Episode Summary 
You asked, we listened. The Grid will not go on Hiatus like our other podcasts do. You're stuck with us every week so be sure to spread the word! This week: Scott and Matt discuss how some photographers make sure they never improve their skills. Hint: Constructive criticism is good! Plus, the guys talk about how Google+ is a great social media tool for photographers. Leave a comment to win that iPhone tripod and mini-steadicam and be sure to get your #TheGridLive Tweets in by Friday to win a ticket to Scott's Houston, TX or Lansing, MI seminar tour!
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Loved the end of this show…Matt tells Scott “love you bye” and Scotts hands go under the table and his head starts to bob and Matt turns beet red! I pissed myself laughing. Thanks guys.
I can’t help but wonder if RC’s images got swopped, I would have expected the 50 to make the face look fuller.
After all isn’t that why we want to stay away from the 50 for close ups, because they make peoples noses look bigger, eyes too far apart and women especially hate that look ?
Great points by the way !
Once again, you begin by complaining about people who respond to you. Cut that out! Love ya still See you in NYC Oct 27-29.
Bill
Today’s topic had similar results to the one of a couple of weeks ago. People going off on something they know little or nothing about. If you do not at least try the tips of someone more skilled than yourself, at whatever the endeavor, then you will never mature.
How do you get photo credentials to be able to shoot MLB, NBA, racing, etc.?
Dave
Love the show!
please discuss 4/3rds vs dx vs full frame
sony nex 7 ??
Wow: I did come over from Google + right after I er joined it. Scott you were the first in my follow circle. Thank you what a great Episode. I really enjoyed the Grid. I also attended your Vancouver Light it Shoot it Retouch it . Great advice all around. I already can see a difference in my photography.
great show
Great thoughts on shooting portraits with a longer lens.
I shoot models. Thanks for the advice. I will use a longer lens from now on.
So long, Facebook!
Nice discussion!
Everyone likes to show as “I know that”, some get pathological about it and even go disturbing instructors they paid to learn from. This happens in every area. I lost count how many courses I took or conferences I attended in my life (academic astrophysics courses) that had a pain in the “neck” that was all the time interrupting and asking the obvious or something very specific he/she knew on the topic …
As in some of the previous discussions … it’s probably human nature.
On G+. After the photowalk this saturday there was an agreement thought (or so and not stolen from or by Matt, it’s just common sense): “I use facebook to talk to my friends and G+ for photography” (and Flickr when I’m down and need a hug hehehehehe).
BTW, sad that tweeter is still the “choice of contact” … tweeter is “so last month”
Another small comment … the rebroadcast is made available on friday, so I would suggest to nice Nancy to pick winners on monday or so
The 50mm lens discussion was farcical.
People: make up your own minds.
These are tools, not “Magic: The Gathering” playing cards.
always love this show!! i’m glad you guys decided not to take a break.
to those who are considering the 50mm for portraits; does your client really want a portrait that doesn’t look like them?
Thanks guys for the show. I always learn something, sometimes a lot. I think perhaps I SHOULD take up hang gliding though… I think it’d be fun!
Great advice on accepting advice.
Very interesting topic(s) this episode. Great advice coupled with a refreshing lightheartedness (is that a word?…lol). Keep up the great work.
I loved your show guys !
The way you approach any subject is an eye opener. And thanks for Cliff Mautner’s mention / link. I am a new learner and won;t have known about his at all, his website and work is truely inspiring.
At the heart of your show is a very simpel thing – be open to learn. One doesn’t know what one does not even know… so unless we are all open to feedback/learning opportunities/critique how would I learn what moe is possible.
Thanks for a lovely show !
Great show. Keep up the great work.
Great show, I found the show from a Google+ link.
The Grid is an awesome show and Cliff Mautner is an excellent photographer. I look forward to using my 70-200 more frequently for portraits.
