When I go to a well photographed location, like the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, I’m always amaze at the various levels of photographers around me; the point and shooters, the spray and prayers, the professional amateurs, and the serious photographers.
The Point & Shooters
At the tulip festival, I’ll see parents breaking the rules and encouraging their kids to stand in the midst of the flowers, “don’t step on any,” while they capture the moment with their tiny silver camera. A camera that can capture a fantastic shot if used correctly. Even the kids have these. They’re having fun with their day out, making images for greeting cards and scrapbooks, excited to upload the good captures to Facebook to share with everyone.
The Spray & Prayers
These are the folks who realized that they might have a talent and stepped up and bought a DSLR. They’re ready to take better pictures, but they have no idea how to use their new camera. They shoot on Auto (or Landscape, since we’re at the tulip fields) and fire away, hoping that out of the 300 shots they took, they’ll have 10 good ones. I remember this phase all too well.
The Professional Amateur
This is me! I know how to use my DSLR, but I’m not actively trying to sell prints or open a photography studio. But I am “serious” about my art and I’m having fun. The professional amateurs chat with each other, check out each other’s gear, share tips, and are excited to connect. We may toss in the word “glass” here and there in place of “lens,” with a smile, because we’re Photographers. We love the Point & Shooters and Spray & Prayers, because we remember these phases all too clearly and relish the opportunity to encourage others like we were encouraged.
Serious Photographers
These photographers may be at the tulip festival to have fun like the rest of us or they may be working. The folks sell prints and and show in galleries. They get to the fields at dawn, because the lighting is fantastic, the crowds haven’t woken up yet, and they have a job to do. They have huge lenses and sturdy tripods that I stare at in longing, mentally making my Christmas list 8 months early.
I’m careful about who I approach in this group, because they’re focused, and I don’t want to get in the way of their shot. This is their office, while it’s my playground. I know they’re having fun too, how could they not?
The tulips aren’t ready for our cameras yet. Even the daffodils are making a late appearance this year, but when the time is right, we’ll all be at the tulip festival, cameras ready.
and 
06/02/2011 at 11:45 pm
I’m not sure where I fall in this grouping… I’m an nub trying to make it pro… I pack my lenses with me every where I go, reffer to the nicer ones as ‘glass’ and the cheaper ones as ‘lenses’…
I often get annoyed when people want to ‘talk shop’ though. Especially when I look over and they have an XSI with a stock lens set to auto… I guess really its the ‘auto’ that bugs me. You are waisting so much of your camera’s practical and creative uses if you are just running around on auto.
Why did you spend $600 on your camera if you are going to use it like a $150 p&s!! *runs off on a tangent*
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06/03/2011 at 5:13 am
Shhhhh – I feel bad for saying this, whenever I see people with a DSLR camera, I check to see if they’re shooting in Auto and if they are it take everything in me not to chastise them. That’s a big investment only to shoot in Auto. That’s why I wrote the eBook about shooting in manual – once I figured it out, it was so easy and it’s gotten a lot of great reviews from people who have found it helpful. I want to print out copies to hand out sometimes. Maybe I will!
Thanks for stopping by. I love love love your comment. I totally get you – I also have lenses and I have glass LOL
06/11/2011 at 11:50 am
Thanks for this break down and comment on your courtesy to the pros. It’s so generous and informative. I love to take photos at unusual angles and look for cool lightning.
I guess I’m a wanna be Pro Am Photog.
I can own that!
The images were gorgeous!
Calla Gold
06/11/2011 at 9:04 pm
Thank you so much, Calla – I appreciate you stopping by. This is one of my favorite posts.
06/11/2011 at 3:30 pm
Love these “groups”…especially the “Professional Amateur”. I’ve been Sprayin’ & Prayin’ way too long, but I’ve recently gotten serious about never shooting in Auto! It’s my personal challenge for this summer, and I have been having so much fun practicing. I’ve been looking around your site this afternoon… wonderful! Thanks so many truly helpful tips… especially that excellent e-book!
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06/11/2011 at 9:06 pm
Thanks, Janna – glad that you got the eBook, I’m going to be rewriting it soon so it’ll be bigger and BETTER!