Is it possible to teach good photography skills, or do you either have it or you don’t?

Longacre · May 7, 2007 11:59PM

Although there are several outstanding coin photographers on these boards, among the best of the lot is mgoodm3. His photos are incredible. I understand that he is writing a book about coin photography, and has already written a few articles about photography techniques.

Does anyone know if good photography skills can be taught, or is this something that you are either good at or just not good at? Even though I’ve read mgoodm3’s articles, I still cannot take a decent picture.

Maybe there are other factors, such as accessories, which I simply don’t own. I have not spoken to mgoodm3, but if it is possible to teach good coin photography, do you think there would be any interest in seeing if he could hold a seminar at some big show and illustrate his techniques first-hand? He does something that no other photographer does, so maybe there is some Mgoodm3 Technique™, that is special that we can all learn.

Also, after the presentation, perhaps there would be a market for Mgoodm3 Accessories™, such as the Official Mgoodm3 Digital Camera™, the Official Mgoodm3 Copy Stand™, and the Official Mgoodm3 Ott Lights and Patented Set-up™. Of course, you want to make sure that people come back for recurring purchases, so perhaps there is even a market for Official Mgoodm3 Light Bulbs™. He seems to be building a pretty nice photography business, so maybe he can expand the business and bring these incredible photography skills to the masses. What do you think?

MidAtlanticCoins · May 8, 2007 12:11AM

Is it possible? Not sure....Even with the same equipment there is still a learning curve. Placement of light, type of light, backgrounds, and many more factors.

However, I wish someone would come along and teach me how to take pics.

Or with color:

Maybe even close ups

ricko · May 8, 2007 12:42AM

As with any skill, it can be taught. But as in any endeavour, there are those that will excell. Whether you call this talent, genius or highly adaptvive ability, it follows the normal bell curve of distribution found in all human arenas and most areas of study. Cheers, RickO

ArgentumRex · May 8, 2007 12:44AM

Photography is a melding of the (increasingly)technical and the artistic. Some, in general (not just in photography) have trouble with one or the other and just can't or won't learn. However, as it has been scientifically proven that it is possible to teach a monkey to perform neurosurgery, I find it hard to believe that with enough instruction and personal motivation a human could not be brought up to a passable level of photographic skill. At least that's what I am counting on, because my pictures are hideous abominations. But hope springs eternal. I just made that thing up about the monkey doing neurosurgery, by the way (so sorry).

AUandAG · May 8, 2007 12:45AM

Sure, take the 4 year coarse at Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara.
I'll bet you'll be real good at the end and you'll have a 4 year degree too!
bob
I think it can be taught (I've learned a bunch right here on the forum) but can it
be learned is the real question! lol
bob

ziggy29 · May 8, 2007 12:46AM

I think I'd be okay at it; I just haven't gotten around to the time and financial investment of getting the right equipment and lots of practice and experimentation. Good imaging is both an art and a science.

AskRaq · May 8, 2007 12:55AM

Excellent photography skills can definitely be taught/learned, but having a "good eye" comes natural to some & not to others.
After mastering the photography skills, you can improve your end results by increasing the quality of equipment, adding accessories, & a lot of practice.
A "good eye" may not come naturally to you, but with persistence can be improved dramatically.

Russ · May 8, 2007 1:12AM

Imaging coins is more work than it is skill. You just keep banging away at it until you get it figured out. Anybody can learn to do it well. Few will learn to do it as well as Mark, but the fact is that there is no magic to it.

Russ, NCNE

mozeppa · May 8, 2007 1:15AM

<< <i>Imaging coins is more work than it is skill. You just keep banging away at it until you get it figured out. Anybody can learn to do it well. Few will learn to do it as well as Mark, but the fact is that there is no magic to it.

Russ, NCNE >>

what Russ said...no magic.....much emphasis on the "work" part.

AuldFartte · May 8, 2007 1:15AM

Photography, like any other skill, can be taught as far as the technical aspects are concerned, but, as previously stated, the "eye" for photography is either there or it isn't. Not much of an eye is needed for decent coin photography, though, because the composition of coin pics is quite simple. I've read Mark's article on the subject, and it is terrific. I've learned much from it. The first "teacher" I learned from on these boards is Phil Arnold (Darkhorse), but his article has disappeared from the 'net, so I can't lead you to it. His post about the topic, sans photos, is right here.

antonyfire · May 8, 2007 1:26AM

<< <i>Imaging coins is more work than it is skill. You just keep banging away at it until you get it figured out. Anybody can learn to do it well. Few will learn to do it as well as Mark, but the fact is that there is no magic to it.