I recently signed up for Google+ and can’t say that I share the enthusiasm for it that you guys do. It strikes me as a platform that established photographers can use to market to other photographers. A hobbyist certainly isn’t going to gain any exposure on the site. For instance, Scott has 67,992 people following him but he follows 81 people. The same goes for most of the photographers who have seminars and the like. If you have name recognition and are peddling training to hobbyists, it is a great site. If you are a working photographer marketing to brides, for instance, I think Facebook is likely a more viable option.
Am I wrong or missing something?
Very interesting show. I always look forward to these shows.
Great show to day!!
laughed my but off..
Scott and Matt,
I shoot a lot of soccer games, my sons both play soccer and I am that Graphic Designer dad that loves to shoot. I am a long time NAPP member and now also a Kelby Training member. I have learned a lot of over the last few years that I a have been getting more serious with my photography.
I finally just got a f2.8 70-200 Canon lens and wow a whole new world. You and Dave Black always say, put the money in the lens. I have been getting OK results with it in night games, and I wanted better images. I searched your blog Scott, knowing that you shoot night games and you had some great tips. Well that was the ticket! I threw the ISO as high as my body would go and made my shutter as fast as I could. My pics just got way better. Again, I am not a pro by any means, but love being a photo dad! Thank you for all you guys do, I am always learning.
Eric Saar
Thanks for another entertaining show.
Great show, loved it!
I won’t use my 50mm for portraits anymore, for Pete’s sake
Great show as always!! Enjoyed Cliff’s tutorials.
Thanks to for a great show.
I have taken some great shots with my 50mm 1.8 but I would not uses it for a client shoot unless I was in a jam or had the time to shoot of a few experimental frames for my self.
For me I love watching Cliff’s tutorials on Kelby Training and for me if he say’s don’t use a 50mm for portraits then I won’t. He is where I would love to be and if I want to get even a 1/4 of the way to that then I will listen to the advise given.
Guys, I think next show you will make should be “stand up comedy show by Scott ‘ n ‘ Matt ‘ your show funny as always. BUT also very useful… I was going to buy 50mm to shut portrait photos… thanks for telling me not to! I will make a lot of terrorist unhappy! oh! btw, can i get steady cam??
cheers guys!
You guys and your shows rock
Thanks for the most entertaining show, guys.
Both subjects (following advice and G+) were very interesting and your delivery had me laughing way more than those topics should do!
Re the advice thing, I believe learning from those that are better at something than I am is a gift that cannot be refused. Any advice can always be tempered to fit your own way, but never put down the tips or those that are willing to give them.
Matt, I have the exact ringtone set for when my boss calls.
People are afraid of change. If they have to admit they were doing something wrong, it shakes their foundation. It is a blow to the ego if you don’t validate what I am doing. Man up and move on.
If you were a window washer on a skyscaper and someone showed you a better knot for your safety rope, would you argue and say my knot is just fine?
I was reluctant to join another social media site, but G+ is really photo-friendly. Matt – I’ll see you in Indy.
While focusing on the simple part of the advice about 50mm lens and portraits you missed completely what man said further along that is even more important nowadays: (paraphrasing somewhat) 50mm lens does not become 100mm just because of cropped sensor…
Extending and explaining that sentence: depth of field and distance compression are defined by the actual focal length of the lens, regardless what sensor size you use. Think of “effective focal length” with cropped sensor as field of view only (imagine larger image taken with the same lens on full size sensor, … cropped for smaller field of view).
Depending what type of photos you take this property may help situation when using cropped sensor (ex. deeper depth of field with long effective focal length) or hamper you (ex. portraits and bokeh, to get 200mm portrait look on cropped sensor of 1.5 factor – you’ll be shooting with effective 300mm lens, needing to step further away hopefully without edge of the canyon behind you).
Anyway, great show and tomorrow I am at the Sayville NY Kelby Photowalk – thanks for organizing these!
Great show guys! Can always count on you guys to make it entertaining.
Great discussion……but shouldn’t the question be-
Does this lens make my butt look big??
