What if...

[D.A.]

...after a while you come to the conclusion that you can't be the best or
at least near the best in a field of photography? That is really though question.
That you are missing point and you are struggling to get results. You find that
you are missing something which divides you from the best - talent or something more (cannot figure).

[D.A.]

Maybe it's time to STOP. That's what i'm thinking of.

[Roy Mathers]

No, not the time to stop - just the time to enjoy your hobby.

[snakekid]

Well there are thousands, possibly millions, of photographers and it is a
subjective field. I think the notion that one must be the best at what one
does is a very flawed logic.

Maybe if you feel its time to stop. Stop trying to make it your profession.
Keep it as a hobby.

[FlyingPhotog]

Maybe just put the camera down for a short while...if you find you miss shooting sooner than you expected, all is not lost! ;)

Get some nice coffee table books of work by other photographers and look through them purely for the fun of it. Leave the critical eye in the other room. You might find something that rekindles the spark.

Try a subject that's outside your comfort zone. Try an entire B&W series. Maybe an all "Blue" theme. Only shoot at night for a week. Doorknobs. Socks. Whatever...

Use only your 30mm for a month or the 70-200 at only either 70 or 200 and learn to zoom with your feet.

Break out of the norm.

[D.A.]

It's impossible to leave critical eye (at least for me) .

[FlyingPhotog]

It's impossible to leave critical eye (at least for me) .

Well, that may just be part of your problem...

Just one opinion mind you but sometimes you just have to appreciate "art" for what it is and not what it means or says.

That's why I suggested going out and shooting a subject or in a manner which is alien to you. By moving outside your comfort zone, you'll get away from the nuts and bolts and have to imerse yourself in the subject to really extract the essence.

IOW, you'll have much more fun by turning off your critical self and letting your creative self take over...

[burnxkr]

I think its the same in every aspect of life. When things start to fall apart wether its football or photography or playing the piano or baking a cake.
Go back to basics.
Make sure that you understand what you want to shoot. This might be the most important. Seeing the shot before you try to record it. Don't just press the button. Find a reason to press it.
Make sure that you understand the relationship between the photographers trinity shutter speed, aperture and ISO and how they interact to achieve the results that you want. i.e. dof, freezing action etc.
Make sure basics are in place.

[Gentleman Villain]

F that

I plan on being one of the best someday :D

It takes time to become a good craftsman, find natural talents, focus on a niche and have something unique to say....But it happens for everybody that tries hard enough.

In the past, most artists would hit their prime later in life. Great art is not usually a young man's game. Just something to consider...because many people think they've gotta pick up a camera and be awesome right away. But that's not how it really works...It takes a lot of time to be good. IT could take decades. We all need to shake the fast-food mentality....drive thru delivery...immediate gratification....Take some time...work hard...let things happen later. IT doesn't all have to happen today.

[nicksan]

Let all the seriousness go...and start enjoying it for what it is.
Have fun because if you are not having fun, yes, you should quit.

I did the exact thing with music. I became so unnecessarily serious about it, wanting to be the "best that I can be" at it, that I was drowning in my misery to a point where I just couldn't get myself to play with others anymore because I felt I wasn't good enough, at least in my mind, despite what others were telling me.

Then came photography in my life and I took a completely different approach and I make sure not to get overly serious about it. That doesn't mean not studying, or reflecting, etc...just means not drowning in all the seriousness.

I don't even think about comparing myself to others. I don't care.

It's quite liberating actually...

[aprofetto]

The way I see it, no matter what it is, someone will always be better at it than you. If you're always trying to be the best, you're always going to be disappointed.

Unless of course, you're Lebron James, then of course, you are the best, lol.

[bsaber]

Maybe just put the camera down for a short while...if you find you miss shooting sooner than you expected, all is not lost! ;)

Get some nice coffee table books of work by other photographers and look through them purely for the fun of it. Leave the critical eye in the other room. You might find something that rekindles the spark.

Try a subject that's outside your comfort zone. Try an entire B&W series. Maybe an all "Blue" theme. Only shoot at night for a week. Doorknobs. Socks. Whatever...

Use only your 30mm for a month or the 70-200 at only either 70 or 200 and learn to zoom with your feet.

Break out of the norm.

