TOM’S
TIPS
Tom Furlotte has over 35 years experience in the retail camera business! He is an experienced, confident, and knowledgeable salesman as well as an excellent and enthusiastic amateur photographer. Active in the Memphis Camera Club, Tom spends much of his spare time taking photographs of a variety of subjects. His specialty is nature and close-up still life, but he’s well versed in scenic and sports, as well. "Tom’s Tips" will give you an opportunity to take advantage of his expertise and teaching ability on a variety of subjects.
Many times a customer will ask to see a professional camera. This simple request leads to many questions for the customer. The results often determine that the customer is not a professional photographer but thinks that the act of buying a piece of gear will magically transform his/her images into ones of professional quality.
Photography forums are full of requests for the secret to professional quality images. Questions usually ask about specific lenses and post processing techniques. Those seeking the answers are certain that if they are allowed in on the secrets then the quality of their images will improve. I’m now going to let all of you into the secret society of pros. All the secrets are: practice, practice, practice, and more practice. But deep down inside you knew that.
Professional quality images result from the photographer’s knowledge of the equipment, the techniques, and the subject being photographed. A Pro will know the controls on his gear and how to set it for the results needed without fumbling around. Familiarity with various techniques will provide the ability to adapt to conditions as they arise. Pros cope with the unexpected hindrances that crop up in any assignment. Knowledge of the subject allows the Pro to anticipate the needs of the job. They are able to accept any assignment and to return with images the client can use.
Still you hear it often at the Memphis Camera Club exhibits at CBU when a viewer praises one of the images, seeks out the maker, and promptly asks what camera they used to make it. The artist showing paintings in the main gallery is not besieged with questions about what kind of brushes he owns. I’m sure that the people working at the Art Center don’t have customers asking what brushes will make their work into Rembrandts. The admirer of images never asks the photographer how he learned to see light like he does. A good photographer is like any other artist who studies the craft and invests much time and effort to become good at it. Pros are able to take professional quality images because they have learned the skills required. True professionals always get the images required of them.
This need to come back with the goods causes professional photographers to gravitate to the types of cameras that have versatility, reliability, and quality. The camera they choose is their tool-of-the-trade and must hold up to constant, heavy use. It must perform in a variety of conditions that require a feature set that gets the job done. Equipment failure is no excuse for not completing an assignment. The true pro always has a back-up plan and the gear to implement it.
Camera manufacturers try to build cameras that will appeal to this segment of the market. They love to be able to advertise that their camera is the choice of professionals. This type of advertising gives the impression that the particular camera the pro uses makes the image of a certain quality. But there is nothing magical about the camera itself. The magic is in the mind and hands of the user.
In short, a “professional” camera is whatever camera a professional photographer uses to make images. The photographer’s skill and vision create the images that sell. The cameras and lenses are the tools he uses to capture his vision.
