Is this the forum for me??

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fatbobsufc

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Hi everyone,

This is the latest in a line of photography forums I've joined over the years. I tried for ages to get used to the Digital Camera Magazine forum, but can't help feeling that so many of the people over there are up their own a***s! eg "I'm the winner of the best photographer in the universe competition 5 years running, as voted for by two people who happen to be regulars on the forum i use". Sorry I'm just not a fan of self congratulation liek that! Also, there seems to be an emphasis on "You shouldn't do that". I once posted a photograph i had taken of one of my relatives. I was told - "The tones are too flat". One guy on there actually edited this photograph and when he posted it back, her lips were black! Needless to say she absolutely hated it!

Anyway, rant over! A little bit about me.... 29 year old IT manager, relative newcomer to photography (2-3 years). In the second year of a part time HNC Photography course. Tried to start on a path towards becoming a 'professional' photographer but realised two things:

1. I was unable to earn as much money as I could in IT and would be unlikely to earn as much money for many years (hey mpney isn't everything but I just didn't fancy going back to the bottom of the ladder and having to start climbing all over again!)

2. When you are starting out as a professional, there is very little time to take photographs 'just for fun'! Since I decided to stick to the IT job, I have had so much more fun with my photography. It's each to their own but my personal opinion is there was no point in me pursuing a career in something I love if it means I don't get to do the parts of it I actually enjoy!

Anyway, looking forward to many discussions. I have already seen a few threads that take my interest.
 
Having gone through a couple of other forums myself (POTN great but too american for me) .. I can assure you that your in the right place now... Your home :)
 
this is so the place to be!

im also 29 and an IT manager....

ive learned so much from this forum!
 
All photography forums have some posters who have confused collecting kit with photography or who consider they are pros because they have won a competition. This one is no different in that respect. Some of the posters here are producing professional standard work and some seem keen to set a world record for the number of camera bodies/lenses/filters/bags etc that they own.

None of which matters as long as they enjoy what they do and this site seems to welcome all facets of the photographic hobby.

I am delighted to see that you are taking the traditional route of getting some formal education in the basics rather than the current "take hundreds of pictures and chuck the ones that don't work" attitude. I have always believed that real photographers, pro or amateur, visualise the end result before pressing the button and learn from the failures.

I am a retired pro whose experience goes back far more years than I care to remember. I enjoyed every minute of my working life, even when it meant getting very cold and wet, but I enjoy my photography even more now that I have only myself to please. Perhaps you would be happiest with keeping the IT job and doing some part time pro work on the side.
 
Thanks Kipax and justinframe - glad I am in the right place!

John yes you are right. I think the best plan is to continue with some photography work on the side. That way it brings in a little extra income and I only have to do as much as I want to. As for the course, it has been wonderful to learn darkroom techniques (ie the basics). I am from a strange new generation of people whose first SLR was a digital, so it has been very informative to go back to the roots of photography and 'unlearn' some of the bad habits I had picked up (eg 10 mediocre shots where 1 good one will suffice).

Thanks for the welcome all!
 
Hi and Welcome

I have to admit I am one of those who takes lots of photos when I am learning a new technique or aspect of photography, on assorted settings until I find out what works for me and then dumps the rest. Some people can learn by books or lessons, I find it sinks in best when I experiment and work it out largely for myself.
 
Far more importantly though Bob - it is Southend or Sheffield Utd you support :)

I support Brighton and what with watching them and a full time job too, I don't get as much time as I'd like for my photography though I guess I don't do too bad.

I hope you enjoy it here. I've not been here too long myself but everyone seems quite friendly and helpful and a bit more 'normal' than a lot of the other sites I've tried.

:welcome:
 
hey hey i am newish to photography and over the last few weeks i have learnt so much with the guy&girls on here!!

hope you feel at home here fella...
 
Hi Bob, and welcome to the site.

Like any forum you'll find there are plenty of really, really nice people who'll go out of their way to sit bleary eyed in front of a computer monitor to help give you the answer to your woes. There's also the odd t*** too but that's the case wherever you go. :)

I hope you enjoy being a member :)
 
Aaargh! Just wrote a really long post and someone came to talk to me and it timed out! AARGH!

Anyway, I was going to say thanks for the welcome Forbiddenbiker, Just-Jay, specialman, JamesPhotoDyson and hypnotic! Blimey you're a friendly lot! :)

Kerioak, i think the kind of learning you do is the best kind. You remember far more that way and i am the same. What I meant is that I used to take 10 shots and hope that a good one came out of it. Now I try to take just one or two and think really hard before I press the shutter release. I found that a really good method for learning this is to go out with a roll of film and try to take 24 different shots , that are all 'perfect' in the sense of in focus, well composed and correctly exposed. This was suggested by one of my college tutors and really worked for me (not that my photography is brilliant! it's just better than it was!).

Jools,

It's Sheffield United (for my sins!). This is the second season I haven't been going regularly after having a season ticket for 10 years. i think our promotion exorcised a few demons for me and now i can move on after ten years (plus) of 'nearly' getting promoted and constant disappointment! Never been to the Withdean, but maybe one day...

Thanks for the welcomes everyone :)
 
Welcome :wave:
 
Welcome and...........yes it is the forum for you!

:wave:
 
:wave:Welcome to TP . think you'll find everyone very friendly in here and willing to help
 
I am new here too, but not new to photography I use to shoot landscapes using medium format and develop and print my own, now I shoot digital. Everyone want to be a photographer and a lot of people think they are the bomb. It's frustrating and painful to read and listen to it.

So far (from just browsing) it seems good here and encouraging we all still need that! I am already starting to feel though that there aren't to many female togs here lol
 
Depends if you're barking mad. If you are, then its home! :bonk:

Welcome.;)


Kev.
 
Welcome aboard :)

Naticle said:
So far (from just browsing) it seems good here and encouraging we all still need that! I am already starting to feel though that there aren't to many female togs here lol
Click to expand...
There's quite a few actually, just not always obvious from the user names, not that it should make a difference anyway :)
 
bob do you live in sheffeild, not many togs in here from sheffield from what i have seen but glad to have you on board!
 
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