You guys were on a roll, and spot on (and you’re nuts). However, this issue isn’t limited to photographers or web trolls. My wife’s a professor teaching business and I hear this same ATTITUDE with some of her students. There are folks out there who feel entitled & that they can’t do/be wrong. Some of it is self-importance, some of it is monetary (I spent $$$ on this gear so my pics rock the house), & some of it is denial that you might actually suck as a photog. Let’s face facts, some of us have innate abilities to be a writer, a painter, captains of industry, basketball star, etc. while most of us suck at it. Folks just need to realize their pluses & minuses–go with their strengths & work like hell on those deficiencies…
Great show. I like your posts on Google+
Scott, Matt, great show, like the info.. can’t wait for the next week of info.. keep it coming. and THANKS for L@@KING.
You guys are crazy! I love it!
Hey guys,
thanks a lot f Could you please comment of why google chrome or picasa changes the color of the photos? And how to fix this? RC mentioned this in one of the Grid episodes too. Please address this point…
Hy from Europe! You are great. Thanks for making this show.
Thanks for the tip guys. I feel bad now. I always liked taking portraits with my 50mm but it seems like I have to find something else now.
I think there’s a big difference between pushing back on criticism and asking “why” when someone gives you critique… even if that someone is a person who runs rings around you photographically.
I’m not the kind of person who automatically takes a person’s advice just because they give it. I want to know the why, not so I can argue about it, but because I want to fully understand it.
In the show you say “never take a closeup portrait of a woman with a 50mm” but say that pulling back with the 50 is fine. In your G+ page the quote from Cliff is “‘You should never shoot a woman with a 50mm. Never! It’s just not flattering.’ — Cliff Mautner ”
So… which one is it? Never ever per Cliff, or sometimes pulled back per Scott, Matt, and RC? “Why?” becomes an important question and a simple “because they’re better than me and they say so” just is a crappy answer.
The Grid Rocks and I really could use that CS5, still on CS3
Scott,
You guys rock, I love the grid. Can you hook a photog up with that CS5? still using CS3 and really need the upgrade.
thanks
Thanks a lot guys
Great show, glad to see that you are not taking four weeks off. I’d love to win the Lansing, MI ticket to Scott’s workshop! Hope this isn’t to late for the ticket, since it wasn’t up on the kelbytv on Thurs.
I love criticism and hate meaningless hugs. I have a group on G+ called Photo Learning where I keep all the people who share all they know and call a spade a spade.
I love the discussion. I have to totally agree that you need to listen to improve. Would love to here some suggestions on how to solicit photo crituqes from better photographers. Anyone can give advise (ie like use the 50mm). BTW I got the same advice but somehow tripped in the right direction because one of the first things I heard was from R Sammon I believe is “Name of the game is to fille the frame” so I went larger.
Thanks for the entertainement !
Another great show! Love Cliff Mautner’s videos on Kelby Training!
Love the show! I’m glad I stumbled across you guys on Google+.
Interesting show and comments. Very good info!
Thanks for the Photo Walk opertunity and your show was awsome….when some one gives me a tip I aways compair it to way I do it and that helps me understand the tip better. Thanks.
I love constructive criticism and hate pointless hugs! I have a group on G+ called Photo Learning where I keep track of the people who really put themselves out to teach others.
Another fantastic show. If I only take one thing away from the show my photography will flourish
If Cliff Mautner tells me to shoot better portraits by standing on my head, I’ll be learning to shoot standing on my head! I’m not too proud to take constructive criticism/advice from someone more knowledgable and experienced than myself.
Fantastic discussion this week!!
Hey Scott, Matt and Crew,
Great show as always. Can not make the live show but always watch the replay. Cliff’s website is Awesome!!!
Thanks
Great points throughout the show. If we could be open to suggestions then we can improve our skills or personal toolbox.
Scott, I agree that the 50mm is not for portraits. You might want to look at page 83 of the Oct. Photoshop User. Tamron has an ad for their 17-50mm using a portrait of a girl. Maybe Joe McNally took it??
Thanks for sharing such a great tip(50mm tip). I always want to learn from a elder or professional and specially from the best in the industry. I know sometimes I will ask why this, but that is because I want to understand how it actually works or effects the image, as it may apply in other areas as well. Another great show.