Since the rest of my family thinks my photography isn't all-so-important I thought I'd rant to you all.


I wantwantwant the Canon 70-200mm f/4L soooo bad.

Since I'm a student and do not currently have a (paying) job I'm finding it hard to face the reality that I may have to go to the local farm show (a pretty big event around here) without it. Instead I'll have to tack along my el-crudo tamron lens. D: Which is really, really terrible to me since I'm a mere $150 away. To make things worse -there's a contest. Any non-pro photographer may enter for a chance to win $100, $75, or $50 in their photo contest. Although you can only enter 1 photo, it must be color and they would publish it in their book next year, and you would get VIP parking for next years event. -dies- This may not seem like much, but for me...it would be a nice boost in my confidence (as it sometimes fails in my photography - and who doesn't love to be rewarded for their hobby and recognized for what they love doing?).

So, for this next week I'll be busting my bum probably scrubbing toilets and cleaning out the grandparents houses to try to come up with the extra cash.

eeeeeee wish me luck!!!

-Ashley

Haha...I feel your pain, although, once you have a job, you'll spend ALL your money on photography gear.

I started taking photography seriously my junior year in high school and have since spent around $9000 on gear since then. I'm now a freshman at Kansas State working for the Yearbook and Newspaper and hopefully will have all my gear paid off by the end of this next semester!

There are upsides and downsides to having a job =)
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As for the confidence: it will come with time. I still struggle with my confidence and thinking I am good at this photography thing despite winning as many awards as you possibly can in my state high school press association contests and recently being named Best Photographer on a Staff of 2 Hearst Award winners. People are constantly telling me how "good" I am, but I look over at Sports Shooter and I feel like I am SOO far behind other photographers, but really, part of the problem is that I am comparing myself to others who have been shooting longer than I am alive.....In short: Trust that you can be a good photographer and compare yourself to those on your experience level. It will help your confidence a lot.

However, confidence should NEVER be confused with cockiness. You won't get very far in photography or life in general if you show through your words and actions that you are better than everyone else, because more than likely, no matter where you are or what you're doing...someone is probably better at it.
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As for your parents not finding photography important: I can, again, completely understand what you are going through. It took me about 6 months for my parents to finally break down and give me a loan for $3000 for a Canon 400mm f2.8. They are constantly talking to me about why I am going into the industry and about how I won't make make much money, long hours, etc. etc. If you aren't going into photography for a job, but keeping it a hobby, that is a different story, but either way, you need to help your parents understand that you are passionate about photography and that it is something that brings you happiness. As long as you are happy and photography is making you happy, that is all that reall matters. Self-satisfaction is more important than anyone else's opinion on you and your photography.
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I love how I sound like I am sooo much more experienced than you, when in reality I am only a few years older! =)

Ashley Blank wrote:
Since the rest of my family thinks my photography isn't all-so-important I thought I'd rant to you all.
-Ashley

Good luck!


"It's important to know that words don't move mountains. Work, exacting work moves mountains."
- DANILO DOLCI

Ashley,

I can certainly understand your feelings! No matter how long you are a photographer, or how much you spend, there is always one more thing that we really would love to have in our bag.

On the other hand, I'm a firm believer that equipment doesn't make the photographer. Learn your equipment and understand its limitations.

Many years ago, as a photography student in college, I couldn't afford all the fancy equipment my fellow students had - Most sported a Nikon F2 or F3 with a decent variety of lenses... I had a Pentax K-1000 and Ricoh KR-5 with a 50/2.2, 28/2.8 and a 3rd party 80-200/4.5... I certainly had an inferiority complex regarding my equipment..

What I discovered was the equipment had little impact with my images - Most of my best work was done with that trusty 50mm lens. I was surprised to find out my lowly Pentax camera could easily hold its own against the mighty F3 when it came time to turn in our prints.

Good luck coming up with the money for a new lens, but if it doesn't happen, don't let it discourage you - Just go out and make great images with what you have!

Cheers,
Ken

once you have a job, you'll spend ALL your money on photography gear.

Almost 90% of my income (odd jobs for relatives, etc is going twords it now! )
Although, I had to drop $90 on my guinea pig tonight. =( Had to rush the poor thing to the vets office tonight. Doesn't look like I'll be getting the lens unless a miracle happens. xD

As for the confidence part you mentioned: It's nice to here your story and know I'm not alone. I know what you mean by others being better. I'd spent quite some time lurking these forums in awe. There are some very very talented individuals out there!

To what you said about the parents : I'm also getting it from my teachers. A few of them ask me what I want to be and when I present either being a Vet-Tech or Photographer to them, they're always putting me down the way it seems your parents have and bugging me about how work may not always be steady. But, I really do love photography quite a bit. It's helped me get through a great deal. c:

Dan - Thanks for your words, and I'll keep that quote in my head when I'm looking at new equipment and wishing and dreaming. tehe

Ken - It was great to ready your story! I actually got the canon 50mm f/1.8 and love it. It's opened up a lot of opportunities for me, and I'm quite pleased with it. Recently I got within mere feet of a sparrow and got nice, sharp images (I'm a little...sharp-obsessed) and was just blown away by the lenses capabilities.

I may decide to go to the show anyway even if I don't get the lens, I'm sure I'll have fun and it will be a learning experience. =)