How to become a Guru in less than 30 days – Gurushots
So, recently heard a
Hi Manfred. Can you tell us a little about yourself?
My name is Manfred Fink and I am from Austria. I’ll be 60 years old this year. I am a Software Engineer and I specialize in Oracle databases. My hobbies are all kinds of sports as well as hiking and, of course, taking photos.
How long have you been taking photography seriously?
I started taking photos with the birth of my son in 1986. That year I bought a small Olympus camera and took analog photos of his first steps. 2 years later I had a daughter and my first Canon SLR camera. Soon after I upgraded my equipment to a Mamiya 6×9 medium format camera.
Since then photography has been a constant companion of mine and I spent many hours improving my skills.
Of course, I switched to a digital camera a long time ago, the list of my current equipment is too long to list here. But I have been loyal to Canon all the time. With the change to digital photography, Photoshop has become more and more important in my workflow.
Education has also been an important part of my professional development. I intensively use online courses and videos, but I also attend a lot of workshops and training.
My photographic interest is wide, it includes travel, people, architecture, events, products
Since 2012 I have had my own studio which helps a lot to realize new projects.
I won many awards and honors at competitions in different categories. I am a national champion in artistic photography, national champion of an association called โNaturfreundeโ and I won a gold medal at the Trierenberg award.
Ok, so you’ve had some successs before. How and when did you discover Gurushots?
A short time ago a friend of mine told me about GuruShots during a visit. He himself is a Master at GuruShots and was excited about the game. He showed me the first steps. I immediately uploaded some of my photos and registered myself for 3 challenges. In one challenge I won instantly, another I was 10th place and at the third, I could only reach 210th, but I did get the Guru Top Pick Winner award :)
Wow, that’s amazing! what a great start! So, when did you reach Guru status?
I reached the Guru Status after just 12 days. The one thing that slowed me down was that I needed to get the necessary 150,000 Points. As I won the first challenge as a Newbie and I got the Gurus Top Pick Winner on the second day the biggest challenges were already made. The 30 All-Star finishes and the 5 Guru Picks I got in just a few days. Therefore, I just had to wait for my points build up.
12 days! That’s incredible. That might be some kind of a record. Did you know anything about the platform beforehand?
Although I spend a lot of time with photography and I am active on many platforms, I had never heard of GuruShots. I have to admit, that I completely underestimated the effort to be on the top. It seemed easy to start with. I will now try to concentrate on just a few challenges where I can vote by myself and do not need any buy Fills.
I know that a picture has to be grasped quickly and create a very good first impression
Did you have any special tactics from day 1? (was spending money on swaps/boosts & fills part of this?)
As I saw on the first day that I was far forward I voted at least every 5 minutes to keep my Exposure Bonus up. Apart from
I will now try to concentrate on just a few challenges where I can vote by myself and do not need any buy Fills.
How did your tactics change during the 12 days?
To reach the Guru Status fast, I played in about 50 different challenges and as I realized that it is impossible for me to vote in every one of them. So, yes I bought one pack of 250 and 3 sets of 15 fills. I gained all the swaps and keys thanks to my wins and the daily tasks were enough to keep me going. During the time I found, that it is helpful to change the photo between 2 and 4 hours before the challenge ends. Sometimes I used this tactic and used the 2nd best picture for the start of the challenge and replaced it just before the end with the best one.
Yes, the late entry/swap tactic seems to work well for many players. Do you have any other thoughts on tactics?
A photo which has won is not allowed to be used again for a challenge. But also pictures which are (just) very good also wear off over time because players have seen them before in other challenges and do not vote again for the same pictures.
Through the game you get a very good feeling which pics are favored. This knowledge helps tremendously for challenges.
Thanks, so much Manfred. I’m sure everyone will agree that this has been an intereseting read and that your photos are fantastic. Is there anything else you’d like to add?
I want to thank the developers of Gurushot. This is a very entertaining game and you can also learn a lot. But you I recommend you limit yourself to a few challenges to focus your time.
You can see more Manfred Fink’s work here
I think you’ll all agree that Manfred’s photos are worthy of Guru status and it’s interesting to note that he puts his success down to the quality of his photos rather than any special tactic. Let us know what you think in the comments
February 28, 2019 @ 2:24 pm
chapeau bas! For Manfred Fink
12 day that is incredible! But completely not surprising when I look at his pictures ๐ they are scream for winning! He is true artist… after playing about 7 months I develop similar tactic in the game and I reach champion level even i still in progreess learninig photography… i still a faraway to reach Manfred’s level…
congratulations to Manfred Fink.
