Evening

[JensAddictions]

Hiya,

Just joined after hearing about the forum from another forum I frequent. Hoping to find a decent photography forum full of normal people - I did join fstoppers but not getting a great vibe so far. Already this forum seems far more relatable.

Looking to gather some inspiration and enthusiasm since I swing between hating photography as a hobby and want to chuck all my gear in the bin, and deceiving myself I could make a living out of it somehow (delusional to a fault!).

My style is to take very mediocre images on highly regarded kit - a niche that nobody else has dedicated themselves to, strangely enough.

Anyway, thanks for having me, if my confidence grows I might even post some of my mediocrity for y'all to critique.

 

[lindsay]

Chris, you are in the right place. I may be an Admin/ co-owner here but I have loads of great kit and produce exceedingly mediocre images with it, but I live in hope! So you have found at least one fellow traveller.

 

[Box Brownie]

Hi Chris and welcome to TP

Lots to see, read, learn & get stuck into.

In regard to the second & third paragraphs in your OP......

Re: Making a living from photography, there a few practicing professionals here & retired ones too.
I am neither....but I am retired.....though I do exhibit and sell a few prints & cards but a living, it is not!

Now, sorry if I misunderstood you but if you are referring to 'style' & 'niche' is alluding to what you hope will lead to a route to selling your images because they were taken on "highly regarded kit".......please think carefully about that as I don't recall reading that many people who buy photography services based on the brand of the photographers!

Yes, no doubt there are some who think that means they will see better results from some kit than others (IIRC hearing on a forum there was apparently an article in a wedding magazine/website(?) and the article specifically mentioned one brand of camera.....i.e. only use a tog with 'that brand'.......too long ago now but I think the article was criticised (in the discussion about the magazine article) for not putting the most obvious case of 'make sure you see the photographers portfolio of work & based on that, could his/her style fit with you the brides expectations....'

All the best with your photographic journey

 

[JensAddictions]

Thank you, BB. My comment on style and niche was just a tongue in cheek self-observation, pretty much the same statement in different words as all the gear, no idea.

I have no aspirations that I'll ever be making a living out of photography, it was again just an observation that I sometimes hate the hobby and feel completely frustrated at my results, and other times am quite obsessive about photography and want to do nothing else.

As for the particular brand of gear that I've chosen, I am of the opinion that gear makes little difference. I'm sure I could produce the same "meh" images on any camera, highly regarded or not. Conversely, some of my fondest images that I've taken were shot years ago on a Canon EOS D30 and a cheap kit lens.

If my images are not up to par then it's not the gear that's at fault. I've seen some amazing photographs that have been shot on the same gear I use. If I'm unsatisfied with the quality of my output then it's a me problem, not a gear problem.

That's all I meant.

Thank you for your welcome, it's very much appreciated

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

My style is to take very mediocre images on highly regarded kit ...

I, for one, do not believe that there is such a thing as a mediocre image.

Once we start seeing your images, I'm sure there will be some we like and some not so much.

 

[G.K.Jnr.]

Hi Chris, And welcome aboard TP, looking forward to hearing from you and maybe seeing some of your images on the various forums. "Enjoy"

 

[Norkie]

Hi Chris, welcome to the forum, enjoy your self here