It’s a bit embarrassing but

Well I mite be asking for trouble here and It’s a bit embarrassing but I have to ask?
Does any one really get down when you look at world class photography and think! Will I ever be as good or better than them guys, there is a Great range of Absolutely Brilliant and Fantastic pictures out there and I think some times I will EVER be as good as them guys?
What do you think when you see a Fantastic picture, do you ever think to your self what camera did they use?
How did they get it so clear and pin sharp!
that’s what I think and I try so hard to get the shots as professional as I can with the gear I have but I think that some of my photos are a bit well plastic looking at times. What I mean by that is they can be too colourful and not as professional looking, it would be great to hear your views on what you think when you see world class photography.

just a target to aim at

There really is some terrific photographers around but one thing to remember in the digital age is that what you see is not always what they saw!!

What I'm getting at is that some photographers now spend more time processing their images than they do taking them and I think it's a reality that if you want to compete with the best then you need good PP skills too, this is an area where I'm happy to concede that I'm not great at and because I'm also non too keen on spending loads of time processing shots I'm resigned to the fact I'll probably never achieve the results that some of the best out there do.

Simon

Ive just started playing around with some in photoshop, but im not very good at it yet! and well light room i cant get the hang of it,lol but I really don’t know if I like that, iam old school there’s nothing wrong with post processing it can be fun but I like the real shots as you! But it’s that little bit in the back of my mind that’s says is it good enough

The age old argument of "is it photography " is going to probably rear its head again. I for one am not keen on pictures being over processed. I do believe that there is photo enhancement and then there is photo manipulation which is usually not (exactly) what the camera was pointed at. I'm not a fan of the later however I do appreciate the skill.
Save your pennies puma and get yourself some DA* lenses then go out and take wonderfully sharp shots, because you have an eye for a good photo and leave the manipulation to others.

I think that’s the answer, and I really don’t want this to go down that old road again lol

I do look for great photographs, it serves to inspire me. One thing I don't pay any attention to is the camera or lens used. I've seen enough stunning work on the PPG, here and elsewhere to know that my kit is more than capable of such world class results. The only variables and barriers are primarily user skill and the odd accessory. I'm working on those aspects.

I don't use Photoshop, but I would like to. However, as I shoot RAW, one of the advantages is that regardless of the version I produce with my limited pp skills, I can always reprocess the original file later when I have learnt the appropriate pp skils.

Lightroom is actually quite old school as well it mimics some of the basic options you've in the dark room.
How ever way you turn it photography also have a science side on it, in the early day it were chemicals and now we also have digital, as a photographer you need to have a feel a bit for both. A good eye and a good mind.

What a Fantastic way of putting it thanks don iam going to kick a** LOL

I sucked at my college art class but a very important thing I learnt: The process is an art in itself.

So to me, the process of creating a photo - from choosing the equipments, waiting for the moment, capturing it to post processing and even sharing (Flickr vs Facebook? Tweet or no tweet?) - is THE art.

I hardly ever question whether I will be as good as someone else. See little point in that because I am the master of my own process (as much as the other person is the master of his/her process with the tiny detail and personality that just cannot be copied). The "me", egoistic, self-centred aspect keeps everything light and pleasant.

It doesn't mean I don't learn from others. But the purpose of learning is to further enhance my process to make it even more pleasant. At the end of the day, my family likes my pictures, my friends (the ones who will frankly tell me if I suck) like my pictures, I like my pictures. That's all that is important.

Exactly,,,,,

Definitely
This sort-of surprised me, but I've found it's very much true.

Add to the list the ability and drive to get out there and take shots - and occasionally, this does mean getting out at 3:30 (or staying up...) to watch the sunrise, take a killer shot and realise in processing that the sun's burned out. ARGH!

Learn from your mistakes, remember, avoid them next time and get better as a result.

I set up a couple of flashes over a Jacuzzi in around 5 minutes Friday evening - something that would have taken me an hour or so last year. It worked very, very well. Learn. Take it with you. Test. Work out what's vital, important, not important and then improve your list as you go on. The more you understand the process and the limitations of the kit you have, the easier it is to do it right next time.

Bret