How one takes a picture says a lot about one’s hand in photography.

I’m not sitting on a high horse claiming that I’m such a 1337 photographer [I don't get paid for it, damit!] of any sort, but it amuses me when I look at how various types of people handle their cameras. Back when digital photography wasn’t readily available, when taking a picture means spending money on buying and processing rolls of film, photography was something taken seriously only by ones truly passionate about it.

When digital cameras came around, especially the compact, stylish ones, it’s become more of an accessory rather than a high-tech device. Which only meant that anyone can take pictures of whatever they want, whenever they want, and however they want. This is simply because the cost of purchasing and processing films are conveniently eliminated. On top of that, should they be unhappy about a shot, they can always erase it to make room for better ones.

The result, a bunch of people who are not afraid to use their cameras to its limits. Which is a good thing.

I find it amusing whenever I see girls putting their faces together, one arm holding the digicam stretched out, pointing at them. Especially if its a compact Cybershot, an Exilim, or worse, an Ixus. Now I’m not trying to create any sense of prejudice here. I understand very well that one man’s food is another man’s poison [that should explain why I don't watch AF]. However, being the observant little prick that I am, I decided to do a little classification on camera wielders of today, since there’s a whole godawful lot of them.

[For the most part, and convenience's sake, I will use masculine references but under certain circumstances, I will mention should there be a feminine case.]

The Camwhore

This person uses the digicam to take photos only of himself. At least 90% of the time. This says pretty much about his style and taste. Usually good-looking, knows it, and is not afraid to flaunt it. Perhaps taking self portraits was the only reason why he’s holding a camera in the first place. In some cases though, the digicam was bought to try out digital photography, but seeing how well his own photos turn out, he decided to turn his camera into a shrine that worships him as God. Unfortunately, he knows his photography as much he knows how to cook an oyster pasta.

I wouldn’t be surprised if some his shots turn out like shit [over/underexposure, camera shake, flashburn etc.] and you hear him complaining about the camera being a lousy one. While that may be true if he’s using a webcam [LOL] but most of the time these people use very stylish and very expensive Canon, Nikon [it's pronounced as Nee-Kon, not Nye-Kon. It's a japanese name, damit!] or even Sony compacts. While the problem is easily solved if he bothered to RTFM, the usual case would see him using the camera the moment he got it out of the box.

While I’ve been using male references, I have seen more females of this type than males. Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against this type. But then, I have nothing for them either :p

The Memory Treasurer

While not as self-obsessive as the Camwhore, he takes people portraits too. But instead of a gazillion photos of himself, he likes to take photos in groups. He doesnt waste a single shot without a person in it. In every photo it’s either him, one of his friends, both, or a big group photo. For him, it’s always about taking photos of people looking at the camera and say penis peace. He likes to tell stories with his photos. Usually it goes like ‘This is when we went to the beach, and this one is when we rode the banana boat… oh look, this is when she got pinched by a crab!’. Yep.

Most probably photos of him occupy only some 50% of the camera memory. Which also means he stays behind the lens more than being in front of it. As such, chances are very high that he understands that Portrait, Landscape and Nighttime modes are better options rather than using Auto all the time. Under certain circumtances, he also knows that it’s sometimes better to turn off the flash.

The Upstart

Yours truly was in this category [back wehn I first bought the A60]. The Upstart is, plainly put, a hot-blooded newbie. While camwhoring or taking groupie shots seem interesting to him, he wants to take photos that can impress people. He likes looking at photos of beautiful landscapes, specifically focused shots and photos that make him go ‘How did he DO that!?’. Usually lacks the capital to purchase a powerful prosumer and decides to start off by buying a compact like the ones used by the previous two persons.

The Upstart has a raging fire to take photos to impress people. He’s not afraid to take photos of fire hydrants, lampposts, train tracks, even ashtrays. He shoots whatever he wants, whenever he wants. Once in a while, he makes a decent shot and puts it up his blog for people to see and comment :D

[yes, I did that, but I didn't blog back then. So I posted it on my devART account.]