Greetings,
March 1, 2019 @ 7:41 am
Hi Monique. Yes, your right
March 6, 2019 @ 7:46 am
Thank you Monique, i do my best :-)
Manfred FInk
November 2, 2022 @ 8:42 am
I just met this impressive NY photographer Dino Lenger and he discovered GuruShots just a month ago and just one month of submitting to challenges he reached Master level and he only need to win a challenge to become Guru level. At the time when I met him his photographs were already selected as gurus picks, to be featured at exhibitions and in magazines. For the comparison Ive been a member for past 2 years and just working towards Expert level and still gotta work for my first gurus pick or a feature.
Also canโt forget to mention that Dino has the biggest heart and will do anything in his power to help, even if you are a stranger to him. During my NY trip I had photoshoot planned but studio where I was supposed to be working at canceled day before the photoshoot. I started calling all possible photographers and studios for a last minute opening but everything was booked. When I called Dino through the google business profile he heard my story and offered me his studio with all the equipment. He insisted that itโs free of charge and not only did he saved my photoshoot but my budget since I never received a refund for the initially booked studio space
February 28, 2019 @ 8:42 pm
Wow Manfred’s photos are definetly worthy of Guru ststus. Thankyou for sharing his success story Tom.
March 1, 2019 @ 7:42 am
Yeah, he has many more photos of a similar quality on his website. It’s worth checking out
January 29, 2020 @ 3:35 am
GuruShots was never about the quality of the photos, or the photography at all for that mater, it is just a internet version of the pyramid scam. And although you must have some decent photos, they don’t need to be professional at all – check the portfolios of most Gurus and you will see for yourself. GS is all about the money, and how much you are willing to spend for boosting your ego. If someone achieve the Guru status it doesn’t mean that they are a good at photography, it is most likely that they are just willing to spend more money than the other guy. Even Manfred Fink with his great photos didn’t achieve his Guru status without spending a bunch of money. So, if you want to be a Guru (what ever that means for you), open up your wallet and take a ride on GuruShots…
February 11, 2020 @ 6:42 pm
Hi Daniel, I’m not sure how you can compare Gurushots to a pyramid scheme. Yes it is true that the best photos don’t always win, there’s no denying that and strategy is a very important part of the game. Having said that many many Gurus have reached their status without spending a cent, and they continue to do it.
The interesting think about Manfred Fink, is that he achieved Guru status in such a short time (12 Days!) yes, to achieve such an achievement paying for bonuses will make things easier/faster. Remember he bought only 1 bonus pack and I have zero doubt that because of the quality of his images he could have become a Guru without spending any money given a little more time. (Interview with Manfred Fink https://tombourdon.co.uk/how-to-become-a-guru-in-less-than-30-days-gurushots/)
I know the platform can be frustrating, but having excellent photos will make the journey easier, that’s for sure!
June 4, 2020 @ 6:07 pm
Hi. I just got to GURU status and have not spent a single penny. I have spent a lot of time and have learned a lot about the platform. It has taken me 2 years to reach this goal. All I needed for the last several months was a “Win”. When that happened, I jumped immediately to GURU I status. GURU shots has taught me a lot and I am grateful. I am a better photographer for it.
Sabrina
January 16, 2022 @ 8:09 am
I have have a very similar experience as Sabrina. With the exception that I did spend an initial $2.99 for an “introductory” package of some 15 AutoFills, 5 Swaps and 3 Keys? – give or take. I can’t quite remember). after that I always used only what I gaind as rewards. My “trick” though to Guru status was to wipe my old account that I spent close to a year building up (after reaching the Master level and having won many awards, GPs and what not and 2.4 million points) and to start over with a clean slate. From there on I stayed at Newbie level and winning 3 Top Photo prizes in a short 2 months or so was as easy as taking a cookie from a toddler. If however you advance to Master level, it is virtually impossible to win Guru status against the top gurus in any challenge! It quickly becomes a dead end. Period. No ifs, no buts…
Istvan
September 20, 2020 @ 12:04 am
Daniel nobody push you to spend your money. It is a game as most of the game now you can boost your level spending money on it or not. Myself I am with it from the begining. Ther is more than 3 years I am champion and I am stuck on it but It is not for this I tell: it is a scam. I stopped to play during 3 yearsmore or less and I came back with the lockdown. I like the new version with the teams. This is a good motivation to try to win the battle with your team. For the rest I don’t really care I am waiting now for more than 3 years a Gurupick to become Master. But now I don’t really care even if I think sometime people get Gurupicks for really bad pictures. It is ok if for them mines don’t look good an half.
November 24, 2020 @ 11:11 am
Hi Daniel.
Either way it is quite good if one wants to improve ones skills. Skill can be as diverse things as understanding the audience better, see subjects in new ways – get inspired and learn to present them in new ways. With some work oneself… Just to learn to craft images in a way that works more instant – in digital media – was a good development of my own work.
