For
what it's worth, I think the line between "Photographers" and "Non
photographers" has become so blurred as to make any kind of comparison
meaningless. The days of the celebrity photographer are coming to an end
with the proliferation of ever more sophisticated cameras on
smartphones, backed up by production software that does all the work for
the snapper.
The perception of the photographer is coloured by which of the genres of photography he represents. There is still a mistrust and loathing for the "Papppazi" type photogaphers who were variously blamed for the death of Princess Diana, with all its attendant hysteria, but as Josie rightly points out, Medical photography is probably something that never enters the mind of a non photographer.
Being pedantic I would suggest that as soon as anyone records an image on a camera, or a smartphone, then they are a photographer. If you asked 5000 people to take a photo of a sunset on thier phone, probably some would be good photos, and a fair few would be outstanding, but although they were taken by photographers, they were not taken by professional photographers. The attitude is that all a pro does is be in the right place at the right time, best equipment, best corporate back up, etc etc.
In my experience the truth is rather different. Standing up to my knees in cold slimy water waiting for one species of Dragon fly, or lying soaking in the dew to document the return of one particular orchid, the glamour isnt there.
The place for photography as a documentary tool is the most important aspect . Whether that be Bob and Carol's wedding or the destruction of Aleppo, it is important to document these events for nostalgic purposes, memory purposes and future legal puposes.
I wonder how many non photographers stop to think how much photography has helped to change and shape our world? Or the service, in some cases the life or death service it has been to mankind?
I am a photographer and I wouldn't want to be in Syria for a gold clock. Non photographers see images from there in their newspapers, on the web,on the tv. They expect to see those images, they turn up like magic every day. How many times do they stop and consider the people supplying them? And would they then say "I could do that"
The perception of the photographer is coloured by which of the genres of photography he represents. There is still a mistrust and loathing for the "Papppazi" type photogaphers who were variously blamed for the death of Princess Diana, with all its attendant hysteria, but as Josie rightly points out, Medical photography is probably something that never enters the mind of a non photographer.
Being pedantic I would suggest that as soon as anyone records an image on a camera, or a smartphone, then they are a photographer. If you asked 5000 people to take a photo of a sunset on thier phone, probably some would be good photos, and a fair few would be outstanding, but although they were taken by photographers, they were not taken by professional photographers. The attitude is that all a pro does is be in the right place at the right time, best equipment, best corporate back up, etc etc.
In my experience the truth is rather different. Standing up to my knees in cold slimy water waiting for one species of Dragon fly, or lying soaking in the dew to document the return of one particular orchid, the glamour isnt there.
The place for photography as a documentary tool is the most important aspect . Whether that be Bob and Carol's wedding or the destruction of Aleppo, it is important to document these events for nostalgic purposes, memory purposes and future legal puposes.
I wonder how many non photographers stop to think how much photography has helped to change and shape our world? Or the service, in some cases the life or death service it has been to mankind?
I am a photographer and I wouldn't want to be in Syria for a gold clock. Non photographers see images from there in their newspapers, on the web,on the tv. They expect to see those images, they turn up like magic every day. How many times do they stop and consider the people supplying them? And would they then say "I could do that"
