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Well, OK, I won't argue with that, but in my experience, passion is an integral part of being an artist. People talk about the creative urge, and if you try to find an artist without passion then I don't think you'll succeed.

I can only think of one great artist who wasn't permanently consumed by the desire to create, and that was Rossini. Almost uniquely amongst the great composers, he retired, and took up cooking instead. Perhaps he considered cooking to be an art, but with a more practical result.

G

Perhaps he was just hungry and thought no-one else could do it right...

But you are right, passion is the thing.

Ditto

Pete

To be successful - either as amateur, pro or semi-pro - in any creative art form I believe you need talent first, passion, then practice. Practice. Practice. Mozart was an exception, but have you seen the state of Beethoven's scores? So many crossings out and rethinks - it is painful to look at - but the results are sublime. Again, as with photography, the results, even for Beethoven, are not to everyone's taste.
Practice without talent and passion is tragic. The three together can lead anywhere. As for me, I am practising, I have a passion. Whether I have sufficient talent? My own jury is still out.
I must add one more thing: sufficient self-belief.

Yup, our Ben has that, too.

G

Good professional photographers have an attention to detail that even the most gifted amateur is unlikely to match simply because of the necessity to pay attention to detail day in and day out (note I am careful to write "good professional photographers" as there are plenty of unimpressive pros). For this reason a good professional will always have an edge. I learned this first by studying the portrait work of Paul Kaye Studio in London.

It isn't that a gifted amateur lacks the ability of a pro - it is simply that amateurs do not have the time to spend developing the reflexes and eye for detail that good professionals must have - especially when dealing with clients who aren't interested in excuses. To develop a facility for anything you have to do it often, and there is nothing like daily commercial pressure to help develop the discipline you need to see things quickly that others may miss. This is true in any pursuit - sports for example.

I think the premise of amateurs vs pros is a little misleading sometimes because any good pro needs an amateur's heart. The problem some pros have is that photography has become just a job. The problem with some amateurs is that they lack the edge and creative reflexes of the best pros simply due to lack of daily exercise.

I should just add that studio based photographers have the most difficult job in my view because they are responsible for everything in the photograph (I can write this with a clear conscience as I am not studio based). If something is a fraction off in photo-journalism or any other field it can be excusable due to factors outside of the photographer's control. In the studio there are no excuses and nowhere to hide. Anyone who can handle studio work well has my respect.

To be discerning, you need the vocabulary. Without that you are not able to even formulate the question, as it is not part of your paradigm. If you don't know something exists you cannot enter the domain. You must build the vocabulary to add to your bank of information. Observing is the first step. This is not in a technical context. Absorb the images you are attracted to. Learn the art of discernment. Observe the "Theme" of the image. Observe the intent and how it was resolved. The technique will come as you start to define what your goals are and as a response to those projects you will seek out technical solutions. Technique is only the tool needed to achieve the final result, the expression in a concrete form.

Ben

Do you know what I loved the tune that was playing - very much my sort of thing... Much like the pictures it's not to everyone's taste I know but definately my 'thing'!

I think that helps when you want to convince others you are descerning....so it is, to a point true...however, people didn't simply float off the planet, before Newton used vocabulary to describe "Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica".

the fact that you used the word "observe" 3 times "Absorb", "learn", "seek" and "achieve" tells me why you are where you are, and that you deserve respect. Truer words not oft spoken.
when words fail, or contradict, it's what you do that matters. Deeds Speak.

"Winterpeg?" That was NOT a Typo...Funny...

I trust you read that in the original Latin, and from cover to cover?

G

HELL NO!
but having pushed a yamaha fj1200 into the 240-260 km/h speed range, having skydived, water skiing, downhill skiing, rollerblading, and list goes on and on...
I think I have a vague idea of the concepts, and have found many practical uses for gravity, and a few other laws of physics.
for example:
I don't need to read a book to know about rotational mass, gyroscoping, gravity, acceleration, aerodynamics and friction.
All I need to know is this:
If I manage to get both wheels on a 450lb, 130hp motorcycle off the ground, at the same time, what goes up will come down (gravity);
I have two wheels (large rotating masses, gyroscopes) that I can use, by braking (front and rear) or accelerating (rear) to shift the weight and level the thing off before it lands. If it lands level the weight will distribute evenly accross two different types of suspension (one being a lever, the other straight hydrolic), the tires will apply friction to the asphault, and life (the meaning of which is subjective and not likely to be found in a book) goes on.

Don, you are irrepressible. Long may you continue to defy the laws of gravity.

G

I enjoy my photography because I can express myself better thru it than thru wordz.
Motorcycles, on the other hand are a religious experience.

Just hit the throttle a little harder, and the brakes a little later.
You can always buy new underwear, but how often do you get to see Jesus?
(I use him as a braking marker, to cut my lap time on the next pass)

Great lines! Now do it on a Guzzi...