攝影師的七級分類（轉載）
原文連結 Link to Ken Rockwell
一. 藝術家：最高等級（相當於基督神話中的「天堂」）
這是最高等級。一個藝術家用一種叫照片的確實形式把他的想像固定下來。在這照片裏他捕獲事物的靈魂，無論是真實的或是想像的，而觀眾則對此作出反應。
一個藝術家會善加利用他的工具。當藝術家在創作時，他的靈魂亦迎向他正擷取的東西，而這超越了常理的存在。當他不創作時，他會學習使用他的工具；但只要當他開始創作，照相機會成為他心智的延伸。足稱攝影大師的他，在技術方面不作有意識的思考。
這跟音樂蠻相似的；一個音樂家也許會練習音階，但當他演奏時，他甚至不會想到他的手指 ─ 他忘情於那一刻的激情中。
正如一個專業衝浪者擁有一打的浪板，或者一個吉它手有二十三條軸線，一個藝術家可能會有很多相機，每一台有不同的用途。同樣地，別的藝術家也許只有一台相機，或者根本沒有，但這無關緊要。
藝術家們有時穿著好笑，而且常常熬夜。沒有人見過他們的作品，因為他們在推銷自我的能力上十分拙劣。那些善於推銷的人，只會把自己降級為靈魂出賣者。不幸的是，這意味著除非你認識一個真正的藝術家，否則你不可能見到他們的作品。好的藝術家們通常覺得把作品展示給別人看是一件十分尷尬的事情，除非你和他們十分類似，因為作品是他們的靈魂。
藝術家們用各種相機，包括針孔相機、拍立得、或者8×10相機。他們使用任何器材，只要它可以創造出他們所想要的。
二. 靈魂出賣者：第六級
一個靈魂出賣者是一個以靈魂換取金錢或毒品的藝術家。一個藝術家若將自己降到這個等級，他的眼界可能已經被遺棄了。
為什麼？因為他靠出賣自己的靈魂買所需的食物，他壓低自己的聲音以求不違悖這一體系，這意味著他不可能嘗試新的風格。
如果一個靈魂出賣者多年來以他的工作換取錢財，那麼只要他還需要麵包，他就不可能嘗試新的風格。一個有經紀人的藝術家(畫廊或其他代理；如同拉皮條的)如果改變他的風格，他就可能失去他的經紀人。
因此，商業藝術工作者從來不會有所長進或改變。一個有商機的風格就是拉皮條的想要看到的風格。看看Barnbaum的關於藝術性的書，他說明了對於一個成功的靈魂出賣者，要改變已被眾人接受的風格是十分困難的。
三. 業餘愛好者:第五級
這種人從攝影獲得的收入低於總收入的一半，但這和他們攝影的品質沒有關係。
這纇人喜愛拍照，一個擁有純潔靈魂的業餘愛好者可能超越其他等級，直接成為一個藝術家。
一個在週末拍攝婚禮以補充日常工作收入的人依舊是一個業餘愛好者；他們只是為他們的照片收費。
業餘愛好者若認為好的相機會提高他的作品水平，他就有可能會被降級成為最低等級的器材測量員。太多的業餘愛好者被相機生產商誤導，以至於相信他們需要好的相機來拍出好的圖片，這種想法毒殺藝術創作。
一個業餘愛好者若能在創造不朽圖片的努力中釋放自己，他就步入了一條領悟的道路。
作為一個業餘愛好者是一件好事，他們比較容易成為藝術家。業餘愛好者們幾乎總是用Canon單眼相機。
四. 拍快照的：第四級
我的媽媽和大部分人屬於這一級。相對於照片或相機，他們更重視記憶。快照者常常是圖形藝術家或者視覺工作者，他們常常拍出非同尋常的照片，而這些照片常常給人留下深刻的印象。這些快照者是藝術家，但他們並不認為如此。他們通常穿得比自認為是藝術家的人體面。他們相信：拍出照片的是攝影師，不是相機。
快照者用傻瓜機或即可拍相機，拍出別人用萊卡、尼康、佳能和康泰克斯所拍出的效果。
五. 專業攝影師：第三級
專業攝影師是一個以攝影賺取所有生活費的人。
專業攝影師不為生活而創造藝術，他們為商業而製造圖片。他們通常比較熟悉器材，能拍出不錯的圖片，但是他們並不一定擁有捕獲想像的能力。當然，專業攝影師可以在一定時間內拍攝出不錯的照片。
除非當相機需要修理，專業攝影師很少會去擔心它們。他們幾乎用所有的時間找活幹，或者抱怨城裏的其他攝影師又在降價了。
