What makes a photographer?

Surely buying a high price cam and snapping random things doesnt make you a photographer? or does it!?


Also when does a newbie go from just that to intermediate and then to pro???

Discuss.....

I think the great thing about photography is that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and just by chance even a novice can take that one shot that some photographers would die for.

But in general, I think technique is very important, learning how the camera works and how to use it in the right situation is half way there. The other half is learning the art of photography, framing, lighting, composition etc

I think the final bit is the talent and having an eye for a good shot...

Glad to see that many of you fit the criteria

With me ..I see something, I have an idea and then I try to work out HOW to get my idea and what I see onto a picture I agree with Azz, working out how your camera works is the first thing and, hopefully an ongoing thing quite often as you then work out how a lightbox affects your pics, a tripod, a flash, reflector etc etc etc

You definitely need an eye ....a snap is always going to be a snap ..a photograph is more IMHO

I agree with Mel

A novice can take a good pic on a smashing camera, a good photographer can take a smashing pic on a good camera.

JMO

You can get some great shots from a £5 throwaway camera....

If you have the latest Canon EOS1-D you can get a good picture through the cameras wonderful multi function multi metering multi this and multi that specialist functions... However, if you want to learn how to take a REAL photograph, I'd say invest in an old 35mm SLR with manual settings. If you can get good results from an old 35mm Zenith 11, then you're a photographer for sure!!

Digital photography is superb - and it's the way forward - but nothing makes you 'understand' photography more than when you use a 'real' camera... Although sadly in the future, this will become less likely as technology advances...