Even with that kind of passion, he lacks the knowledge and the skills needed to take impressive photos. With that, he’s not afraid of being called a newbie upon asking simple questions like ‘What do you mean open the shutter for 2 seconds?’. He’s not afraid to learn and continues to take photos and continuously gets frustrated at his own lack of impressive images. His lack of technical knowledge sometimes drive pros up the wall with the noob questions, which can easily be answered if he Googled for it.

Since his camera memory would be full of random images, mostly those that include strangers, sometimes photos that have no one in it, his digital album doesn’t really hold the attention of the first two types. Sometimes he would be called a weirdo and hears stuff like ‘You bought such an expensive camera and you take close-up pictures of cutlery? What the hell? You don’t make much friends do you?’.

The Hobbyist

He was actually the Upstart, after many months of being behind the lens and releasing the shutter. I myself emerged from the chrysalis of an Upstart into a Hobbyist that I am today.

The Hobbyist is very much like the Upstart. He still has that passion and drive, the difference being that now he has a more refined version of it. He has developed his own sense of style, and his own set of techniques of shooting that allows him to produce results just the way he wants [at least, most of the time, lah]. Technicalities doesn’t concern him as much as making an impact with his images. Techinical concerns only rise in desperate situations limited not by his knowledge, but his camera’s potential. At such times he calls upon his knowledge to optimise his camera’s capabilities, and most of the time he pulls it off succesfully.

Unfortunately, he can only afford a compact. At one point, he would save up and invest in a prosumer. In reality, given the chance [and the budget] most Hobbyists would not hesitate to invest in a dSLR kit. Whenever he goes out taking photos, people would look at him in a weird way because he doesn’t really carry a big camera or camera bag to look like a pro, but is often seen crouched, leaning, even lying down on the floor in weird positions when taking a photo, which often makes people think he’s either mentally disturbed or just a plain idiot.

The Rich Noob

Now this is the type that I particularly love to hate.

The Rich Noob knows his photography no better than the Camwhore, yet since he’s rich, he carries a dSLR kit that’s sometimes twice as expensive as what the Hobbyist would have his eyes on. Unfortunately, with that kind of equipment, and with that kind of knowledge, it’s often a pathetic sight. The easiest way to tell if someone is a Rich Noob is by looking at how he holds the camera when shooting. The two diagrams below show the proper way of holding two different types of cameras.

Cameras that have a lens barrel, i.e. SLR and most prosumers must be held with the left hand supporting the weight of the barrel. Compacts must be held with both hands mirroring each other’s placement without blocking the flash bulb or the lens. However, the Rich Noob usually lacks and neglects the fundamental camera knowledge and holds it like so;



I can’t help but sigh in dissapointment at such a sight. Cameras with a barrel usually have rings that lets you zoom and focus manually. Aside from stability purposes, using the left hand on the barrel also lets you have better control of the camera. Rich Noobs, however, fail to understand that.

While not nearly as narcissistic as the Camwhore or as hot-blooded as the Upstart, the Rich Noob possesses qualities of both. He likes to take random shots of things that catches his eye [like the Upstart] but when some shots turn out to like boogers from his nasal canals, he complains and bitches that his camera sucks [like the Camwhore]. He doesn’t RTFM, too.

Not all Rich Noobs are like that, though. Some of them are forced to get an SLR because they are doing an Arts major, some receive it as a gift but has the passion of the Upstart. Simply said, they’re a lucky bunch. Well, most of the time.

The Pro

He knows his shit, his equipment is THE shit, and he gets paid to do his shit. Pros are [obviously] either photojournalists, sports photographers or wedding photographers. They are probably the happiest salarymen in the world. It’s not easy to be a Pro. It takes lots money, effort, passion, time and talent. I want to be a Pro, but I obviously lack the funds, the passion, the drive, the talent and the time [I know, I make plenty of excuses, lol].

Pros are envied and admired greatly by most Upstarts and Hobbyists. Most Pros are very helpful to the former two, offering advice and knowledge in return for the satisfaction of their own passion for the art.

And there you have it. The different types of people who own a digicam. It’s a plain old observation which I always wanted to share. Since I’ve opened up and claimed my place, do me a favour. If you own a digicam, why don’t you tell me which category you fall into. Or if you think I missed out on a certain type, let me know!

Mwhahaha I should get something to drink. My brain is acting strange today.