Your current 'level'

[LS Tech]

Hi Athas,
Life gets a bit busy...I can understand why you haven't picked up a camera since Easter.
Its good to get your camera out now and again. Sometimes just holding it conjures some inspiration. If you think of your camera as being new, ( just pretend) you'd probably want to rush out to shoot.
If I haven't got a specific topic to shoot , I just go into my back yard and shoot the flowers, the weeds, the birds, the insects, whatever I can see. This gives me the satisfaction that at least I have taken some shots, in the name of practising. I also take my camera along when I am driving. I have it on the passeneger seat and if I see anything interesting, I can always stop to have a go. I have caught some lovely rainbows like this.
My levels? Well I am on "L"s but manically trying to improve. Love my cameras. Read photography. Listen to podcasts on photography etc. I see the world in a different way now. I see the way the light falls on things and imagine how this or that would look like in a frame. I haven't made any money from it yet, but one day...

[halmooney]

I presently derive 25 - 30% of my income from photography, so that makes me a moonlighter. Photography is a passion for me, but it is NOT my hobby.
I have wanted to make photographs for a living since I was 18. I like doing the business, working with people, drawing out and capturing their beauty.
The most thrilling moment for me - when a bride opens her book for the first time, and I hear her breath catch - that's when I'm happiest.
I run another business - house repairs - and teach guitar, while slowly re-developing my business. I have to admit, digital is kicking my butt. My new digital will do so many things that I don't yet understand. The learning curve is very slow.
I shot film for 28 years, and I knew what my cameras would do. My old Mamiya medium format cameras didn't even have meters in them - I used a hand-held meter and my experience.
Now, I hold a computer with a lens, and hope I told it the right thing to do.
And hey, don't be surprised that so many working photographers are on a "school" website. The more you learn, the more you see how much there is to learn. And the wise person never stops learning.

[look_yau]

I just love to buy cameras and lens but not really taking good pictures LOL

[wrxkaboom]

Originally Posted by look_yau

I just love to buy cameras and lens but not really taking good pictures LOL

that sums me up..LOL

[Athas_orm]

@LS Tech

Thanks for the advise and welcome. Yeah I must photograph something. I may make a makeshift light box and see if anything inspires me.

Originally Posted by halmooney

The more you learn, the more you see how much there is to learn. And the wise person never stops learning.

Aint that the truth. But still I'd imageine most "schools" aren't catering to the person far down the path of self learning.

[cnrhester]

Originally Posted by jamesev

Trying to run before I can walk hobbyist. In it for the challenge.

Constantly in awe of most peoples work posted on this forum and constantly befuddled as to what i'm doing wrong that makes my shots look like holiday snaps as opposed to Photographs.

I'm with you, I want to know how they get such vibrant sharp pictures and can I accomplish that with my equipment or do I simply not have the equipment it takes. I have a Canon XTI and a EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

[41(thirty)]

I would consider myself a dedicated amateur. I'm not that good yet. But I'm always thinking about photography, reading books, browsing websites and trying to squeeze in as much shooting time as my life and wife will let me. It says something about yourself when you're willing to wake up at 3AM to catch the sunrise at 5AM and then go to work for 9AM. I hope to be as skilled as a professional one day but don't plan on trying to make money from it. just my 2¢

[EEKaWILL]

well I make zero money from photography I only do it for fun but like anything I do I want to do it as good as I possibly can for my own sake and seeng other photographers just makes me want to become better, I am strivng to become better and learn not because I want to make money but for that feelng you get when you see your pics turn out just as you planned.