By understanding relationship between the candid street photography and gambling we can answer many related questions. In gambling and in street photography you “invest” time and money. The major loss in candid photography and gambling is your opportunity loss to spend time in more rewarding way. Success in gambling and candid street photography can be achieved only by mixture of talent and pure luck.
Q. All photographers compete for attention, money or honor. Why does photography with such low entry requirements have free “how to” information available with no strings attached?
A. Because information does not make you better photographer. By learning and doing photography you feed The System. Very few of us have talent that would allow competing with professionals but meantime education encourages us to pay for books, read advertisements and buy equipment.
Q. Why do people flood each other with so many bad images?
A. Investment on every image is extremely small so it is easy to make bet for some glory. Most of us take good picture once in a while by pure chance. Streak of luck makes us feel as a genius. Lucky moments we remember much better then millions of failures and hours of wasted time. Positive reinforcement pushes us to do more shooting. Our real loss is the totality of all missed possibilities, time and money that we spend for this pursue.
Q. Why some people cannot stop buying equipment? Do we really need 3 cameras and 20 lenses to make good shot?
A. When photographers experience persistent bad luck (bad streaks) or got bored they can exhibit irrational behavior (going on tilt). There is only one remedy for this. Photographer has to admit this problem and reevaluate the basic strategy.
Q. Why the majority of photos (good but especially bad) are taken during good weather, interesting locations, or in the bars?
A. Most of us intuitively understand the concept of hedging. Hedging is the idea to get at least something in one thing for a loss of another. It is essential strategy in the most popular gambling activity – financial trading. At least photographer can enjoy walking, sights or cocktail when nothing valuable in terms of imaging comes to his way. Much more people would like to get soaked in the rain if this would guarantee great picture.
Give me more questions and I will happily explain them.
Related topics
What is “the candid photography of strangers”?
Why is the candid photography unique?
Candid Street Photo 