As trained fine artist my photography was way to complicated for digital media… but good for a Gallery wall where people come motivated, and invest time in finding meaning for themselves. Often in ambiguous work, semi-abstract or philosophical work. The SITUATION allows for that.
The situation on internet and digital media is so different, that what define good photography also is different. Images that work in that situation needs to communicate in a different way. So it is not just about “good photography”, but about effective communication, skillfully crafted, with a purpose.
Regarding Manfred Fink paying. He would have become Guru without paying. After more time.
That he chose a fast track, by buying fills… is NOT proving that anyone with money can become guru… BECAUSE of the money. It would still be because of the photography?
It just show that some chose to not see tons of images they did not need to see.
Did not need to see, because he/they already had a waste amounts of experience in viewing – a trained eye.
And he had some spare money. I do exactly the same…. some of the voting does not give me anything. I have 40 years of training my eyes, images as work as art-director/editor/artist plus 7 years education in visual communication & science of arts etc… I do not NEED to see all those images. I saw the art-history books, much of it in flesh all over the world… drawing light with a pencil… for years.
WHY should I be required to see all the first attempt to photograph by rookies – to have my own work voted on? That PLIGHT is not related to good photography either. Images speak for themselves.
I vote! I save myself for when the better images are shown! And I can afford avoiding the eyesores., the same way as I can eat out… why that is a problem?
That has not to do with photography in any case.
There is NO difference between voting for exposure or paying for it, regarding the votes it gets. The voter do no know why they see the image. The image is left alone to do the job.
Enjoy photography.
February 6, 2022 @ 2:05 pm
Mi chiamo Lilith ho ripreso a giocare a GS a Natale trovo amo la fotografia ma sono una perfetta dilettante e le mie foto sono tutte scattate con uno smartphone eppure nonostante in confronto a tanti bravissimi fotografi sono giร 2 volte con account diversi arrivata a Champion senza pagare sono soddisfatta cosรฌ mi manca un solo Guru Pick per passare di livello ma non arriverรฒ mai a Guru sono consapevole dei miei limiti le mie foto non meritano sicuramente un livello cosรฌ alto, ma mi piace giocare, imparare e mi diverte. Complimenti a tutti. Lilith.17
March 21, 2019 @ 9:21 am
His pictures are inspiring indeed, and well worthy of his guru status. Still, voting each 5 minutes ? I admit that does confuse me.
May 5, 2019 @ 7:14 am
His stuff is definitely good, no surprise that he actually achieved guru so fast! His learning curve started long ago and is now working on his favor. Congratulations!
May 7, 2019 @ 10:06 am
Totally agree!
June 17, 2019 @ 2:11 pm
hi Tom,
thanks for all your posts about GuruShots.
Manfred’s photos are piece of Art. No wonder he managed to be Guru within 12 days. What a performance !
I managed myself to be Master within a month or so. But now, I’m stuck at this level (6 months) because I can’t get myself to actually win anything (no challenge winning, no Top Photo, no Top Guru Pick). Top 10 seems to be my best. I guess not over-photoshoping my photos doesn’t help :)
Anyway, thanks for your articles, I’ll keep fighting ! :) :)
June 17, 2019 @ 3:01 pm
Yes, you are right about Manfred’s work.
I sometimes think it may be easier to win Guru’s Top Pick than either of the other 2. The reason being you can create photos that appeal directly to one person (the Guru) rather than leaving it up to the mass audience. Obviously, you’ll need to study what that Guru usually picks. But you should be able to photograph work that meets his/her tastes. This thought is based on no research, it’s just an idea that might help you in your quest.
Mind you if you are getting Top 10s then you’re almost there anyway.
All the best
June 18, 2019 @ 9:50 am
Thanks for your answer Tom.
How can i find former challenges created by a Guru ?? I don’t see any link in a Guru profile about that.
Korz
September 1, 2019 @ 11:19 am
There is a tactic to becoming nr one
It has nothing to do with having good pictures. You can be nr 1,2,3,4,or5 until a few minutes before time is up , out of the blue there different pictures nr1,2,3,4,and5 and your pictures end up somewhere in the twenties. And the winners are nearly always the same people
July 24, 2019 @ 1:00 pm
Wow such beautiful work he has. I managed to hit Champion in 12 days. Now I have to decide whether to continue. I wish you had perhaps asked or discussed what the benefits of becoming a guru are.
