Photography? Is it a natural talent, or a learned concept?

I think you need to have some natural talent or any photographic expertise would not be of much help. Photography is something that may look very easy but it is very complex.

For me the photography is a natural talent because no all the people can take it a beautiful pics you and me maybe can take it pictures but not professionatly just take's pictures for fun, but some people has the talent others just learned somethings about photography but the doesnt have the talent :D Have a nice day and a good week ;)

Anybody can take photos but it takes skill to make it art and beautiful. Some came make the ordinary beautiful just by catching the right light,the right angle, so it is a learned concept. the more someone does it and studies it the better they get.

I think it can be both. It's just one of those things that can either come naturally or be learned. It depends on what type of person you are. I've never taken any classes, but I think it comes rather naturally to me. Mainly because my dad loves taking pictures when he travels and such and my mom was in publicity, so she kind of had to take photographs. So for me it's a natural talent. But this isn't a case for everyone.

Ever since I got a decent digital camera a few years ago... I have taken thousands of pictures. As time has went on, it has been considerably less, but they still pile on my HD to eventually be moved elsewhere. I think it can eventually be learned, but mainly is a natural talent. Even with all the pictures I have taken, they mainly seem to be amateur, with a few great ones in there every once in awhile.

I think its a little bit of both. Some persons are born with a natural talent and all you have to do is give them a camera and the results are nothing short of magical .These persons need only minimal training to grasp the concepts that might not be so intuitive for example the for example the physical principles involved in light and interpretation of images by the eye etc. Now there are other who have studied and are able to put as much emotion into the imagery they capture, maybe even more than the person with the natural talent. Can you imagine what a person with both natural talent and the learned concepts !

Any one can learn the techniques and master the art.But only a few with that taste and an eye for the subjects become great photographers.It is the man behind the camera who is responsible for the masterpieces and not the camera ,technique or the subject of the photo.

It is both. but I think more it is learned skill. plus you should have natural inclination for it.but the learning is needed. without it none can eb godo photographer.

For me, capturing a beautiful photograph is a talent. It can be learned buy the output will not be the same as the output of a talented photographer. We could learn the rules of photography but having the eye for composition is different. Talented photographers could produce beautiful photographs even if they don't have the right tools. Like for example, I am a technical person, I learned how to use photoshop, watched tons of videos on how to use it. But still, I could not create the beauty that was created by an artist using Windows Paint application.

I believe photographic expertise is of a learned concept. Having natural talent is somethng that you have a passion for. Photography is an art of expression itself. Some are good in paintings, drawings, graphic designs, or taking pictures? There is a huge difference when you just take photos for keepsakes and memories. But as an artist, i always adore photography. I may not have an expertise but im learning the process now. I haven't had the vision but eversince i got involved in digital arts. My passion has switched to something more expressive, something more of a reality base. I love showing people how beautiful natures is. I am still amazed about how it can affect me. I love the whole concept it brings. It has a soulful effect on everyone... But whatever your field of photographic expertise is, it is still an art, coz you are showing the beauty of your masterpiece.

Photography is neither a talent nor a skill. It is a method of recording images which can be automated - or performed by a monkey. The image that is recorded consciously and with some aim in mind may have a particular value to the photographer and to other people who see it (not always the same value!), but the intent of the image will determeine the answer to your interesting question... If the aim is to record an accurate representation of some aspect of the material world, that can be learned by most people; if it is to present that record in an attractive or even "artistic" way that will appeal to others, that too can be learned. If it evokes thought and an emtional response beyond the obvious subject matter, that too can be reduced to a formula and learnt. If on the other hand, the subject matter is secondary to the underlying intent of the picture, which is to convey a new/different aspect of thought or uderstanding, and that idea is conveyed, either consciously or otherwise, evoking a visceral and intellectual response from the viewer, and if the impact is enduring; and if the photographer can do this reliably and consistently, then we are taliking about artistic expertise. The argument about whether this can result from training/experience vs natural gifts has occupied philosophers for centuries and we probably won't sort it out here! Talent may make it easier or more likely that a photographer will acquire artistic skills and be able to innovate and develop them, but if it hadn't been obvious before, the current crop of "intelligent" cameras should make us realise how "mechanical" our "art" really is: they recognise faces, trigger automaticlly when someone smiles, suggest compositions and even correct them - horizons and rule of thirds and dynamic range adjustments and automatic, in camera red-eye removal, just to suggest a few things that once marked the talented photographers from the rest of us. On the other hand, painters and musicians have it a lot easier than they once did. Now anyone can write music, or create a sculpture or painting without years of training; Was DaVinci tallented or skillful? If tallented but without skillm would he be an artist or an art critic/devotee? If skillful but not very tallented, would he have been an artist or a crafstman/artisan?

Absolutely an artistic eye is essential. I believe that just like a painting, the artist sees the painting before it is painted. I can see the shot before I put the camera to eye. The camera is your capture device. While the technical expertise can be learned and has to be learned, that natural talent seems to give the artist an edge over the mechanic. Having said that even a blind squirrel finds a acorn now and then. If you take enough pictures some of them will turn out well.

I think that part of it is learned but as with any other art form, most of it is a natural talent.

In my opinion, it is a combination of both...it takes a natural instinct to compose a good photograph capable to inspire the thought of its viewers...at the same time, it requires a learnt skill to operate a camera and technical knowledge of how to change the settings in order to produce the image in the mind...if you lack either one, your photos will probably be medicore.

I would say it is a combination of both. The talent is required to recognise the beauty or the uniquness of the object. One needs to be able to relate to it and get to capture it well on a camera. The learning comes in the technical apects in further magnifying or getting it right.

It is a combination of the two. You can learn the basics but usually if you are a truly gifted photographer, you have an instinct, an eye for composition/ light/ form. A technically perfect photo can lack the emotion or "feel" that a less than perfect photo might display from someone who has a natural feeling for photography as art. Since a feel for, or a knack for photography does not guarantee successful photos, it is never too late to learn the basics of composition, lighting, form and technique that will enhance your photographs. As with most things, if you know the rules, then you can break them as long as you know why you are breaking them. Having a reason to for instance, soft focus a subject for a specific feel or changing the lighting or composition away from a classic method can change the feeling of a photo to express what you as the photographer want to convey with your shot.

I think it could be both, learned and a natural talent. I know some people that carry a camera with them all the time, they are always taking pictures. I myself, am not that talented, I like taking pictures but most of the time I don't see anything worth taking a picture of. Usually in all my pictures, they are blurry, or I cut peoples heads off, or cut off other people in the pictures, everybody laughs at my pics...lol.

well i think it's about loving art first then the rest can be learn through experience or you can study it in an art school.

i take it to be expertise cause as you capture more and more in your camera you tend to know the light effects of the surrounding and how are they helpfull in having a perfect image and also you will know your gadget to fullest

the natural angles that we take the pictures comes from the talent. i dont think there is much to study about it. but the various other aspect such as the lightings, camera properties, shutter speed etc should only be achieved through learning or similar things...any way i like photography a lot.