10,000 hours behind a camera make you an expert?

There's a saying that goes something like "you won't become expert at something till you have 10,000 hours logged at doing that".  I'm pretty sure that's how it goes, but does that apply to the photography industry? 

I don't think so, that seems like a high number.  I thought it was 10,000 images, not hours?

I think it's 10,000 photos as already mentioned 

Quantifying it like that is meaningless.  After producing 10,000 crap images, you'd be an expert at producing crap.

hghlndr6 wrote: Quantifying it like that is meaningless.  After producing 10,000 crap images, you'd be an expert at producing crap.

DSRay wrote:

hghlndr6 wrote: Quantifying it like that is meaningless.  After producing 10,000 crap images, you'd be an expert at producing crap.

Yeah that about covers it.
I have known some people that have been shooting as long as I have. that still do not know a thing about getting a decent image. They shot with Instamatics, and Paranoid cameras, and now use phones, or a P&S in mindless mode all the time. I have been shooting since the 60s, and so have they, I bet they have every bit of 20K in hours of shooting. Me on the other hand I cannot even begin to guess how many hours I have.

OMG too hilarious.  Good post. 

10,000 photos would have to show constant improvements and refined results.

Steve Kemp wrote: There's a saying that goes something like "you won't become expert at something till you have 10,000 hours logged at doing that".  I'm pretty sure that's how it goes, but does that apply to the photography industry? 

Yep, that's pretty much a saying. Meaning it was little literal value.

Becoming adept at anything takes time and practice, and becoming a true expert even more. I don't think it's something you can put a number on, aside from gaining a general perspective on what's required to get where you might want to be.

Cartier-Bresson is credited with saying, "your first 10,000 photographs are your worst."

I find my perception of my own work fluctuates somewhat with my mood, and it becomes increasingly negative with time.

Expert? I don't ever really see that happening.

garyrhook wrote: Cartier-Bresson is credited with saying, "your first 10,000 photographs are your worst."

  Add a couple of zeros to that for the digital version. 

Who keeps track of their hours like this?  I sure the heck don't.  

Wyrick Photography wrote: Who keeps track of their hours like this?  I sure the heck don't.  

One way to look at it:

A 40 hour work week, 50 weeks per year (2 weeks of holiday) comes out to 2000 hours per year. Multiply by 5 years and you've reached 10,000. Just think of it in terms of 5 years of full-time work. Does that make you an expert by dint of time? Not necessarily, but if the potential is there it's certainly an opportunity to improve.

garyrhook wrote:

Wyrick Photography wrote: Who keeps track of their hours like this?  I sure the heck don't.  

One way to look at it:

A 40 hour work week, 50 weeks per year (2 weeks of holiday) comes out to 2000 hours per year. Multiply by 5 years and you've reached 10,000. Just think of it in terms of 5 years of full-time work. Does that make you an expert by dint of time? Not necessarily, but it the potential is there its certainly an opportunity to improve.

Depends on how much time you waste on the internet.

My mother, who is now in her 70's, has been behind the camera for about 15,000 hours; photographing every aspect of our family from the early 60's to the present.  Recently she went to my daughter's school program for Flag Day, as I could not make it due to work.  Not ONE shot turned out!  I don't even have any photos of my 21st birthday as they are either blurry or my head cut off, etc.   I don't have the heart to tell her to put the camera down; blissfully snapping away carelessly makes her happy, so therefore, it makes me happy.

Stealthy Ninja wrote: Depends on how much time you waste on the internet.

Well, duh.  That goes without saying.

Man, my proofreading skills are lacking. I fixed my OP but your quote still has my errors. How annoying.

garyrhook wrote:

Stealthy Ninja wrote: Depends on how much time you waste on the internet.

Well, duh.  That goes without saying.

Man, my proofreading skills are lacking. I fixed my OP but your quote still has my errors. How annoying.

That's OK.  I don't know how to read.