Let all the seriousness go...and start enjoying it for what it is.
Have fun because if you are not having fun, yes, you should quit.

I did the exact thing with music. I became so unnecessarily serious about it, wanting to be the "best that I can be" at it, that I was drowning in my misery to a point where I just couldn't get myself to play with others anymore because I felt I wasn't good enough, at least in my mind, despite what others were telling me.

Then came photography in my life and I took a completely different approach and I make sure not to get overly serious about it. That doesn't mean not studying, or reflecting, etc...just means not drowning in all the seriousness.

I don't even think about comparing myself to others. I don't care.

It's quite liberating actually...

+1

http://ronniechung.com/blog/?p=137

Just enjoy it :D

[GregMik]

Wow.....I know for a fact that I will never be the best. But I can be the best around where I am.

I have a laddered goal structure. Be the best in your town. Be the best in your area, and so on.

You most likely will never the THE BEST. It takes a very rare combination of talent and luck to be considered THE BEST.

If you set your immediate goals too high you will always fail. You cannot climb Mt Everest the first day you decide to take up mountain climbing.

Greg

[Naturalist]

D.A.
Rather than stopping I would get additional education. Take lessons, go to school, or even spend some time in the library reading art and photography books on composition, exposure, perspective, etc.

What type of images are you trying to make? It may be that your heart is not into macro images but you love shooting portraits of people.

Finally, grab some published materials having images that you like to shoot. Sit down and really examine these images. Look at the composition, lighting, shadows, depth of field. Try to understand why that picture was selected for publishing and, since imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, get out there and try to duplicate the sucessful image that was published. This step alone will help you learn a lot about lighting, composition and exposure, and really appreciate the hard work that goes into making a saleable image.

But don't stop learning and shooting.

[aprofetto]

Wow.....I know for a fact that I will never be the best. But I can be the best around where I am.

I have a laddered goal structure. Be the best in your town. Be the best in your area, and so on.

You most likely will never the THE BEST. It takes a very rare combination of talent and luck to be considered THE BEST.

If you set your immediate goals too high you will always fail. You cannot climb Mt Everest the first day you decide to take up mountain climbing.

Greg

I'm not sure if I offended you or not, but I'm sorry if that is the case.

I didn't mean to sound like a downer. I just meant, that if you're trying to be the best photographer in the world, it won't happen.

I agree, I think personal goals are the best way to set about a situation. It's also in the way you look at an activity. Me personally, I took up photography as a hobby, I intend to get better along the way, but I know I'll never be pro material, but I find photography fun and relaxing, so I'll keep pursuing it.

So once again, sorry if I offended you. :)

[GregMik]

I'm not sure if I offended you or not, but I'm sorry if that is the case.

I didn't mean to sound like a downer. I just meant, that if you're trying to be the best photographer in the world, it won't happen.

I agree, I think personal goals are the best way to set about a situation. It's also in the way you look at an activity. Me personally, I took up photography as a hobby, I intend to get better along the way, but I know I'll never be pro material, but I find photography fun and relaxing, so I'll keep pursuing it.

So once again, sorry if I offended you. :)

You did not offend me at all:lol:


I agree with you. If you don't want to do this pro....no problem at all. Do what you want to do as long as it doesn't hurt someone else.

Greg

[aprofetto]

...Do what you want to do as long as it doesn't hurt someone else.

Greg

Hmmm... what if it annoys the fiance? lol :lol:

[GregMik]

Hmmm... what if it annoys the fiance? lol :lol:


Sounds like a personal problem to me.....:lol:

Greg

[primoz]

Ok let's be realistic... how many of us are best on World in any of things? I guess not too many if anyone at all ;) When I get my skis out, I'm far from best skier on world (I proved this during 20 years of competitive skiing, when I didn't win any of World championships or Olympic medals), but I still love to go out skiing. Same goes with cycling, and any other thing I love to do. I don't do any of these things because I think I will be best on world. I know I won't be, but I just love to do them, and that's reason why I do it.
In my opinion, it should be same for you and photography. Yes you are no best on world, and most likely you will never be either. So what... if you like to do it, then keep on doing it. If being best on world is your only thing why you do photography, then sell you gear and find something what gives you joy ;)