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12/30/2007 03:01:06 AM · #1 |
Has anyone noticed how pompous so many of the DPC'ers are that frequent the forums? It seems that these forums are just a place where annoying people can come and post their opinions as fact. I'm sure I've been guilty of it too, although I do initially aim to take more of a neutral stance on things. I have seen so often, already multiple times tonight, where someone will ask a question, and people put down their opinions in the form of a hard "well-known" fact. They think that there is one right way, and that's it. Like the whole stupid Nikon/Canon issue. Who the frick cares if someone living 500 miles away from you buys a friggin Canon when you shoot Nikon and think it's the best? It's not like it's gonna effect your life. I do hold some OPINIONS about why Nikon/Canon may be smarter to go for (because of the used lens/body markets), but I don't think that Pentax, Sony, Olympus, Ect... are worse than Nikon or Canon. Everyone has individual situations. I bought Nikon cause everyone I knew owned Nikon, and I could borrow stuff. My one friend who owns a Canon, is consistantly left out because we can't share our higher quality lenses with them.
And this attitude about having to have great expensive equipment to start a photography business is so false. [redacted] The entire strobist culture is an example of this. Just because you spent all that money on equipment, it doesn't give you the right to go around telling people who can't spend that much on equipment that they shouldn't be running a photography business. It really pisses me off. We are a community of photographers, supposedly helping each other. We live in a Digital Photography age. It is much easier for people like me, who have almost no money to start with, to actually start a career in photography. If that bothers you, deal with it, but don't go around discouraging people.
Another thing I really dislike, is the whole business mindset: money money money. I understand that this is how our society works, but as far as I can see, our society is headed for the trash. Everyone has become so greedy, it seems they will stop at nothing to make that extra coin. Photography is an art form. I have read about photographers not having the time to work with their clients to obtain the highest quality images possible because they are taking too many jobs. What ever happened to making the best images possible? I would not be the least bit interested in photography if it was only $$$. And yet, by focusing on making the best images I can, I have been making money. I am still starting out, but if I ever feel like I am going to be forced to become a photog that has to focus on quantity over quality, then I would rather live in a dumpster than conform to this greedy business of photography. Honestly. It sickens me to see that business culture has taken an art form and preverted it so much.
I have my goals, and I have a direction that I'm headed. Unfortunately you cannot completely escape the business world while still living in North America, but you can make sure you don't become a money grabbing photographer. If your goal in life is to gather as much money as you can (for whatever reason), I pity you. There are so many more things to aspire for than money and all the crap you buy with it. (Wanting to have a roof and food are different than wanting more money. Our standard of life is so high in our western culture, most of our food and homes are unecessary).
I'm sure people will disagree, and I may or may not reply to any comments (if there are any). This is a rant, and this is how I feel.
Edit to add: This community still has many helpful people, and many things I still find helpful about it.
Message edited by L2 - Forum Rule #11 = Please don't personally attack other DPC users.. |
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12/30/2007 03:13:12 AM · #2 |
| You only need to be greedy until you have all the money you need. Then you can be an idealistic artist and pontificate about the pending downfall of capitalist societies. |
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12/30/2007 03:30:44 AM · #3 |
There are swindlers in every industry. Rather than complain may I suggest capitalizing on it by making it a point to educate your customers. If you can set the bar high and deliver you'll carve out a nice little niche. Think of it as an opportunity.
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12/30/2007 03:46:35 AM · #4 |
Originally posted by yanko:
There are swindlers in every industry. Rather than complain may I suggest capitalizing on it by making it a point to educate your customers. If you can set the bar high and deliver you'll carve out a nice little niche. Think of it as an opportunity. |
Oh believe me, I do. I think the best photgraphers (the ones at the top of the game) are achieving this. That's what I'm aiming for! |
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12/30/2007 07:58:11 AM · #5 |
Originally posted by yanko:
There are swindlers in every industry. Rather than complain may I suggest capitalizing on it by making it a point to educate your customers. If you can set the bar high and deliver you'll carve out a nice little niche. |
Though I understand your point, having come from a niche market that was rife with incompetence and thievery, it gets old day after day having to sell your own talent, honesty, and having ofttimes to demonstrate how a customer was taken advantage of at the hands of another.......there is *NO* good way to do so!