October 2, 2019 @ 6:15 pm
I did it too ๐
October 28, 2019 @ 4:43 pm
Wow. I thought mine was quite fast (I reached Master in 2 weeks and Guru in 28 days), but his achievement was more than mine :)
December 30, 2019 @ 9:07 pm
Hi Tom, I am finding getting a photo to be chosen for a guru pick is super hard. It seems the Guru usually picks when I am sleeping or working. Twice though, I have had the red icon pop up on the little bell while I was logged in and I checked it right away to see what it was, it was the guru is picking now (less than minute ago) but when I click on my rank and then click the guru picks, he has already chosen in that “less than a minute”, how is that possible? It takes me 5 – 10 minutes to scroll through images when voting. I doubt I will ever get a Guru Top pick, but my photos are definitely good enough to get at least a pick, I think anyways. I think winning a challenge will be easier if I spend money. I’m convinced that is the only way to win a challenge, with the right photo of course.
March 31, 2020 @ 5:13 am
I got there “Guru”, having accidentally on iPhone app purchased some swaps, Once or twice,
It takes some persistence & thought….
Tactics is part of the equation,
But to photo’s still need to get preferred votes..
Regards ” Pโโ โ โ”.
March 31, 2020 @ 5:12 am
I got there “Guru”, having accidentally on iPhone app purchased some swaps, Once or twice,
It takes some persistence & thought….
Tactics is part of the equation,
But to photo’s still need to get preferred votes..
Regards ” Pโโ โ โ”.
September 8, 2020 @ 4:44 pm
Hi Tom.
Great Work.
And I already participate in some of your GS challenges.Thanks for sharing your experience…
September 9, 2020 @ 2:08 pm
Cheers Marco :)
September 20, 2020 @ 12:18 am
Daniel nobody push you to spend your money. It is a game as most of the game now you can boost your level spending money on it or not. Myself I am with it from the begining. Ther is more than 3 years I am champion and I am stuck on it but It is not for this I tell: it is a scam. I stopped to play during 3 yearsmore or less and I came back with the lockdown. I like the new version with the teams. This is a good motivation to try to win the battle with your team. For the rest I don’t really care I am waiting now for more than 3 years a Gurupick to become Master. But now I don’t really care even if I think sometime people get Gurupicks for really bad pictures. It is ok if for them mines don’t look good an half.
September 25, 2020 @ 8:10 am
Hi Tom, magnificent pictures and a very good article. I have been on Gurushots 1 year this month. I have used all types of cameras and even my cell phone. Technically my pictures are not good. I do have an eye for a shot and not afraid to present a high iso pic. When I started with Gurushots I was unaware of the BOOST and how it might help. One thing I have noticed about the limited challenges (12 Hours) etc, they seem to benefit the European time zone?. If a challenge begins at 12pm Pacific time EG, I am unable to feed the votes and miss many chances to get ASL. As of today I have 599 All Star Level. Not sure if that is any good? I managed to finish 8th in one challenge. Manfreds pics are very high quality. Thankyou for sharing. Ray Hansen.
August 7, 2023 @ 2:19 pm
I’ve been on GS for about 6 years now and got to ‘Master’ after just 2. At first it was great, I honed my photography skills thanks to tips from the site, changed my camera, did a photography course and started to use editing software which helped with the quality of my photos.
Then came the Master Dead End.
No matter how hard I tried, – all the tweaks, all the tactics, and the purchases, I was getting nowhere, so I left my account standing and walked away 3 years ago.
I’ve only just rejoined, thanks to my sister. She was suffering bereavement so I used to take her for walks on the nature reserve where I work and taught her how to use her phone camera. She developed a love of photography and together we played for hours on GS.
She recently contacted me and begged me to join her team, and I was really happy to find she was still using GS as quite literally, mental health therapy. So I rejoined.
I have no illusions of ever being a Guru, and quite frankly, no desire to be anymore – I think that unless you are a pro photographer with great kit and software, or a great tactical player, – you won’t get Guru status anyway. So I’m quite happy to stay a ‘Dead-End Master’, just enjoy the team challenges, and spend time online with my sister who is making new friends.
For reference, this is my GS page. I don’t think my photography is brilliant, but it’s not too bad.
https://gurushots.com/DeborahAnne/photos
August 7, 2023 @ 6:09 pm
Yes, it’s true that Gurushots can be used in a number of ways. And not just by improving your photography skills but by providing distractions and even helping with physical and mental issues in a fun and engaging way. You’re certainly not the first to contact me with such a story.
Thanks for sharing, I’m glad it has been of benefit to both you and your sister.
December 17, 2023 @ 11:27 pm
Wow 12 days! His shots are good but he did this a while back judging by the reference to Newbies. In 2023 I think it would take a lot longer. His tactics are worth studying and I am surprised he does not mention aspect ratio since this has a large affect on scores. I carried out experiments of scoring on empty black shots of different aspect ratios. Portrait and widescreen consistently scored 30% less than landscape 3×2. Interestingly the blank shots never got voted off topic.