The Seven Stages of Photographers: Which Are You In?

[Clix Pix]

Ran across this article and link in another forum in which I participate, and the descriptions really seem to nail things on the head for many photography enthusiasts:

The 7 Stages of a Photographer: Which One Are You In?

Photography is a marathon, not a sprint, and each person's journey is unique. Although your path may evolve, photographers' stages can be similar. What does a photographer's stage mean? Every photographer experiences stages at some point. I recently joked that last year, I was in my emo phase...

fstoppers.com

 

[Boyd01]

My Dad had a little darkroom in the basement, by the time I was about 12 years old, I was developing and printing my own pictures. That would have been around 1961. As a junior in high school, I was photographing the football games with a SLR (a cheap Minolta from a pawn shop, but it was a SLR with a few lenses). Every now and then, the newspapers would pay me a few bucks for a shot. Saved some money and had a Nikon by the time I went to college in 1967. I never stopped taking pictures, developing them, sometimes publishing them.

And so it continued, first digital camera in 1999. I retired from a long career in theatrical design in 2011, photography was always an important part - not only as part of the design, but documenting my productions, carpenters building the scenery, crews working backstage and finally production photos.

After I retired, something curious happened though. Have always been big on nature photography and especially landscapes. But it gradually dawned on me, I was too busy thinking like a photographer and designer to actually *experience* my nature hikes. So, I stepped way back from it all, left the camera at home and started to really observe and experience nature. My old Nikon DSLR died about 5 years ago with a jammed shutter. Not worth fixing, it was old. I could buy a used body just as good for $100-$200 (already have a bunch of Nikkor lenses). But I'm not going to do it - at least not now.

I'm quite happy just enjoying life these days. Maybe it's because I worked professionally as a designer for so long that my mind automatically switches to "work" mode if I'm composing and editing photos? Whatever the reason, I don't really relax and just take things in if I'm carrying a camera. It becomes a "photo shoot". I don't have much (if any) "disposable income" in retirement, if I did then I'd probably buy a nice new Nikon body. But I'm just not motivated to do that. I still take pictures with my (old) iPhone and that's good enough for me. In fact, I really love panorama mode on the phone.

Anyway, that article is missing the most important stage for me: the "post-photographer", - stepping back to just observe and appreciate the natural world without looking at it on a screen or through a viewfinder. 🙂

 

[Clix Pix]

That's very interesting, Boyd! You're right, the writer should have mentioned the "post-photographer" stage! I suspect you are correct that this for you is likely due to the fact that you were shooting so much during the time you were working and that much of that was related to your professional responsibilities. Makes sense to me!

Sometimes people take a break from photography for a while and then eventually return to it; I'm one of those. At one point I became burned out after going through a lot of extensive shooting, including a 365/POTD thread in which I participated with others on another forum many years ago. One day in the midst of that project, I said to myself, "I can't do this any more," and didn't pick up a camera again for several years.

Eventually I did return to photography: gradually, slowly at first, and then full-tilt once again. Much of that evolved right here on MR, actually, in our POTD thread. That little spark that was still inside me once again began to burn more vigorously and brightly.

I learned a lot from that earlier experience and so far have not sensed any signs of potential burnout again, even though I am shooting on a daily basis and have been for several years now. I'm having fun, experimenting at times, and for me photography is a way to relax. It certainly helped during the shutdown period of the Pandemic!

Oops, forgot to mention in my first post that right now I seem to be in the "Artist" stage..... Although I've never thought of myself as particularly artistic or creative, it does seem as though now I find myself experimenting more and more, trying different things out, playing around with subjects in new ways, and equally importantly, spending more time also in the post-processing/editing component as well. I probably never will embrace the latter with wholehearted enthusiasm, genuine love or spectacular skills, but I am at least getting more comfortable with it and learning to work with it more effectively.

I am happiest with a camera in my hands and seeing what it, whichever lens I have on it at the time, and I can do together.....

 

[OldMacs4Me]

Not mentioned at all, but mainly the consolidation stage. That is trying to give some sort of order to the chaos of 55+ years behind the lens.

 

[Clix Pix]

Not mentioned at all, but mainly the consolidation stage. That is trying to give some sort of order to the chaos of 55+ years behind the lens.

Another valuable "stage" which was not mentioned! Oh, yes, that is definitely one with which many of us have to grapple, often years later, when one day we wake up and realize that, oops, all or at least much of this really needs to be organized! Not just current or recent digital images, but, yes, maybe also negatives in those negative sleeves thingies, prints in albums or portfolio cases, slides in carousels...... They're all there, waiting for attention and maybe showcasing.....

My guess is that for many of us, it's been a situation of simply ignoring that whole aspect, especially pre-digital photography material, and even early-on images shot back when we were first exploring digital photography and learning new software which was supposed to enhance it. Gee, wasn't/isn't it just so much easier focusing on whatever we're shooting currently, especially if there are time constraints and limitations?