專業攝影師每個月在膠捲和沖印上花的錢比他們每年在器材上花的錢還多。沒有專業自然攝影師，他們要麼白天有工作、或者由妻子供養。
專業攝影師用尼康單眼相機，瑪米亞中幅，和Calumet 4×5。他們買不起大部分嚴肅的業餘愛好者所使用的器材。
專業攝影師沒有網站，而且不出版技術分析的刊物。他們通常是業餘愛好者。
六. 富有的業餘愛好者：第二級
這些業餘愛好者們太有錢了，他們買很多器材，而這些東西禁錮了他們表達的自由。這些人通常是男性，其中很多是年老的或退休的。
這些富有的業餘愛好者用Leica、Contax、Alpas、Hasselblad，和Linhof4×5相機。這些都是很好的相機，但是他們拍出來的效果和用Zenit、Pentax、Bronica和Tachihara拍出來的差不多。稍微窮一點的用Nikon，甚至Canon。
最近這些白癡們開始用專為報社設計的單眼相機，例如Canon EOS-1D和 Nikon
D1x，而這些相機的品質比拍快照的所用的相機還差。最愚蠢的那些人則等待要價美金7000的Contax
N數位相機，這台相機比Nikon和Canon的數位單眼相機還不如。而這些人還是只能拍出比用便宜的膠片單眼相機還差的照片。糟糕的富有業餘愛好者們則把模糊的黑白窮人照當成是藝術。
一些富有業餘愛好者很容易墮落到最低的精神等級，因為他們太擔心他們的器材。而其他的人則直接進入到創造偉大藝術的殿堂，他們並不擔心他們的器材，因為他們相信他所擁有的器材是最好的。奇怪的是，富有的業餘愛好者很少拍出一般的照片；他們不是成功便是失敗。
七. 器材測量意淫者：最低級
這些男性(他們的確都是男的)對於藝術和攝影沒有興趣，因為他們沒有靈魂。靈魂的缺乏使得他們無法表達想像力和感覺，這也就是為什麼即使他們拍了一些照片，也全都是廢物。
絕大多數人擁有技術方面的愛好，比如工程、電腦和科學。這些人過於在乎用數字評分，他們完全忘記相機或測試表的良窳與照片的靈魂並沒有任何關聯。因為他們太在乎測量器材的性能，所以我們給予他們「測量意淫者」的綽號。不幸的是，他們之中的許多人到KenRockwell.com來尋找關於器材性能的資訊。
他們也玩音響，電腦或車子。正如他們看待他們的相機，他們把這些當玩具，而很少把它們用到原本該用的途徑上。年輕一點的玩遊戲、上網或聊天。年紀大一點的則加入「相機/器材」俱樂部。（你早該加入「攝影」俱樂部，而不是相機俱樂部、或任何打算給藝術評分的俱樂部
─ 因為藝術完全是主觀的，不能用數字評分。）同樣地，這些人從來不用他們的器材創造出引人注目的東西。但是他們肯定會為擁有、獲得或與你談論這些器材而感到興奮。
這些人忽視的一種工具是唯一的有用的工具:光線。
為了他們自己的緣故，他們只對器材感興趣。如果你讓著他們，他們會講得你耳朵生繭。但是一旦你想看看他們的作品，他們的聲勢一下子就消失了，或者他們會以為你想看看他們的器材。
一個有不錯的作品集的人不是器材意淫者。擁有器材比好作品多的人、有成堆的技術文章而幾乎沒有有趣照片網站的人大概就是器材意淫者了。
在任何情況下都不要和這些人交往、與他們聊天、或者看他們的網站。對於單純的人來說他們像是知識庫，但是他們病態而缺乏活力的靈魂特別喜歡把你扯入到他們自己的地獄去，讓你的靈魂一輩子困於擔心鏡頭銳利度的泥沼。一旦你開始擔心這個，除了磚牆和測試表外，你將再也不會拍任何別的東西。
這些人很容易辨別。如果你已經讀到這裏，你大概已經看過他們的網站了。他們經常有很多關於器材的資訊，但是幾乎沒有真正的攝影作品。如果一個網站沒有你崇拜的照片，你得當心它提供的資訊。
The Seven Levels of Photographers
Artist: Top Level 7 (equivalent to "Heaven" in Christian mythology)
This is the highest level.
