19.12.2019, 17:29   #1
Profilfoto
Ria W.

Are Men Better Photographers?

Hello fellow photography enthusiasts,   I've noticed for a while now that women are usually in the minority in photography forums. Why do you think that is?
Are men simply better photographers, or do they perhaps have a bit more freedom to pursue their hobby than we women do? ;-)    Best, Ria
19.12.2019, 17:53   #2

Hobbyfotograf

I'll stay out of this.
This is a man's issue.
19.12.2019, 18:54   #3
Profilfoto
Ria W.

😃 :-D 
19.12.2019, 21:18   #4

Hobbyfotograf

Haha Ria, you can’t be serious, right?
Who’s going to make us fried potatoes with fish when we come home stressed from the photo tour, and who’s going to give us new clothes because we’ve been lying in the dirt 😉
How’s that supposed to work? *chuckles* Cheers, Anser 😇
23.03.2020, 14:37   #5
Profilfoto
Babs Bathe

I don’t believe men are better photographers 😁.
I could imagine that there are fewer women who cover a wide range of photography genres. Most of the women I know tend to focus mainly on photographing their kids and pets. Every now and then, they might snap a quick shot with their smartphone. Architecture, technology, or exploring old industrial sites just aren’t as popular among most women, and I think that’s why.
 
23.03.2020, 14:41   #6

Administrator

An interesting topic.
But I’m with Pic on this one and will stay out of it. 😇
24.03.2020, 16:13   #7

Hobbyfotograf

I'm part of a photography club here in Dresden that has been around for over 15 years now.
Out of our active members, we have 6 men and 4 women, which is a pretty good ratio for female participation.
As for who's better, I'll put it this way: when it comes to using phones, the women definitely have the edge. The men still have a pretty mixed relationship with them.
But when it comes to choosing subjects to photograph, there's no difference at all.
25.05.2020, 08:23   #8

Handyknipser

@Ria W.
I don't think you can say that for sure. The fact is, there are significantly more professional male chefs than female chefs, at least when it comes to Michelin-starred chefs.
Maybe there are also more men who are tech-savvy.
You definitely can't tell that just from the photo. At least, I can't.
25.05.2020, 10:28   #9
Profilfoto
08 16

@Ria W.
 
Interesting question – could it be more about our perception?
"Kwerfeldein" tackled this topic two years ago and conducted various surveys.
The report and statistics on this subject can be found at the following LINK:
I have to admit – I was surprised.
https://kwerfeldein.de/2018/10/02/frauen-fotografie/ Best regards.
25.05.2020, 11:20   #10
Profilfoto
08 16

I'll add some information on this topic:

Recently, 12 members of DVF-Westfalen were honored by the FIAP (International Federation of Photographic Art) for outstanding achievements. Of these, 6 were male and 6 were female.
This was not about maintaining gender balance, but rather recognizing individual accomplishments in various competitions.
25.05.2020, 14:16   #11
Profilfoto
Ria W.

@ 08 16 I just read the article you linked. What I found most interesting was actually the discussion in the comments below it. I originally asked this question because I’ve noticed that women are generally underrepresented in photography—whether in photo clubs or forums like this one. The number of men is always significantly higher. That’s why I posed that somewhat provocative question back then.
06.09.2022, 09:46   #12

Hobbyfotograf

Although this topic is more than two years old, it’s still very relevant. As a "newbie" here, I’ve been trying to read through all the sections for days and just ended up here. From my experience with many seminars and workshops, there are often MORE women than men participating, and they also take outstanding photos. When someone here mentions having time constraints, maybe us men should really take a moment to reflect on that! My wife also takes photos and often captures more appealing shots than I do—definitely with a different perspective on the subject.
08.11.2022, 17:19   #13

Hobbyfotograf

I just came across this topic again.
Regarding this: my daughter has what's called a photographic eye.
I try to capture it myself – but it doesn’t always work. (I’m working on it – technique and experience help a lot)
So, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer.
But it’s definitely an interesting subject.
09.11.2022, 15:11   #14
Of course, men make better photographers. It's like cooking—among the top chefs, you’ll find only a few women.
09.11.2022, 18:19   #15

Hobbyfotograf

@Andreas F  OK 😉
05.12.2022, 19:01   #16

Hobbyfotografin

I've always been fascinated by everything related to photography. For many years, I simply didn’t have enough time, so it was mostly just quick snapshots. Now that the kids are grown, work is going well, and I’m finding it easier to really dive deeper into the subject. Photography requires time and space to truly explore. 
My thought is this: since there seem to be more male photographers, it’s probably why we see more great photos from them. But women are just as talented, and I’d argue that if you look at photographers and their work proportionally, there’s no difference in quality between men and women. 

