[matt6t6]

Time for a debate, and I am sure this will open one up so here goes.
You are not a Photographer just because you have a camera. Most people on this planet now have a camera in one form or another, it could be in there phone, compact camera, system camera, DSLR whatever ! Most of these devices stay on auto and in a lot of cases the images made on them never leave the device !! There is nothing wrong with this at all. But to be a photographer you need to acquire a set of skills. These skills can be self taught over the years from trial and error with the help from books and the occasional course, or you can go to University.
There is a hell of a lot to being a Photographer the skills range from understanding the tools of the trade like the camera and lighting to understanding your subject and composition. But this is just the start there is the whole set of business skills you need to be a Photogrepher. Photogrephers learn all these skills for a hobby or to earn a living from their craft.
Anyone can use a camera out of the box on auto these days and make very good images, but they are not photographers they are people with cameras!!
Photographers also have a set of skills for the dark room most these days have digital darkroom skills, some have skills form the film days.
So for the second part of my rant. You are not a photographer just because you can make images in Photoshop you are just a very skilled digital retoucher !! Hopefully over the course of 2012 this will start to get more defined for the industry sake and for the hobbyist and the Pro !!
There is room for everyone in the industry but there needs to be distinctions made. Anyone can take a camera out of the box and shoot a wedding! But I would not let them shoot my wedding! or charge me for it ! The worst part is people just having a go at a wedding and upsetting the bride and groom with a bunch of snaps for free!! Worse still a bunch of snaps for £300 !! Worse still a bunch of nothing as the card was corrupt! But I am not just going on about weddings… The industry is full of people having a go this is in one way good for the industry as it forces the Pro’s to up there games but it is devastating to the client or customer who has just paid £700 for a wedding shoot to find the guy does not have a clue !
You not use a non Corgi Registered Gas fitter would you ?

Debate ....