I have a soon to be father-in-law that always devaluates my work by making this statement. It is so insulting and I get so pissed that I really have no good answer. He does not understand all of the hard work that goes into making a proper exposure and getting the right subject with the right background and the right detail level, etc. Ultimately the sad part is, he is like millions! People generally just don't understand photography I think. They all think that it is all luck and that if you have the most expensive gear that it is like child's play! Really gets me down sometimes. :/
Not sure I understand what makes you mad. That he likes video more than stills? A lot of people do. Playing amature shrink, I think he likes to tweek you and it works. I'd just forget about it and move on...then he will find something else to get under your skin...just used to it and don't visit with them much.
I prefer still because you are getting a moment in time. You study and enjoy the moment, not the activity. But that is just me. Some poeple like paintings and some movies. And some like both and they are different. As for the technical aspects, both can be equally challenging since the basics of working with light are the same. The hard part is creating subjects that are interesting, capture the imagination, and transport the mind BEYOND the technical to the subject...that is far more difficult than learning the tech part. Anyone can learn the tech part.
Maybe you can engage him is an intelligent discussion about tech and then about art. My guess is that would shut him up quick...he won't be able to hang with that kind discussion. Or like I said before, it is hopeless and he just wants to annoy...some people do enjoy that kind of life, oddly enough. I have them in my family too and we tend to have superficial relationships.
People generally just don't understand photography I think. They all think that it is all luck and that if you have the most expensive gear that it is like child's play! Really gets me down sometimes. :/
I know what you mean. I got a 40D and had a kit lens on it, and everyone was telling me, "That must have really good zoom!", when really it had no more zoom than a pocket sized P&S, and less magnification. People just don't understand that there is more to taking fabulous photos than having a big expensive camera.
Another point of confusion (probably the most prominent) is zoom vs. magnification. People say, "it must have really good zoom" when they really mean magnification. I tell some that the best lenses don't have any zoom at all, and their jaws drop. You just can't expect everyone to understand everything, and it sometimes takes some explaining.
chupacabra31 wrote:
I have a soon to be father-in-law that always devaluates my work by making this statement. It is so insulting and I get so pissed that I really have no good answer. He does not understand all of the hard work that goes into making a proper exposure and getting the right subject with the right background and the right detail level, etc. Ultimately the sad part is, he is like millions! People generally just don't understand photography I think. They all think that it is all luck and that if you have the most expensive gear that it is like child's play! Really gets me down sometimes. :/...Show more →
I fear you don't understand photography either if you think shooting a video is different in all the aspects you mentioned it to be.
Tim Speciale wrote:
I fear you don't understand photography either if you think shooting a video is different in all the aspects you mentioned it to be.
Haha your right! I should not have stated it the way I did. My humblest apologies.
You just can't expect everyone to understand everything, and it sometimes takes some explaining. 
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