What Knowledge Level Do You Have?

This is a dificult question to answer and it depends on where you apply weighting. What counts the most; the ability to take and produce exhibition level prints or the technical knowlege of chemical darkroom processes, and of Photoshop manipulations. Then there are Portraits, Landscapes, Nature etc. Then there are 35mm, Medium Format and Large Format. Not forgeting Computers, Periferals, Scanners, Printers, Cards, Raw, JPEG, etc.

I used to print Monochrome, RA4 Colour and Cibachrome/Ilfrachrome photos and gain local and Federation Exhibition Acceptances. I currently do the same with my digital work. I am in the advanced sections of a large Photographic Society and gain some competition places.
However, there are many people who know far more about Photoshop techniques than me.

I am going with Well Informed in Many Areas.

John, perhaps you could set a questionnaire to illustrate your point, followed by a Pentax User Print Competition. I would be happy to participate.

Which brave soul has admitted to an 'exceptional level of knowledge'?... I would love to see their portfolio....

Good all round skill level

Think myself good at photography & good at photoshop. Can always learn new skills, that is what life is about to me...

quite gray on technical (especially computers) side,
Newbie on digi world. Learning takes time.
Flash and lightening is unknown world.
Learning from my own experience and the forum/flickr advices.

I don't think anybody can classify him/herself as exceptional. Even a pro can sometimes learn something from a novice...? Or what?

I can happily use my Km on full manual in RAW+, however don't know if that means I can take a better pic . produce a better image..........are my algorhythms better then Penty's? I like to think so.....

TO be honest, the one thing I struggle with is flash, and use a Metz Mecablitz 48AF-1, I love how cool it is that can use it and its not connected to the camera physically, but hate the limited angle of usage of such wireless technology............

Practice makes perfect........and off to church tomorrow for a christening, they are expecting some free pics, I don't really do church (wel not since a cub and that was a while back, and most of the stuff that Santa left originates north o' the border, comes in a corke dbottle and had 40% written on the label!))

I might have been tempted to have said, 'moderate becoming better' However looking at the comments of all you 'venerable and Masters' then clearly I have a way to go.

The secret I think is just to keep persevering and listening, but more importantly taking notice of the help/assistance that is available in and on here.



Paul

Errr, beginner, developing some skills? I'm better in my eye for a good shot than in actually using the camera properly >_< I got brill shots with my Konica instamatic, and when I changed to an OM10 it took a good six rolls of film before I stopped taking rubbish pictures that were all camera shake/poor focus/underexposed etc etc.

I didn't want to get a dSLR till I had a better understanding of how all the settings of a manual SLR inter-related, but I'm glad I do have one now because I think I am learning a bit faster now I can actually look at the shot I've taken while I'm onsite where I've taken it. But that aside, there is still so much for me to learn. I've got this wonderful K-m but I do use it entirely on manual mode because I have little understanding of the other settings.

I also do very little post-processing of my pictures - I'm alright with Photoshop but I've yet to experiment with RAW software and the like. And like others, I struggle with flash photography - still lots for me to learn there, I avoid using the flash wherever possible because I can't get the colours to look natural.

But that aside, I think I have learned a lot when I look back at how I started out. If anything I think I'll be able to pick up my OM10 and shoot with more confidence now, compared to previously. However, still much more to learn and it's just a case of practice and lots of reading!

Cameras: Loads of experience in photography over the years, but that hasn't made me an expert. I have a grasp of composition and know when to break the rules, which I do quite often. Like Graham Walton (above) I'm in a big camera club where I've won a few competitions and had acceptances and awards at Federation level. I came quite late in the day to digital photography.
Computers: Learned on a need to know basis which means I don't know much. Photoshop skills are basic but I can find my way around enough to tidy up a picture and carry out some useful tasks.
Ambition: To become a Pentax pro master like my avitar claims me to be.

I guess a tutor would describe me as:
Tries hard. Technically competent but artistically challenged

I'm still trying to come to grips with the level required to take a good shot.

in the light of the past and present outstanding photographers there will always be amongst us different views
as to their composition/technicalities etc.

I believe a persons level is when they are confident to lift their camera with any lens and take the shot knowing
they've done their best in the knowledge of their equipment and experience in order to nail the shot.

I still class myself a beginner after 30 yrs.

regards

albert

I like that!!
Can I borrow it?

Interesting poll, John, and well worth finding out a general level.

I'm not bad at the fundamentals of photography (started in the seventies with a Zenit B and Praktica stuff)and can do basic image post processing, but compared to someone like, say, Womble, I'm a hopeless luddite at basic computing skills. I'm also really weak on knowledge about classic Pentax lenses and their relative merits.

I'll be very interested to see how this pans out...I've gone for a lowish average. I'm bound to point out that in the short time I've been involved with you all, my understanding and knowledge has grown several fold... everyone seems so helpful and happy to become an educator.

Andrew

If I'd thought of it, I'd probably have used it too.

Andrew

There are several people on this forum that I'd have no problem classifying in the exceptional level of knowledge category. I feel that a lot of people are being too modest here. Nobody putting themselves in the top category is saying that they have nothing more to learn. (Bear in mind that most good professionals in certain sectors spend a lot of money each year on training. And that a good wildlife photographer is not necessarily going to be a good wedding photographer etc.)

And, on the other hand, it wouldn't be difficult to gain a decent understanding of photographic technology & techniques (e.g. by reading AP for a year) without having lifted a camera in anger...

Jonathan