Not so good photographers think they are experts?

This is something I have wondered for some time.  Yesterday while sitting at a Cafe talking to another photographer friend about this upcoming weeks shoot.  The line to order wrapped next to our table.  While I was showing my friend photos on the back side of my cameras LCD.  A man from the line started talking to us.  At first he simply complimented on the photo that was on the LCD screen, then he asked to flip back to a previous photo I had shown (turns out he was watching us for a few minutes).  Now he pulled a chair over and asked if he could give me some advice (it was more of an assumption move, but he did ask while he pulled a chair over).  At this point he started drilling me on my photos, and talking to me like he was a Harvard photography professor.  Now with this approach, I assumed this  guy  must be an incredible photographer.  He was talking about one of my photos and stopped himself and stated he would like to show me examples.  He pulled out his phone and started to show me his photos.  OMG  these photos seriously were horrible.  No joke.  I'm good and love the opportunity to learn, however this guys photos were so bad!  Over saturated, horizons not even straight, no composition with the  exception of one of a close up to a lemon slice.  That was the only decent one! 

I've seen photographers who just are tacking in quality work, who think they are gods gift to photography.  Now why is this?

I started typing out a reply, but then realized this topic can get complicated. Lol This can be from anything ranging from personality quirks, to mental illness. Here are some of my conclusions...

The first is that the person is just not educated on what makes a good photo. Sometimes this is even cultural. They don’t even know that focus and decent lighting are probably the two most critical aspects of a photo, and they clearly lack at least one of these in most of their photos. 

Ever hear of the term “Those that can’t, teach”? So this covers those that have the knowledge, but for whatever reason, they just don’t seem to ever become as talented as many others. OTOH, there are many very talented photogs that have no idea how to teach others. Sounds like he was neither. 

I worked in an ER for many years that dealt with mental health patients of varying degrees. A lot of social disorders are “harmless” to those around the person, however, they are destructive to the themselves and never realize it. For instance, anti-social personality disorders can sometimes cause a person to have thoughts of grandeur. In their minds, they are changing the world!! They are destined for great things, and it sometimes the only thing that gets them out of bed in the morning. These folks don’t see the same reality we do.

Of course,  in the realm of social disorders, we also have good old fashion narcissism. This one also seems to be exacerbated by social media. Somewhere on this planet, anyone can find a few hundred or thousand followers to tell you youre work is awesome, even when it’s sub par to what a majority of the community would agree with. Social media has validated many mental illnesses (in a bad way), but we could get sidetracked on that one all day and get way OT. 


On a final, and just as important note, remember too that photography is art. With that comes artistic expression and personal taste and interpretation. This is why I pointed out focus and lighting. IMO, these two are critical and not as subjective as photogs “rendering”. When I offer advice, it’s usually to those that appear not to have much clue about these two critical aspects. 

Something tells me, this video will be well received on this topic

Ben Vanderbilt wrote: Now why is this?

Some may say it is jam and knowledge is like jam,
the less one has, the more it is spread.

It's human nature to think one is always right. I think we all do that but the smarter ones know when the topic is out of their expertise. You should have said, O.K., now I'll critique yours. That would have been interesting.

Shadowfixer1 wrote: You should have said, O.K., now I'll critique yours. That would have been interesting.

Randy for president!

Wyrick Photography wrote: Something tells me, this video will be well received on this topic

That made so much sense.  

All of you made some good points.  

Light bulb!  

You see that show 'America Idol', same thing.  

I have a bigger issue with how incredibly rude and presumptuous the guy was.
I'm up for a good shop talk now and then, but you should at least know the person before you start offering up unsolicited advice about their work.

Was the guy's advice at all useful at least?I'd be interested in seeing his work, for context.

Wyrick Photography wrote: Something tells me, this video will be well received on this topic

This guy is correct on so many accounts.  But this does apply to so many hobbies, and other things besides photography.  

LOL the American Idol reference was the light bulb for me.  

Matt-Gwinn wrote: I have a bigger issue with how incredibly rude and presumptuous the guy was.
I'm up for a good shop talk now and then, but you should at least know the person before you start offering up unsolicited advice about their work.

Was the guy's advice at all useful at least?I'd be interested in seeing his work, for context.

None at all.  That's the thing, had there been some evidence of sound advice, I wouldn't have made much about this.  However he was just off, so off.  

We have 2 like that in our photography club and it's funny that they both hang out and glorify each others work, then splinter off and advise everyone else on how to get the best shots. 

I love to help when asked, but who has time sitting down to crit an unknown person’s photos?
Obviously someone with a character flaw.
Only one problem. How to get rid of pesky Know-it-all?
I think you have the answer here.

Shadowfixer1 wrote: You should have said, O.K., now I'll critique yours. That would have been interesting.

The other thing nowadays with Youtube tutorials and reviews is that it can be quite easy to superficially become an 'expert' on a topic without having any practical experience at all. That's why people can get into big arguments about products that they've never even touched because someone who might also not be particularly experienced or qualified to judge has done a review of them.