Look Ma, I'm a photographer!!

I grew up in a home where photography was big. My dad is a serious amateur and his equipment (that has evolved over the years) along with the books that he has on the subject are a testament to his seriousness. The years he has spent honing his skill is evident in the pictures he has taken... some are over 30 years old now and truly feel like they are out of LIFE Magazine. Earlier, when photography was still an art and expensive, he didn't have much scope to experiment with his subjects either... which were rarely under his control (his favourites being nature, followed by his wife and 2 kids)...

The Digital SLR has democraticized that art-form into a pastime. Everyone with a camera today thinks he/she is a photographer. And since it doesn't hurt taking random pictures anymore, strange pictures are being passed off as works of art. I strolled into a blog the other day (linked from APSD') and I ended up at one such photographer's area... one who's passion/job took her around the world. Wonder why people like them think no end of their 'talent'? To top it all, they are surrounded by people who do the 'you scratch my back, I scratch your's' bit. For example, the lady we (my company) hired to take location stills for our upcoming film Dostana, which was being filmed in Miami, spent most of her time fulfilling her voyeuristic pleasures (aimed at John Abraham's behind) or taking asinine pictures of the crew bonding with other. And yes, her job also took her around the world. Big fucking deal. We fired her half way through our schedule.