Oops... I just noticed this topic is already a month old. Oh well. 🙂
05.12.2022, 19:42   #17

Hobbyfotograf

No matter how old a topic is, it always remains interesting.
06.12.2022, 09:10   #18
Why should photography be considered a man's domain? Anyone can look through a viewfinder and press the shutter button. What really matters is the outcome. And I don’t see quality differences based on gender—just different preferences for subjects or approaches. Those can vary from person to person and aren’t necessarily tied to gender. Sure, you might find fewer women than men in some places, but the quality doesn’t differ between genders; it varies between photographers. So: everyone interested, pick up a camera, and let the results speak for themselves... what counts is what comes out in the end.
06.12.2022, 13:57   #19

Hobbyfotografin

If I understand correctly, the original question was why women take fewer photos (or at least share their photos less often in forums). Are there differences? Between women and men when it comes to photography? And are men better at it? It’s a somewhat odd question and a misinterpretation of the actual issue. There are differences, but they relate to individuals rather than gender, as Andreas S. already pointed out.
So why do women post less? One reason is definitely that they have less time. But there may be other factors as well. From my professional experience, women generally don’t like to showcase themselves as much as men do—even when they are the more skilled experts in their field, they tend to let their male colleagues take the spotlight more often than the other way around. There are certainly additional reasons for this underrepresentation.
06.12.2022, 14:16   #20

Hobbyfotografin

Well, there has already been some debate about whether men make better photographers. But as you can clearly see, that’s not really the case.
@Maria: I find the idea that women would let men take the lead quite interesting.
06.12.2022, 16:09   #21

Hobbyfotografin

@Doreen Gothe Have you had a different experience with that?
 
06.12.2022, 16:11   #22

Hobbyfotograf

@Pic Hunter Oh wow....
Oh wow wow wow...
06.12.2022, 16:21   #23

Hobbyfotograf

Whether a woman or a man is better at something really doesn’t matter. What’s important is that the person doing it enjoys it, and that those viewing the photos find joy in them. The stereotype that men don’t listen and women can’t park is just wrong. Just as many girls fall asleep in class as boys do. And my female driving students usually learn to park just as quickly as their male counterparts—although the overall skill level has declined in recent years.

As for why more men are involved in photography than women, it likely comes down to many men’s affinity for technology. Both genders have time for hobbies, after all.

Best, Didi
06.12.2022, 18:03   #24

Hobbyfotografin

@Maria Bürstmayr I've never really thought about it that way before. That's why I find the statement interesting. It's a nice idea and a refreshing perspective.
06.12.2022, 18:27   #25
The question Ria asked has been clearly addressed in this thread. If there was a different original question before or if it’s understood differently, that may be the case, but it doesn’t help the communication in this thread. 

The claim, "One point is certain because they have less time," is exactly what it is—a claim, likely a very subjective one. 
Such a statement might apply to some people but cannot be generalized. 

I suspect that one reason for the low number of women in photography is that it tends to be a more technical hobby. From my personal experience, many women aren’t interested in diving into the technical details. You’ll probably see something similar in other hobbies as well. At least, that’s my impression. 

It’s probably quite similar with qualified feedback. It’s more about the lack of interest than the actual ability. Anyone can give feedback, even detailed feedback, just as anyone can engage in photography in general. 
06.12.2022, 19:17   #26

Hobbyfotografin

@Andreas F
An average, of course, doesn’t apply to every individual. A working woman with children likely has very little free time, and if she’s a single parent, both time and money become even tighter. This combination tends to affect women more than men. How much of this is just my personal perception? Well, that’s open to interpretation.
I’ve only recently developed an interest in photography. I find the technical demands quite manageable. Of course, you need to understand the exposure triangle. It also helps to have read the camera’s manual, at least the key parts. Experimenting, taking photos, and playing around with the camera is easier today than it was back in the film days. But the technical side is far from everything.
06.12.2022, 19:59   #27
I agree with you that the technical side isn't everything. However, it is one aspect. It's not that my wife doesn't see any subjects to photograph—quite the opposite. But the interest in exploring what possibilities the camera and lens offer, and how shutter speed and aperture relate, is already too much for her. What comes easily to you can be difficult and often uninteresting to someone else. That's why broad generalizations like these aren't reliable.
Just as the idea that working women with children have less time and money compared to men, as you mentioned, isn't necessarily accurate.
As a counterpoint: married women with children often have a lot of time since they are usually not employed full-time. Many women also tend to work part-time, which is less common among men.
06.12.2022, 20:26   #28

Hobbyfotografin

@Andreas F
What does understanding the exposure triangle have to do with making a blanket statement? And do you think men are more likely to understand this connection?
Many women work part-time because they take care of their families or provide care for relatives. Of course, there are exceptions. Do you know many men who work part-time to care for their families or relatives? And nowadays, married women are also employed—again, with exceptions. I’m not trying to make any sweeping generalizations here.
06.12.2022, 21:10   #29

Handyknipser

@andreas F

Reading what this so-called expert calls his opinion, you can’t help but shake your head.
He’s definitely not part of the elite group of photo guys 😂😂 as most of his pictures clearly show.
06.12.2022, 21:28   #30

Hobbyfotografin

Oh no... did I bring up the wrong topic?
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