What is a Photographer?

I read a couple of articles recently that opened up on this question in one way or another.  Many articles in the media of late refer to people who take pictures as photographers (usually it seems when they are doing something bad).  Are all these people ‘photographers’?

Camera use used to be limited to a narrow section of society that could be bothered with the highly technical operation of a this instrument and thus the term photographer referred to those people.

These days however, everyone (almost) has a camera that they use on a regular basis (in the form of a phone) and a huge number have a fairly sophisticated camera that they use on vacations etc.  Do these people qualify to be called photographers?  Is the term photographer a special tag for a certain type of camera user?

Stairwell 1

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Joshua Tree camping trip – Pt 1: Wall Street Mill Trail

Last weekend was Labour Day weekend here in the USA which means we get an extra day off (if you are in the UK this would be described as a Bank Holiday Weekend).

We decided to take our 1969 Travel Trailer (Caravan) for it’s first trip following the sprucing up we gave it earlier in the summer and decided on an area we have enjoyed before; Joshua Tree. This time we would be camping and we were also to be joined by some friends for the weekend.

Cameras: Ricoh 35 ZF

This camera is similar in operation to the Vitessa 500 in that it is a compact, zone focus viewfinder camera although this allows for full manual control of shutter speed and aperture or the semi-automatic  aperture priority .

It’s slightly more compact and simple look and it doesn’t have any exposure compensation also the batteries are more easily obtained.

Gear, is it important?

I watched a short video recently on whether gear is important and the conclusion (not surprisingly) was it is but it isn’t.  Basically it won’t make you a better photographer but it is important in getting the look/feel and/or image quality.  All true but nothing really new said.

In pondering this I was thinking about why we even ask the question.  No one interrogates a painter to ask what brushes they use or a sculptor what brand of chisel they use.  Why is photography so focussed on gear?

Bubbles

Can’t decide whether I like this; I was trying to capture bubbles blowing past me whilst I was waiting at the Disney park recently, it was getting darker as the evening was approaching so I was limited on aperture settings.  It was also busy with people walking about, not sure if they add or take away from the image.

There’s lots going on; the bubbles, people walking past, a boy dropped his water, other people are  sitting in the background.

I decided to go with a Street Photography look and make it black and white.

 

Is this an interocitor?!

Unknown electrical power panel

WPC: Unusual

Classic rides

Old Schwinns outside a shop

Sleeping stranger

I very rarely take pictures of people especially strangers but for some reason I was fixated with this sleeping guy’s face and couldn’t resist taking a sneaky snap.

Blue Monday

Blue Damselfly

Camera: Voigtlander Vitessa 500 SE electronic

I recently picked up a Voigtlander (Zeiss Ikon) Vitessa 500 SE Electronic; what a great little camera!

On receiving it, the first issue was batteries as it needed two PX825 (1.55v) batteries which are no longer available.

Hot day for a frog to be out and about

This little fella hopped across my path during a walk on a hot sunny day in England last week.  He looked very dry on the skin and I encouraged him towards the undergrowth and nearby waterway.

Los Angeles State Historic Park

A few weeks ago I visited the newly opened Los Angeles State Historic Park.  I understand this park has been a long time in the making and opened something like 16 years late.

Anyway it’s a nice open space close to Chinatown and Downtown LA, well worth a visit if you want to chill out.  It’s quite open and new looking, much of the trees and shrubbery still need to mature and it can only get better.  Considering it’s newly opened there was a lot of repair work going on but it was still nice to walk around for an hour or so.

I took my Voigtlander Bessa RF with me loaded with Ilford Delta 400.  

Blenheim Palace

I’ve been in the UK for the last couple of weeks visiting family and saying goodbye to my father who passed away.

Whilst there I visited a few places one of which is Blenheim Palace  which is a large country house situated in Woodstock, Oxfordshire and  is the principal residence of the Dukes of Marlborough.