I doubt that in the beginning many of us (especially enthusiasts rather than professional photographers) even gave much thought to setting up an organizational structure right from the get-go, but maybe at some point a few of us belatedly began to realize the value of coming around to at least casually dealing with this whole situation. Most likely the initial approach involved maybe only starting with tackling the earlier digital images while still shooting current images. So yes, the digital files and folders continued to grow and grow..... Thank goodness for external drives!

Then one day for many serious photographers the realization hits: ALL of these images (and, yes, along with them, film images shot prior to digital images as well) really need to be organized in a truly meaningful and efficient way if the individual wants to have a cohesive, through-the-years collection. Whew..... We've got the technology now, though.

Not simply just moving forward, but, yes, also dealing with retrospective images, files and folders..... The "Consolidation Stage" -- That in itself is a major challenge, especially for those who have negatives and slides from years ago which are still meaningful and important to them. Kudos to those who accept that challenge!

 

[ipaqrat]

I combine Artist with Post-Photography rut. My first instinct might be "Aww, that's so cool, F8 and be there, baby!" <screeches to a halt on the road, leaps out with camera>, which then sometimes devolves to "Whatevz, that's been shot to death, nobody cares anymore. I can't publish anyway, because they'll just get stolen, which would make me sadder and angrier, so why bother. Anyone could fake that up with AI..." (Ref., Eeyore)

The thing is, the article treats only one's self-image, <pun intended>, which matters, of course; however the article does not touch on how viewers might PERCEIVE photographers' conduct, predications and ultimately the images. That sort of critical feedback can be a proverbial third rail.

 

[Clix Pix]

That's an interesting thought about the article not mentioning another important aspect of the whole photography thing: the response/reaction/perception of a viewer vis-a-vis the photographer, the possibility of critical feedback, etc.
This can definitely influence the viewer's response to the finished product, especially if he or she is present when the photographer is shooting photos and thus is aware of the "backstory" of the image. Of course the viewer is not going to necessarily know the photographer's intention or what captured his or her interest in a given subject at the time. In addition he or she may not be around when the photographer is actually working on everything during post-processing.

Most viewers come to an image "cold," seeing it without any preconceived ideas or expectations. It's there at face value, open to interpretation. The viewer's own background with regard to photography, creativity and technical skills also plays a role in how he or she perceives an image. Some photographers strive to "tell a story" in their images, while others are less concerned with that, instead focusing on other aspects. In the end, each photograph stands on its own and interpretation is left to the viewer.

Sometimes when reviewing and editing images, the photographer may find something even more interesting than whatever he or she had in mind at the time of making the exposure, and that can turn into an entirely different result than what might have initially been intended. Or, a few images about which the photographer had been excited aren't satisfactory after all when seen on a screen larger than the VF or EVF and the small LCD screen on the camera.

And, yes, for the photographer there comes that time when he or she shares or displays one or more completed images and potentially is disappointed when viewers' reactions may not be as gratifying as had been hoped. It can be rather surprising when an image particularly meaningful to the photographer is disregarded and blown off in favor of another image which is more appealing to the viewer. Also, yes, thoughtfully-intended critique may also be disappointing and frustrating to a photographer as well.

Photography is both an art and a science. Art, by its very nature, is subjective.

In any event, the writer's focus in this particular article was on the photographer's learning journey rather than on what happens after that, but definitely there are indeed many more aspects to this subject.

 

[Boyd01]

Sometimes when reviewing and editing images, the photographer may find something even more interesting than whatever he or she had in mind at the time of making the exposure, and that can turn into an entirely different result than what might have initially been intended.

That's the premise of one of my favorite films - Blow-up!

Blow-Up (1966) ⭐ 7.4 | Drama, Mystery, Thriller

1h 51m | Not Rated

www.imdb.com

I saw it in a little theater that showed "art films" when I was a senior in high school. Just guessing, but would bet that film did a lot to increase Nikon's sales, it really established them as "cool". At least, that's how it affected me, I started saving and got one within a year! As luck would have it, it was stolen from the trunk of my car while parked in the village during a visit to NYC the next year. Ended up replacing it with a Nikkormat (that I still have!). 😊

 

[Apple fanboy]

I'm at the really should know better stage! Just going through some images and thinking, why did I press the shutter?

 

[Clix Pix]

I'm at the really should know better stage! Just going through some images and thinking, why did I press the shutter?

For many of us, there is a lot of shifting back-and-forth between "stages," and, well, that's human nature! Certainly over the years I have done just this, and no one "stage" seems permanent...... That "why did I press the shutter" stage definitely is an issue for most of us! That's part of the overall learning process, isn't it?