That hurts the industry at large, and isn't much good for the general feeling towards specialists of any ilk.
I wholly understand the lament of  LERtastic on the general condition.
Would it hurt to be decent and honest?
Message edited by author 2007-12-30 08:21:01.
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12/30/2007 10:57:11 AM · #6 |
Originally posted by LERtastic:
Has anyone noticed how pompous so many of the DPC'ers are that frequent the forums? It seems that these forums are just a place where annoying people can come and post their opinions as fact. |
Well, yeah, I have... I may even be one of them. But consider this: pretty much by definition, if you "frequent the forums" (at least from the standpoint of posting a lot, that kind of frequenting) you're an opinionated person, right? I mean, that's why you DO it; if you weren't opinionated, you wouldn't care. So naturally we get quite a lot of this "opinion masquerading as fact"; it's just the nature of the beast.
R.
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12/30/2007 11:03:40 AM · #7 |
But consider this: pretty much by definition, if you "frequent the forums" (at least from the standpoint of posting a lot, that kind of frequenting) you're an opinionated person, right?
I'm working on becoming more curmudgeounly. Really, I am. ;-) |
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12/30/2007 11:12:05 AM · #8 |
Originally posted by Melethia:
But consider this: pretty much by definition, if you "frequent the forums" (at least from the standpoint of posting a lot, that kind of frequenting) you're an opinionated person, right?
I'm working on becoming more curmudgeounly. Really, I am. ;-) |
Aww. c'mon sweetie... You can be opinionated without being curmudgeonly... I think... I have no experience at it myself :-)
R.
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12/30/2007 11:24:40 AM · #9 |
| OK, I'm working on being more pompous. Or at least at being a bit more vehement at expressing my opinions? Or not. Probably not. :-) |
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12/30/2007 11:33:09 AM · #10 |
I agree and I am hoping to carve out that niche for myself too.
I don't think people should have to sell a kidney to be able to afford a nice photograph of themselves or their family. Plus, I LOVE to shoot. I would take twice the customers at half the price just to get to use my creative side ;) On that note:
SUCCESS: LERtastic has been added to your favorites list.
I look forward to seeing what comes from you, young photog :) |
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12/30/2007 02:12:43 PM · #11 |
Sadly, it's not just photography or even art in general. Greed has consumed so many industries that it's not even funny.
These forums are great for advice and opinion. But don't let them get you down. Photography is an art. Do it for the pleasure and do it for yourself and you'll be successful in your own eyes. That's all that matters anyway. |
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12/31/2007 08:06:49 AM · #12 |
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
... So naturally we get quite a lot of this "opinion masquerading as fact"; it's just the nature of the beast.
R. |
Viewed from yet another perspective, it could also be argued that some of the opinions proffered are on occasion misinterpreted by the readers as being fact. There is a distinction to be made here, in that the perception of the reader is founded on a misunderstanding of the message.
When viewed in that light, the perceived "Pomposity" truly exists only in the mind of the person interpreting the submission.
PS: If Bear gives you some advise or makes a suggestion, it would be to your benefit to heed his words of wisdom.
Ray |
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01/01/2008 12:54:19 AM · #13 |
Originally posted by RayEthier:
it could also be argued that some of the opinions proffered are on occasion misinterpreted by the readers as being fact. There is a distinction to be made here, in that the perception of the reader is founded on a misunderstanding of the message. |
While I understand what you are saying, and agree to an extent (especially in a text-only-based medium, misinterpretations do happen), I do think that a person giving an opinion can do things to word that opinion in a way that is less likely to be misunderstood. |
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01/01/2008 01:50:49 AM · #14 |
| whew! I thought you were ranting against pompous dpcers who hate business and greed. I really dodged a bullet! |
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01/01/2008 07:10:14 AM · #15 |
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