Russ, NCNE >>

pendragon1998 · May 8, 2007 1:27AM

When I started out, my photos were crap, although I was lucky enough to be working with a very nice camera body (Nikon D70). I would say that 60% of learning to be a good photographer is persistence (i.e., taking thousands of photos - literally - until you learn what technically works and what doesn't). 30% is equipment (you run up against physical limitations with your equipment that can only be overcome by buying a better camera, lens, or lighting setup) 10% - the most critical - is an eye for photography. You can make up for a lot of that 10% by boning up on your technical ability, but you'll never photograph things as seemingly effortlessly as someone with the eye for it.

My problem, I think, is that my current lens isn't what I need to be using. I've got a zoom lens 18-70mm, which takes decent photos, but won't do macro focusing as well as I want it to. I need a dedicated macro.

ttown · May 8, 2007 1:29AM

You certainly have to have the right tools to take good photos or all the skill in the world won't make your cheap camera and setup look any better than an amature attempt.

Mesquite · May 8, 2007 1:33AM

Russ is right. As with most things worthy of pursuit, practice - practice - practice, read and listen, and then practice some more.

Burks · May 8, 2007 2:00AM

It can surely be taught. To the level of some professionals, I'm not sure. Like everything some people just have a natural talent. I for one, lack the photography talent but through reading here and other sites my pictures have gone from gutter crap to "acceptable".

All it cost me was some macro lenses (from China on eBay) and about 20 hours of practice.

coinkat · May 8, 2007 2:34AM

part of the skill is just getting posted here

RedTiger · May 8, 2007 4:10AM

For coin photography it is more of a craft than a talent. Decent tools, someone to learn from, and lots of practice and most anyone will be good at a given craft. If a person has good tools, practice and repetition, will produce results. The average coin photographer probably takes several hundred photos before they reach any level of proficiency. Those that excel at it, may take several hundred every month.

NowhereMan · May 8, 2007 4:13AM

I would love to get better at this -- I LOVE the photos on this forum, but it's also incredibly intimidating. After 300+ posts, i have STILL never posted a coin image, and it's not that i don't have worthy coins, it's that I don't have worthy photos

one day...

Rex

seemyauction · May 8, 2007 4:21AM

you have to experiment, with lighting, exposure, angles, photoshop.......and when you find something that works write it down so you can do it again.

AL

rgwill · May 8, 2007 4:39AM

There is some people that can do anything. They are born with the tallent. Then there is people like me that wasn't born with any tallent. I can do alot of things, but i'm not good at anything.

Whatafind · May 8, 2007 4:40AM

I remember Back in college, taking classes in photography,and still to this day.
Learing the tricks of bouncing light or making light go where you need it, is allways
learning.
And equipment has definitly changed.
The best will always be the 35 mm manual. Learning the F stop then.

BigBuffaloGuy · May 8, 2007 6:13AM

I could have someone up and running in a day. Once the settings and lighting for each coin type is established, it's just a matter of focus and pressing the shutter release cord button. It's not like a golf swing, where you have to work on 10 different things. With picturing coins, it is just a matter of figuring out the right setup. Now, if you wanted to picture coins, and then move to flowers, and then to action sports, more skill would be required. But not for just coins.

BigBuffaloGuy · May 8, 2007 6:15AM

BTW, we had four different "professional" photographers try and help us get our coin pictures looking up to snuff, but none of them were much help. It is one of those things that once you get it, you get it.

JapanJohn · May 8, 2007 6:24AM

Photography is about two things. Patience and lighting. Coin photography is about 3 things. A tripod, patience, and lighting.

This is why I'm such a proponent of tethering the camera to the computer and remote controlling it. You take a shot and you see it on your computer. Instantly. Don't like it? Change your shutter / aperture. Still don't like it. Open the shade, close the shade, add side lighting.

Take a couple pictures and you're fumbling. Take a couple thousand and suddenly you're good. Play with the camera.

John

garsmith · May 8, 2007 2:58PM

My photography is good it's my lighting skills that need work, or at least in as far as lighting coins for photographing!

Bochiman · May 8, 2007 3:01PM

You can teach the basics, but there are always going to be some that are better at it than others. It is like teaching someone to paint or play the piano. They can learn it but there is also a real talent for some and they will always be above and beyond the pack. MGoodm3 is an example of that...Mark is above and beyond the rest.

foundinrolls · May 9, 2007 5:22AM

<< <i>BTW, we had four different "professional" photographers try and help us get our coin pictures looking up to snuff, but none of them were much help. It is one of those things that once you get it, you get it. >>

This one at least hints at what my response would be:-) It depends on the teacher:-)

Is it possible to teach good photography skills, or do you either have it or you don’t?

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