The "why did I press the shutter" question comes up in my mind a lot, too! I'll get excited about something, fire off one or more shots and then only later when viewing them in the computer/monitor realize that, eh, actually they weren't all that interesting or composed well, so just not good in the first place. However, caught up in the joy of taking photos in the moment, at the time I didn't really see that.

 

[decafjava]

Very interesting thank you for this article. I still feel I am at stage one but really enjoy this pastime.

 

[Saturn007]

Great thread! Appreciated your biographical odysseys with photography — and how you expanded the conceptual framework, i.e., categories, of the article.

I've spent years taking photographs — had a grandfather who was something of an artist with his vintage film cameras. As a kid, I was fascinated by the controls on his cameras and his enthusiasm. He passed away, alas, years before I got into anything beyond Kodak Instamatics and Polaroids. Then, it was digital cameras. I would have enjoyed talking photography with him and having him be my mentor. He would have been thrilled with digital cameras and DSLRs.

I don’t really fall into any of the writer's categories. I'd call myself an “Explorer” and “Late Bloomer”.

But a photographer's focus and favorite subjects matter as well. I now largely capture birds and wide field shots of the night sky. The birds leave out iPhones almost entirely. Pocket zooms are what I mostly use. Although the iPhones are great for around-the-house photography and the tap to focus and auto exposure can be addicting.

With my digicams, I'm exploring different ways of framing the birds, varying zoom factors (up to 40x or 80x with built-in tele-converters), waiting for the right moment — and more often photographing them in nature rather than at our many feeders. The photographs turn out to be much more engaging when they're close-ups of them in bushes, on branches, holding seeds, pecking at limbs, or singing. Not sure where I fit in the scheme.

Artist? LOL. 🙈 But I do joke with my spouse when I show her a bird photograph that turned out especially well: “Here's the cover of next month's Audubon magazine”. 😀

I'm now re-exploring the basics, including the classic exposure triangle, but often just using the digicam's direct exposure control with time value. Snowy backdrops are especially tricky. I live in a mostly cloudy climate which adds its own challenges.

Bottom line: I'm a “Novice Nature Photographer” and “Night Sky Enthusiast”, with a passion for identifying deep sky objects (star clusters, galaxies, nebulae) in my photographs, even if they’re only tiny smudges. Seeing star colors on photographs is cool.

(Apologies for the excessively long post! Got carried away… maybe someone will find something of interest in it!)

 

[Apple fanboy]

Great thread! Appreciated your biographical odysseys with photography — and how you expanded the conceptual framework, i.e., categories, of the article.

I've spent years taking photographs — had a grandfather who was something of an artist with his vintage film cameras. As a kid, I was fascinated by the controls on his cameras and his enthusiasm. He passed away, alas, years before I got into anything beyond Kodak Instamatics and Polaroids. Then, it was digital cameras. I would have enjoyed talking photography with him and having him be my mentor. He would have been thrilled with digital cameras and DSLRs.

I don’t really fall into any of the writer's categories. I'd call myself an “Explorer” and “Late Bloomer”.

But a photographer's focus and favorite subjects matter as well. I now largely capture birds and wide field shots of the night sky. The birds leave out iPhones almost entirely. Pocket zooms are what I mostly use. Although the iPhones are great for around-the-house photography and the tap to focus and auto exposure can be addicting.

With my digicams, I'm exploring different ways of framing the birds, varying zoom factors (up to 40x or 80x with built-in tele-converters), waiting for the right moment — and more often photographing them in nature rather than at our many feeders. The photographs turn out to be much more engaging when they're close-ups of them in bushes, on branches, holding seeds, pecking at limbs, or singing. Not sure where I fit in the scheme.

Artist? LOL. 🙈 But I do joke with my spouse when I show her a bird photograph that turned out especially well: “Here's the cover of next month's Audubon magazine”. 😀

I'm now re-exploring the basics, including the classic exposure triangle, but often just using the digicam's direct exposure control with time value. Snowy backdrops are especially tricky. I live in a mostly cloudy climate which adds its own challenges.

Bottom line: I'm a “Novice Nature Photographer” and “Night Sky Enthusiast”, with a passion for identifying deep sky objects (star clusters, galaxies, nebulae) in my photographs, even if they’re only tiny smudges. Seeing star colors on photographs is cool.

(Apologies for the excessively long post! Got carried away… maybe someone will find something of interest in it!)

No need to apologise at all. It’s interesting to hear others stories.

 

[winxmac]

I checked the article but I only see 6 not 7, what is missing?

I guess I am way past the curious beginner but only has 2 extra lenses for my DSLR camera and no extra gear, so I don't know where I'm at.

I shoot people, events, places but at a hobby level or archive purposes and not yet at the professional level so I can't use it as a means of earning money.

 

[Clix Pix]

I checked the article but I only see 6 not 7, what is missing?

