Is there such a thing as a born photographer? I doubt it. I've yet to hear of anyone popping out from the womb squinting through a Hassalblad or Nikon. Or even just holding a cable release! Can you see little Ansel Adams in the delivery room saying "Hold it Mom" as he sets up his view camera to capture one magnificent scene! Or little W. Eugene Smith, Leicas swinging, asking the doctor for directions to the offices of Life Magazine.

So if photographers aren't born, "Where," as the toddler embarrassingly asked, "do photographers come from?"

Any responsible parent wanting to answer the question might consider Albertville, France, and the 1992 Winter Olympics. If you ever watch any of the Olympic games, you know there is a lot that can be learned from the athletes. Yes, they're good, but one can't help but notice that what makes them good is very often just their willingness to keep on keeping on.

Sure, they have the required physical characteristics for the sports they pursue, the musculature, the stamina, the agility, coordination, grace, artistic sensitivity, etc. But there is a world full of people, many of whom have these things going for them, who aren't there on the rink, the slopes, the track, the field. Why? Because they lack the burning desire to be there and do what it takes to get there. The hours of lonely training, year in and year out. The discipline to train rather than do something else, something passive and easy that usually amounts to nothing. The motivation to develop those muscles and skills, or to build the requisite speed and stamina. It's a lot of hard, disciplined effort and it's true that by doing all of this only a few can make it to the top, where the difference between gold, silver, and bronze can sometimes be measured in milliseconds... or percentages of a point. Still, they keep on keeping on.

If you think perseverance doesn't matter and that success is a matter of luck, consider pair skaters Yelena Bechke and Denis Petrov of the former Soviet team.

Yelena was repeatedly told to quit skating -- that she didn't have the talent to compete at the top. But she wouldn't quit. Did it pay off? She and Denis picked up the silver medal in pairs competition at Albertville. No small feat!

Fortunately, there is more room in this world for good photographers than there is for Olympic medalists. And those interested in becoming good photographers should take into account that skills can be acquired, talent can be developed, and that perseverance pays off -- maybe not on the level expected -- but well enough to put one among the winners, nonetheless.

Consider that technical skills can be learned and improved and that and that so much of photography is technical, anyway, especially in a studio or other controlled setting: good lighting, correct exposure, proper color temperature. None of these things come automatically, yet these technical skills are the primary concern of some of the highest paid advertising photographers around.

Do they have any artistic ability? They certainly do. Still, as a right brain function, artistic ability can be developed by learning to use the right side, the creative side, of the brain. But when you take into account the people who are in on a big advertising shoot, what's the real purpose of the photographer, anyway?

When an art director dictates just what's wanted and may even set up the shot; when a stylist comes in and makes sure that everything from props to models is just so; when top models pose knowing just what to do with a minimum amount of direction from anyone, why is the photographer there?

For one reason, and one reason only: to record the scene, the set up, the concept on a piece of film and do it well -- nicely lit, properly color balanced, in focus, and at the right exposure. All technical aspects of photography.

Talent? Think about it!

With a half-way decent camera, anyone can be fooled into thinking they have some talent. They probably do. People like to do what they have an interest in and some talent for. And I can't ignore the fact that in some types of photography, such as photojournalism, a lot depends on seeing a picture rather than on setting one up or having it set up. Still, if you can't translate what you see onto film with good technical and compositional skills, your audience may not think that you see very much at all. So how do you get to the point where you what you see is what you get on film? By exposing an awful lot of it and learning along the way. It's the only way of getting to where people will look at what you do with much interest.

So, if you're just starting out or have been at it a while with little visible success, there's no need to be discouraged. Just remember that you have to go beyond your beginnings because no one is born a photographer. Everyone begins somewhere! Some, with an exaggerated confidence that keeps them going despite all obstacles. Others with unnecessary doubts that hold them back. Kind comments from those who know little or a lot about photography encourage some. Rejection may keep others down. Still, if you want to be a photographer stay with it. If you like photography, chances are you have what it takes but just need to hone your skills and develop your talent.

Remember Yelena Bechke, who the experts said didn't have the necessary talent to compete successfully as an Olympic skater. Even a little talent can be developed by those who persevere. The rest is salesmanship, a lot of salesmanship. Selling is really what your photo business is all about!

Larry Stepanowicz