Seven Common Myths About Photography and Photographers

There are many myths and misunderstandings about photography and photographers. Some people are put off the idea of taking up photography because of these myths, and others fail to reach their creative potential because they believe them. The following are some of the most common

Better cameras mean better results.

Many people believe that buying expensive cameras and equipment means they will get better results. Technical quality of images may improve with a more advanced camera, but composition and creativity comes from the photographer. A good photographer can produce great pictures with a hundred dollar compact camera or mobile phone camera. Buying a digital SLR camera will give a photographer access to more features and different lenses, but it won’t deliver instant improvements in results.

Professional photographers use long lenses.

Images of sports and press photographers lead some people to believe that all professionals need huge lenses. Telephoto lenses are great for some types of photography, but wide-angle and short prime lenses are better for others. A good photographer can produce great results with a basic 50mm prime lens, and there’s no need to invest in powerful telephoto lenses.

All great pictures are edited in the digital darkroom.

Photoshop and other image editing software packages are great tools for photographers, but they shouldn’t be used on every picture. Software can be used to correct errors made by photographers, but it’s better to get the picture right at the time it’s taken. There’s no shame in using image editing software to enhance and improve pictures, but it’s just one part of the creative process. Free and trial versions of software are available, so there’s no need to invest if you want to experiment.

More megapixels means better quality pictures.

This is one of the most common myths about cameras and photography. The number of megapixels a camera can record is just one element of the quality it will deliver. The quality of the lens at the front of a camera is just as important as the size of the sensor inside. A high megapixel sensor will show every flaw in a lens, and it’s important to get a balance between these parts of a camera.

Good photographers can shoot any subject.

It’s always good to experiment with different subjects, but most photographers develop their art in a particular direction. A highly competent landscape photographer may not have the right skills to take good portrait shots. Subjects like sports photography require the right type of lenses and equipment, and a portrait photographer may not have these. Photography is such a wide field that no photographer can be expected to be an expert on all subjects.

Most photographers will work for free.

Many people assume that photographers work for the love of their art, and that they won’t charge for taking pictures for friends and family. Photography is a profession like any other, and it’s not fair to expect a professional photographer to shoot your wedding or take portraits of your family without some financial reward. As well as the commitment of time, a photographer has costs of memory cards and other equipment to cover.

Serious photographers use digital SLR cameras.

Digital SLR cameras remain the preference of most professional photographers, but technology is changing attitudes and offering new options. The latest compact system cameras offer a wide range of lenses and high-quality sensors which rival those of many SLR cameras. Creative photographers are now shooting impressive pictures using mobile phone cameras, and there’s a growing movement for retro-photography using basic equipment.

Written by: Kaizen Marketing