I guess I am way past the curious beginner but only has 2 extra lenses for my DSLR camera and no extra gear, so I don't know where I'm at.

I shoot people, events, places but at a hobby level or archive purposes and not yet at the professional level so I can't use it as a means of earning money.

Technically, you're right, he actually only names six "stages," but the first few sentences from the final paragraph sum up everything:

"In the End​

The journey of a photographer is never linear. You may hit some, all, or very few of these stages. You’ll find that you return to these stages repeatedly or never on a few. This will be because you have matured in your image-making process and evolved. You’ll find challenges and joys in all these stages and learn from failures along the way."

 

[mtbdudex]

My Dad had a little darkroom in the basement, by the time I was about 12 years old, I was developing and printing my own pictures. That would have been around 1961. As a junior in high school, I was photographing the football games with a SLR (a cheap Minolta from a pawn shop, but it was a SLR with a few lenses). Every now and then, the newspapers would pay me a few bucks for a shot. Saved some money and had a Nikon by the time I went to college in 1967. I never stopped taking pictures, developing them, sometimes publishing them.

And so it continued, first digital camera in 1999. I retired from a long career in theatrical design in 2011, photography was always an important part - not only as part of the design, but documenting my productions, carpenters building the scenery, crews working backstage and finally production photos.

After I retired, something curious happened though. Have always been big on nature photography and especially landscapes. But it gradually dawned on me, I was too busy thinking like a photographer and designer to actually *experience* my nature hikes. So, I stepped way back from it all, left the camera at home and started to really observe and experience nature. My old Nikon DSLR died about 5 years ago with a jammed shutter. Not worth fixing, it was old. I could buy a used body just as good for $100-$200 (already have a bunch of Nikkor lenses). But I'm not going to do it - at least not now.

I'm quite happy just enjoying life these days. Maybe it's because I worked professionally as a designer for so long that my mind automatically switches to "work" mode if I'm composing and editing photos? Whatever the reason, I don't really relax and just take things in if I'm carrying a camera. It becomes a "photo shoot". I don't have much (if any) "disposable income" in retirement, if I did then I'd probably buy a nice new Nikon body. But I'm just not motivated to do that. I still take pictures with my (old) iPhone and that's good enough for me. In fact, I really love panorama mode on the phone.

Anyway, that article is missing the most important stage for me: the "post-photographer", - stepping back to just observe and appreciate the natural world without looking at it on a screen or through a viewfinder. 🙂

From one my favorite movies of all time. This scene… resonates

I’m assuming every photographer knows this movie.

Me personally.. I’m a photo hobbyist, 62, retiring soon after 42 years in the auto business .
I’ve been thru all those photo stages, now I just shoot for fun, to capture whatever moves me at the moment.
With whatever camera I have, at that moment.

For 2 years in late 2000’s I was a member of a local photography club, we’d meet monthly. That was fun and learning, critiquing others and being critiqued. C&C. They still meet, I might rehook up. There were people there in all the stages.

Ha, we’d had same day assignments, go out and .. capture “x”, bring your image back, show it explain it. Taught me a lot, photo wise and well how to C&C in person. Much different than on a forum.

The old POTN camera forum, they’d C&C your images in there. I really don’t see that here.

 

[Clix Pix]

It has been a pretty long-standing guideline in many sites, including this one, that members do not critique others' images unless specifically invited to do so. Some web-based discussion forums or probably FB and Instagram groups which are wholly based on photography will allow critiquing, but again the person posting the image must indicate his or her willingness for critique to be offered. In the Photography section here at MR, we do have a Sticky Thread "Critics Corner" subforum but it is rarely utilized. The POTD thread is meant for everyone to post one image, whatever strikes their fancy for the day, but in order for it to run smoothly there is no critiquing done there. Viewers can and often do ask about some aspect of an image, and that's fine, of course.

There are reasons behind this. Some people are more sensitive to critique than others, some people are not really knowledgeable enough to provide meaningful and helpful critique in the first place, and others may have the skills and knowledge but somehow are lacking in tactfulness.

 

[seggy]

That article subject matter and it's pretty much exact contents has been done to death over the years.

But to answer, I am...

...Leicaman.

 

[Clix Pix]

That article subject matter and it's pretty much exact contents has been done to death over the years.

But to answer, I am...

...Leicaman.

OK, but specific brands of cameras and such is not actually what the focus of the article is about, eh? Many of us have gone through one or more brands and styles of cameras and lenses as we've transitioned through the years. Regardless of that, though, it is more than likely that many of us have indeed along the way experienced some of the learning/progressive "stages" mentioned in the article. Cameras and lenses are what they are and we are what we are, and yet our adventures with the whole photography thing can be surprisingly similar in some ways.

Yes, there have been other articles regarding this subject in the past and that's certainly not unexpected. This isn't something new, it's just one guy's way of presenting his thoughts.