1. You always follow the latest trend
Have you noticed how many photographers now shoot aerial landscapes or use slow shutter speeds to get the 'washing machine' effect. The same people visit the same locations where another photographer shot a pic that won an award three years ago. The new wedding photographer takes his bride to the same spot the last 200 wedding photographers used. (There was the case recently of a photographer who won a photography competition using an artistic aerial landscape that he had sourced from Google Earth and tweaked by Mr Photoshop!!)
Bulgarian Dimi Pentrova in FACEZ Studio. Photo: Dale Neill © 2014 |
2. You shoot before you think
You put your camera up to eye height and blaze away. You're addicted to pressing the little silver button. If you don't hear at least 50 click an hour you become feverish waiting for the next fix.
3. You're hungry to buy the latest gizmo
There's a group of photographers I'm aware of who meet regularly on line just to show each other their latest acquisition - the new lens, tripod or body. They rarely take photographs - except of their own cameras to post on-line. Their end goal is the gear itself - the status that goes with owning sic antique Leicas with an f1.2 block of glass. I don't think I've ever seen a painter who gets a kick out of collecting paint brushes.
Mud splashes on Land Rover in Aurora Range. Photo: Dale Neill©2015 |
4. You follow photographic rules with religious fervour
You religiously follow the rule of thirds, the golden mean and you never, ever , ever chop off the top of someone's head. You make sure your matt board is millimetre perfect for the camera club and you clone out that bright red light in the alleyway as it might offend a sensitive soul. By following all these so-called rules you are actually being dishonest - dishonest to yourself.
So be true to yourself and avoid being sidetracked and distracted by the so called rules. Do I follow rules?Yes. I have just one rule when travelling.
I never insult the mother alligator until I have crossed the river.
5. You are easy to offend
Travis Bradbury, in his article on emotional intelligence, said that people with low emotional IQ are easily offended. 'Are you pregnant of have you just put on weight? That's a pretty basic camera you have there! I suggest you calibrate your screen or take a colour blindness test!
If you have a firm grasp of who you are, it's difficult for someone to say or do something that gets your goat. Emotionally intelligent people are self-confident and open-minded, which creates a pretty thick skin. You may even poke fun at yourself or let other people make jokes about you because you are able to mentally draw the line between humour and degradation.
(Travis Bradbury)
ENTER
You could win AU$12,000 in cash and prizes in the 2015 Fremantle International Portrait Prize. Entries open 15 June close 21 August. Details HERE.
LEARN
Join Dale Neill for lunch at the University Club for his first Photography Workshop in Semester Two at UWA Extension. 'Photographing Faces'
You could win AU$12,000 in cash and prizes in the 2015 Fremantle International Portrait Prize. Entries open 15 June close 21 August. Details HERE.
LEARN
Join Dale Neill for lunch at the University Club for his first Photography Workshop in Semester Two at UWA Extension. 'Photographing Faces'