We have done "what makes someone a profession" to death
So what makes someone an amateur
Latin source, amātor, "lover, devoted friend, devotee, enthusiastic pursuer of an objective"
Can someone be a amateur and a professional at the same time
What make someone an "Amateur"
(38 posts) (17 voices)-
Posted 1 year ago #
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What can make someone amateur? By spelling wrongly! Jk...
Posted 1 year ago # -
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See, now we know that sevencrossing is a human and not a bot....ha, ha, ha.... My thoughts would suggest that anyone is an amateur if they are taking photos, and the status changes to professional at a point of developing a significant part of one's income from the photos. And, most important, the words amateur or professional have little to do with quality. We can only hope the pros produce quality which does not besmirch the overall public impression of the commercial photo industry.
Posted 1 year ago # -
msmoto said:
See, now we know that sevencrossing is a human and not a bot....ha, ha, ha.... My thoughts would suggest that anyone is an amateur if they are taking photos, and the status changes to professional at a point of developing a significant part of one's income from the photos. And, most important, the words amateur or professional have little to do with quality. We can only hope the pros produce quality which does not besmirch the overall public impression of the commercial photo industry.Yeah, I'd agree with that definition.
So then can someone define enthusiast? :D
Is that a very advanced amateur?
Posted 1 year ago # -
Unlike professionalship that is reached as soon as you make money with your photos, amateurship is an awakening venture that brings you to the 'Ultimate State of Consciousness'. It is divided in layers of enlightenment with sainthood at the top.
Right at the entry level, there is already a separation between an amateur and a troll, the first walk the evolutionary path while the latter is contented with a life of misery and like any creatures of the dark, draws his satisfaction in the hatred he brings to himself.
Posted 1 year ago # -
An amateur is someone who doesn't take the time to search for other threads here that cover the same very argumentative topic, but with the work "professional" in it.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I like all these definitions. But here is a question: can an amateur be professional in how he or she goes about photography?
Posted 1 year ago # -
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Absolutely. Some of the most "professional" photographers out there are amatuers, and some of the most unprofessional are professionals.
Posted 1 year ago # -
@NSXType-R... an enthusiast is an amateur who has spent way too much money on their equipment....ha, ha, ha....
Posted 1 year ago # -
Yeti Buddha said:
I like all these definitions. But here is a question: can an amateur be professional in how he or she goes about photography?A feel an true amateur will find it hard being a professional. an amateur does photography for love and the moment he makes, or tries to make, money, the love is easily lost
Posted 1 year ago # -
bjrichus said:
An amateur is someone who doesn't take the time to search for other threads here that cover the same very argumentative topic, but with the work "professional" in it.You seem to consider amateur as a derogatory word
and sady it is often used that way
something I find quite sad
Posted 1 year ago # -
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Here is the official hierarchy:
- Professional
- Semi-professional
- Quasi-professional
- Ex-professional
- Serious amateur
- Amateur
- Jocular amateur
- Photo taker
- Anyone with a cameraphone
- iPhone owners
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- Dog photographer
- Paparazzo(Just joking!)
Posted 1 year ago # -
Seven, good point. However, I think an amateur can go about the practice of photography in a disciplined, hard working way, simply because of the love of the hobby. And, some of those behaviors may look very professional. That does not mean money is involved.
All this said, this isn't the biggest cup of tea we need to work on--Its just I am an academic and like these debates, and being quasi retired, I am misallocating my time from photography to philosophical debates!
Have fun.
Posted 1 year ago # -
sevencrossing said:
You seem to consider amateur as a derogatory wordand sady it is often used that way
something I find quite sad
I did not say that a derogatory term.
It would be nice if original posters did a search for topics already covered. How many tens of thousands of words here have been covered here already on the subject of "Am I an amateur or professional/what makes an amateur or professional?"
Posted 1 year ago # -
bjrichus said:
How many tens of thousands of words here have been covered here already on the subject of "Am I an amateur or professional/what makes an amateur or professional?"
Agreed. I am sure many tens of thousands have yet to written
Like Yeti Buddha I am probably misallocating my time from photography to philosophical debate
I am trying, admittedly without success , to get away from, the OR debate
At present, I believe I fit most definitions of "Professional photographer"
The question I am asking my self. Can I go back to being an amateur?
(if MikeWhis is correct my spelling should help)
Posted 1 year ago # -
Here's my unofficial hierarchy:
- Ex-professional Becauses he really doesn't care about the BS anymore but still has an enlarger stored in his bathroom. May or may not even own a camera.
- Professional
- Semi-professional
- Quasi-professional
- Serious amateur
- Amateur
- Jocular amateur
- Photo taker
- Anyone with a cameraphone
- iPhone owners
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Flower photographer...
(Not joking!)framer
Posted 1 year ago # -
You take pictures like I do...
Posted 1 year ago # -
:)
Posted 1 year ago # -
To use a common analogy like sports consider Olympic runners, gymnasts, swimmers etc.
They are all considered amateurs but are more professional than anyone on the planet at their sport.Some of the very best photographers are amateurs in the true sense of the word but this does not make their work any different than professionals.
Posted 1 year ago # -
framer said:
Here's my unofficial hierarchy:
- Ex-professional Becauses he really doesn't care about the BS anymore but still has an enlarger stored in his bathroom.I have an enlarger stored in my office ... it's leaning up against a bookshelf.
I got trays, tongs, tanks, old cameras all over the floor too.
Posted 1 year ago # -
By definition, a professional is one that received formal education, has passed examination, takes oath and is recognized by his peers through certifications that are usually renewed at periodic interval (think dentists, electricians, architects, scientists, engineers, firemen, doctors, lawyers etc.). With all of the training and certification, the professional is expected to be the most knowledgeable and skilful or is guaranteed to have at least obtained the minimal requirements.
He may receive privileges and protection from his guild but also has obligations and is officially accountable for his performance and his behaviour sometime even in a court of law. He may see his certification been revoked and he may be radiated from his profession and banned from the practice.
It is not because one calls himself a professional or that he receives payment that he is one.
The amateur on the other hand has potentially none of that, no certification, obligations to preform or accountability. I am perfectly happy to be shielded under that denomination and therefore to remain free to evolve at any pace and direction that pleases me.
That does not mean using the term in a derogatory way or to dismiss the excellent work of one is acceptable neither.
We can abuse of words until they mean nothing but let’s not call dogs’ cats.
Perhaps a more appropriate discussion would be "What makes someone an advanced amateur" or what does it takes to achieve photographic sainthood.
Posted 1 year ago # -
WOW - there must only be perhaps ten pros in the world by those standards Pierre!
Posted 1 year ago #
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