Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/11/26

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Subject: Re[2]: [Leica] Amateur vs. Pro
From: Harrison McClary <hmcclary@earthlink.net>
Date: Thu, 26 Nov 1998 16:05:44 -0600

Thursday, Thursday, November 26, 1998, Bud Cook wrote:

> I was talking about the inference that you have to be a professional
> to have any credence in the art/hobby/career called photography.  I guess I just
> got fed up with the phrase *just an amateur*.   IMHO, those of us who are
> amateurs are as passionate about photography as most pros and (perhaps) some of
> us just might be competent as well

Bud,

I  totally  agree  with  you.   To  say  that  you have  to be a "pro",
whatever the hell that is, to have any credence is foolish.

Just because some one does not make their living with photography does
not  make  them  less  of  a  photographer.  Heck  those of you who do
photography  for  fun probably get more enjoyment from it that many of
us who do it for a living.

Just  like  anything  else  there  are  days when being a photographer
becomes  a  job.  Many times I find myself on shoots where it is work,
not  a  lot of fun, challenging, but the fun is not there. Fortunately
over  the  past  year  I  have been working to position myself so that
these type of shoots are rare and now I mostly enjoy working again.

Plus  when  you are *just an amateur* you don't have someone breathing
down  your  neck  about  how  you  lit  something, how the composition
worked,  deadlines,  the knowledge that your reputation is on the line
EVERY  time you go on a job.  Screw up once and you loose a client, no
excuses.   Broken  camera,  too damn bad you still loose the client in
many cases. They think that if they are paying you XXXX a day then you
ought to get the image come hell or high water.

You *amateurs* do it because you want to and because you find it fun.

Heck  some *just an amateur* people I know are quite good, better than
a  lot  of  *pros* I know. Heck some *pros* I know I wonder how in the
heck they get work.

Have  a  good  Thanksgiving.   I gotta  get back to sanding/painting my
ceiling...JOY JOY JOY!!



Best regards,
 Harrison McClary
http://people.delphi.com/hmphoto
preview my book: http://www.volmania.com
mailto:hmcclary@earthlink.net

Everyone has a photographic memory, some just don't have film.