from the early 80s. Many of the articles in that series were illustrated with excellent photography, and contained interviews with professionals of that time.

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[Luke_Miller]

12 hours ago, lencap said:

 My best photos have people as a subject, mostly shot candidly in available light.  My intent is to capture emotion, an intangible something that speaks to who the subject is, with less emphasis on technical excellence.  

Mine too.  As an event shooter that is what I strive for, and my gear selections are driven by it.  I think the first step in becoming a photographer is discovering what images inspire you.  Sounds like you are on your way.

[Sohail]

On 10/14/2024 at 1:12 PM, Stuart Richardson said:

I would also say, though I know it is more work, go to a library instead of using the internet. The photography section of a decent library is going to be so much more instructive than Ming Thein or Thorsten Overgaard. I am not trying to particularly blast them, I just mean that the internet is full of the flashiest, most eye grabbing content, whether in pictures themselves or in "educators". One of the best photography teachers I ever had was at ICP and to be honest, I don't rate her work particularly highly. But she knew how to inspire and inform her students to a degree which was truly uncanny. In a library you will be taken back to an era when people who knew what the hell they were talking about and learned over decades were put in a position to teach, rather than the guy with the weirdest face to attract the youtube algorithm, high end production values and the best relations with the gear companies to get samples before public release in exchange for generally favorable content. You will also see work by photographers that were esteemed by the worlds best museums and magazine editors, rather than how many clicks they generated. Even if it is not an everyday thing, it is worth a look. Libraries are amazing and it is amazing that we still have them, even they are under threat in some places, so they are definitely worth visiting.

Re photography books, here's a real gem I'd recommend:

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[Sohail]

Page 41 seems very relevant:

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[Slender]

On 10/7/2024 at 7:12 PM, lencap said:

I'm wondering now what is the next step? 

Maybe, if you can spare the time (for money I dont know how much it costs where you live) for an MA in photography, the most theoretical degree possible and preferably in a college that has lots of books and archive at hands.... This way you will confront yourself with other people (your classmates) and the books of the great masters.... that helps rconnect with the photographs as an object of art.

And take a camera that makes you slow down (M, any analogue, even digital medium format -an old one-)

Just my 2ct