An artist fixes his imagination in a tangible form called a photograph. He captures the spirit of place or person, real or imagined, in this photograph and the viewer responds to this.
An artist is a complete master of his tools. When creating art an artist transcends common existence as his spirit flies up to meet that which he is capturing. He may practice and learn his tools while he is not creating, however when creating the camera becomes an extension of his mind. No conscious thought is expended on the technical issues with which he is a virtuoso while creating photographs.
To make a musical analogy, a musician may woodshed his scales, but when he's jamming he's not even thinking about fingerings. He's lost in the passion of the moment.
Just like professional surfers who have a dozen boards or pro guitarists who have 23 axes, an artist may have a slew of cameras, each for a different purpose.
Likewise, other artists may only have one camera, or none at all. It just doesn't matter.
Artists sometimes dress funny and tend to stay up late. They usually prefer to photograph attractive young women and are proud of it.
No one ever sees their work since they have crummy ability to promote themselves, and sadly, usually don't even appreciate their own excellent work. Those that do drop down to Whore, which sadly and paradoxically means you will never see the work of a true artist unless you know one personally. Good artists are usually too embarrassed to show their work to anyone unless you are intimate with them, since their work is their soul.
Artists use any sort of camera, including pinholes and disposables, or 8 x 10s. They use whatever instrument they need to create what they want.
Whore: Level 6 back to top
A whore is an artist who sells his soul by accepting money or drugs for his art.
By lowering himself to this level his vision is compromised.
Why? Because when one depends on selling one's soul to pay for one's food and pad one does not screw with the program, which means that one does not try new styles.
If a whore's work pays his bills after years of trying, it's unlikely any whore will be open to trying new styles while he still needs the dough.
Artists with representation (meaning they are represented by a gallery or an artists' representatives just as pimps do in the sex trade) may lose that representation if they change their style.
Therefore, art for sale from one person rarely gets better or different.
The style that sells is all a whore's johns and pimps (representatives) want to see. See Barnbaum's book on artistry. It is extraordinarily difficult for a successful whore to change styles once one has been accepted.
More about the whore class at level 10 here.
Amateur: Level 5 back to top
People who earn less than half of their income from photography are amateurs. This has nothing to do with the quality of their photography.
This person loves to create photographs. Good amateurs of pure spirit can transcend the other levels directly to being an artist.
People who shoot weddings and etc. on weekends as a side line from their day jobs are still amateurs; they just charge for their photos. And as you read here they may also charge a lot for their snaps.
Amateurs who think that better cameras will improve their photos are at risk of descending to the lowest level of equipment measurbator. Too many amateurs have been misled by camera makers into thinking that they need good cameras for good images. This thought is poison to creating art.
Amateurs who lose themselves in creating great images are set for a path of enlightenment.
Being an amateur is a good thing; from this level one can rise to the level of artist rather easily.
Amateurs almost always shoot Canon SLRs.
Snapshooter: Level 4 back to top
This is my mom and most people. These people want memories, as opposed to photographs or cameras.
Snapshooters who are graphic artists or otherwise visually literate people often make fantastic images that impress everyone. These snapshooters are artists and don't even realize it. They usually dress better than the artists who think they really are artists.
Believe it: it's the photographer who makes an image, not a camera.
Snapshooters use point-and-shoot and disposable cameras, which give the same excellent results as the Leicas, Nikons, Canons and Contaxes used by everyone else.
Professional: Level 3 back to top
A professional photographer is a person who earns his entire living (100%) from the sale of photographs.
Professionals do not create art for a living; they create images for commerce. They usually have some familiarity with the tools and can get out decent images, however they may or may not be able to capture imagination.
Of course professionals may create great images, but that's on their own time.
Professionals spend very little time worrying about cameras, except when they need to get them repaired. They spend most of their time looking for work and pissing about how all the other photographers in town are dropping their prices.
Professionals spend more on film and lab fees each month than they spend on camera gear in a year.
There are no professional nature photographers. They all either have day jobs or make their wives support them.
Professionals shoot Nikon SLRs, Mamiya medium format and Calumet 4x5" cameras. They cannot afford gear as good as most serious amateurs.
Unless you are a commercial photography buyer or know one as a friend you have not heard of professional photographers. The ones you may have seen in camera ads proclaiming that they use this or that camera are just spokesmodels.
