What makes one photographer better than another? (part 1)

I have this theory… I think that all photographers (food, commercial, whatever) are on this “ladder of understanding”. Take me for example. I’m certainly not the worst photographer around, but I wouldn’t consider myself the absolute best either. There are many photographers’ work that I admire and frankly, that I envy. I believe that each photographer, from his own step on the ladder, can see what separates himself from other photographers that are on lower steps. In other words… When I look at the work of a “worse” photographer than myself. I can see immediately what makes him “not as good” as me. On the other hand, when I look at a photographer’s work that is better than mine, I have no freaking clue, why he is better. I know that there is something, but I can’t quite put my finger on it. If I could figure out why, I guess that I would make the changes in my work that would enable me to bring the quality up to the higher level. I call this phenomenon, “The ladder of understanding”. You can clearly see down an unlimited number of steps, but ya can’t see up a single damn step. I think this ladder of understanding applies to all types of art, photography, food styling, whatever…

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© Michael Ray 2005