Smartphones have become so cheap that practically everyone can afford them nowadays. Basic camera suffices to click beautiful pictures which can further be edited to almost match the professional photography level. Every individual with a smartphone these days has been empowered with places to upload those photographs via the internet. So, anyone can be a photographer these days. How much, do you think, this could be giving competition to the professional photographers?
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photography Anyone can be a photographer!
- Thread starter Dr. A
- Start date
For sharing and discussing photography techniques, camera gear, and photo editing.
You may have a point, but I'd argue that having a smartphone is not the only requirement to becoming a photographer. I've had a smartphone for years now and I'm a shitty photographer 
I believe anyone can be a photographer, especially with today’s evolving smartphone technology. It's about capturing moments, emotions, and perspectives. With practice and a keen eye, even a phone camera can produce stunning images.
You can capture great photos with today's phones, and there is software out there to spruce the photos up a bit, too. I've seen professionals out on shoots with iPhones, because they can get that moment and don't need a 5D MK IV (what I have).
However, if you want to do a portrait, for instance, you're never going to get to the quality of a full-frame digital camera without some nice glass to go on top of it. With that kind of equipment, you can zoom into the eye and see what kind of lighting was used, detail that a cell phone won't ever be able to capture.
You also have depth of field issues with cell phones. You may be able to snap a rapid succession of photos (like 30 or whatever your phone supports) and blur layers to make it appear like there's depth, but you can also do that by slapping a f/1.4 lens on a camera and calling it a day, too.
If you're interested in photography, go for it with a phone. Work your way into a used crop sensor with better glass, and then if you want to be a pro, get pro gear as it will cut your time down drastically with post-edits.
However, if you want to do a portrait, for instance, you're never going to get to the quality of a full-frame digital camera without some nice glass to go on top of it. With that kind of equipment, you can zoom into the eye and see what kind of lighting was used, detail that a cell phone won't ever be able to capture.
You also have depth of field issues with cell phones. You may be able to snap a rapid succession of photos (like 30 or whatever your phone supports) and blur layers to make it appear like there's depth, but you can also do that by slapping a f/1.4 lens on a camera and calling it a day, too.
If you're interested in photography, go for it with a phone. Work your way into a used crop sensor with better glass, and then if you want to be a pro, get pro gear as it will cut your time down drastically with post-edits.
Wow! That was quite an insight. I never knew one can use a phone camera to blur layers, I will have to look into that. I have used Cannon camera before, nothing hi-fi, but the output was certainly awesome.
Those pictures of the eyes reminded me of the movie: I Origins
You would need to turn on your "speed" photo setting, which essentially just takes 1 second of video (but 32-64 frames). Then, you could work with the top layers to blend in as if it has that depth of field a f/1.x-2.8 lens could give you, and then the last layers try to replicate the bokeh that you would get from a proper lens, otherwise, it'd just be a blurred mess.
Someone with a good eye could catch it, but you can get quite close. It's just a lot more work to do in editing.
The drawback to this is that you won't be able to shoot RAW (which some phones can), so you'd lose quality to compression before you began.
Just because you have a high end smartphone and enjoy taking photos does not mean you are a photographer. There is something more to it..
The same can be said for high-end camera gear, such as my Canon 5D MK IV released at the end of 2016 (debating whether to go mirrorless or not because I have so much invested in EF-mount glass that I'd need an adapter or go with the new mount and all new lenses, which albeit, is better glass minus the lens issue too).
A pro can outshoot me on an old T3i crop sensor released in 2011.
I'm just a hobbyist, but I invested a lot in my gear to not have to worry about torrential rains ruining my equipment if I wanted to do outdoor stuff. My camera has taken a beating through many storms while a droplet of rain could fry a T3i (if in the wrong place).