Professionals don't have websites and don't put out technical newsletters. Those people are usually amateurs.
Rich Amateur: Level 2 back to top
These are amateurs who, by having too much money, buy lots of equipment which can fetter their freedom of expression. They are mostly men, and many are old or retired.
Rich amateurs shoot Leicas, Contaxes, Alpas, Hasselblads and Linhof 4x5s. These are great cameras, but the results are the same as the Zenits, Pentaxes, Bronicas and Tachiharas.
Today they mostly shoot Canon 1Ds-Mk IIs, 5Ds or Nikon D2X.
These are the same idiots who bought the first 2.7 Megapixel digital SLRs designed for newspapers like the Nikon D1 back in 2000 just because they cost $5,000. They gave technically poorer results than the film cameras used by snapshooters. All because it's expensive doesn't make it good.
Bad rich amateurs think fuzzy B/W images of poor people are art.
Some rich amateurs fall into the bottom spiritual level easily because they worry too much about equipment, others go straight on to create great art since they don't have any worries about equipment since they think they own the best. Oddly, few rich amateurs produce ordinary work. It either rules or sucks.
Equipment Measurbator: Bottom Level 1 (equivalent to "Hell" in Christian mythology)
These men (and they are all men) have no interest in art or photography because they have no souls. Lacking souls they cannot express imagination or feeling, which is why their images, if they ever bother to make any, suck.
These folks have analysis paralysis and never accomplish anything.
Does poring over a microscope analyzing test images have anything to do with photographing a Joshua tree at dawn? Of course not. Even worse, time wasted concentrating on tests is time not spent learning useful aspects of photography and certainly time that could have been better spent actually photographing. Test just enough to know what your gear can do, and then get on with real photography.
They are interested solely in equipment for its own sake. They will talk your ear off for hours if you let them, but as soon as you ask to see their portfolio their bravado scurries away, or they think you want to see their cameras or stocks. You can read why cameras simply don't matter here.
Most seem to come from technical avocations, like engineering, computers and sciences. These people worry so much about trying to put numerical ratings on things that they are completely oblivious to the fact that cameras or test charts have nothing to do with the spirit of an image. Because they worry so much about measuring camera performance we have dubbed them "Measurbators." Unfortunately, many of them wander into KenRockwell.com looking for information on camera performance.
Many of them also play with audio equipment, computers or automobiles. They enjoy these toys just like their cameras for their own sake, but rarely if ever actually use them for the intended purposes.
Younger ones play video games or engage in chat rooms and web surfing. Older ones join "camera" clubs. (You should join photography clubs, but never camera clubs or any clubs that try to score art, since art is entirely subjective and cannot be scored numerically.) Likewise, these people never create anything notable with any of this other gear either, but they sure get excited by just having, getting or talking to you about it.
The one type of gear these people ignore is the only type of gear that actually helps: lighting.
Someone with a decent portfolio is not an equipment measurbator. Someone with more cameras than decent photos just may be. People with websites teeming with technical articles but few interesting photographs probably are.
Do not under any circumstances deal with these people, talk to them, read their websites or especially ask them for photography advice. To the innocent they seem like founts of knowledge, however their sick, lifeless souls would love to drag you into their own personal Hells and have your spirit forever mired in worrying about how sharp your lens is. If you start worrying about this and you'll never photograph anything again except brick walls and test charts.
These people are easy to identify. If you've read this far you've probably seen their websites. They always have lots of info about equipment, but very few real photographs. Beware of any information from any website not loaded with photography you admire.
Other people have other words for these people. This article here adds some more perspective.
I had to pull most of the photos of equipment off my site because these people were spending more time looking at my equipment than my art! The bandwidth for which I pay was being eaten up by these idiots looking at my lenses, instead of looking at the photos in my gallery which is the whole point of this site. That's why all the stupid pages like this one are in yellow, so that their eyes hurt too much to waste too much time on the nuts and bolts.
Most people who waste my time e-mailing me with technical and equipment questions through this site unfortunately belong to this unenlightened bottom group. Almost anyone who actually worries about the level they occupy belong to the bottom. Many of these folks stalk the Internet, and spend hours getting off "contributing" to technical websites and photography chat rooms like Photo.net, www.dpreview.com and photocritique.net instead of making photos. The guys here aren't too bad, and most of the Leica people here are just equipment collectors.
Online Expert or Armchair Photographer: Level 0 (these guys don't take pictures so
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