Am I selling my creativity short?

[Fenster]

http://15.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_krydqxyurw1qzha77o1_500.jpg

''Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee''

So I have evolved into a family photographer whose focus is candid outdoor photography. I eschew the studio, and scorn conventional angles and styles in favour of the novel and original. And, you know...It's fun. I've (shockingly) discovered that I love working with children. Watching the smiles break out when they see my finished photos is a feel-good moment. Best of all, I'm making money!

But at the end of the day, I'm left to wonder if my photography is really any good, and whether it will stand the test of time. Ten years from now, will the family look back at these photos and say, ''wow, we had fun!'' or ''wow, what the hell were we thinking?'' Will I look back and ask myself those questions?

Closer, more immediate: Is this genuinely creative photography? Am I doing something bold and new? Am I creating art? Am I just taking some mediocre photos, slapping a filter on it in Lightroom, fixing the most obvious faults in Photoshop and uploading it to the web without another thought?

Am I short-selling my creativity in favour of kitsch?

[Karl Johnston]

Maybe your style just isnt using photoshop filters.

Generally, dont use photoshop filters..ever..

[FlyingPhotog]

Short Questionaire...

Are You Deriving Joy? YES / NO
Are You Causing Joy? YES / NO
Are You Paying Bills?* YES / NO

(*If You're Doing This Full Time)

[Fenster]

Short Questionaire...

Are You Deriving Joy? YES / NO
Are You Causing Joy? YES / NO
Are You Paying Bills?* YES / NO

(*If You're Doing This Full Time)

Those aren't my concerns. My concern is whether or not I'm churning out crap that I will hate later.

[FlyingPhotog]

Those aren't my concerns. My concern is whether or not I'm churning out crap that I will hate later.

I'm sorry but Question #1 is entirely germain to your issue...

If you aren't enjoying it, why are you doing it?

[Fenster]

I enjoy it immensely, but I just don't feel that my work is of any quality. Too many soft images and too many photos that I feel are just boring...

[FlyingPhotog]

I enjoy it immensely, but I just don't feel that my work is of any quality. Too many soft images and too many photos that I feel are just boring...

Soft due to focus or soft due to camera/subject motion? Or is it something that could be tweaked more effectively in post processing?

The boring part, well, why are they boring? What are they lacking? What would give them more zip? More/Less/Different Light? Location? Subject? Composition? Processing? Presentation?

[Fenster]

Shot in excellent light with a prime. ISO 320, f/2.8, 1/1600 shutter speed. And it is soft. It comes off like a failing on my part that I'm turning around and delivering something like this back to my client.

http://www.newworldphotos.net/files/pics/pumpkin.jpg

[Oxford_Matt]

Shot in excellent light with a prime. ISO 320, f/2.8, 1/1600 shutter speed. And it is soft. It comes off like a failing on my part that I'm turning around and delivering something like this back to my client.

http://www.newworldphotos.net/files/pics/pumpkin.jpg

I like the idea, This image shot correctly would be nice.

This image certainly is not sharp it is very soft. The lit side of the face also looks blown out (over exposed)


If you are sure the lighting was good and the shutter speed was fast enough to avoid motion blur, then I would say you have a problem with Your camera or lens?? What camera / Lens are you using?

[Oxford_Matt]

I have adjusted it very quick.

http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/382/pumpkin.jpg

[Fenster]

In this case I an EOS-30D and a EF 28mm f/2.8 prime.

[Oxford_Matt]

ok,

If you have the aperture wide open at 2.8 when locking the focus it only takes the slightest movement forward or backwards and the camera will be out of focus.

Shoot at around F8-F11, Slow the shuuter speed to compensate.

That should be fine. Let me know how you get on.

[balancingact]

i really like this picture. it is soft and inviting. also- on another note- i was JUST looking at your website an hour ago thinking that i wished i could shoot like you!

[PMCphotography]

If other people are paying you for your work, are THEY happy with the finished product?

After all, they have hired YOU, out of the hundreds of other photographers out there because there is something about your work they like.

I'm not really interested in stroking your ego or unnecessarily propping you up, but straight off, your stuff is good. It's hard to take pics of kids acting and being like themselves, and you seem to capture that well, and it really shows.



But only you can answer the questions in the third paragraph.

[TheHoff]

In this case I an EOS-30D and a EF 28mm f/2.8 prime.

It is a prime but even the highest-level primes benefit from stopping down a notch or two. If you were at f/3.5 or f/4 it would have more sharpness to start. I do feel though that it is your post processing that is stopping this shot. Do you mind posting the RAW or DNG or a 800 px wide TIFF so there is some latitude to work with and someone else can whack at processing it (for sharpness and other considerations)?

In general, stop down a notch or two... but I think you have creativity. If it is just softness annoying you with your work, that is always fixable.

[ameerat42]

I can only ask, "Why do you ask?"
But since you did, join the rest of the millions who have asked themselves that, and millions of times.
Am...

[Oxford_Matt]

I can only ask, "Why do you ask?"
But since you did, join the rest of the millions who have asked themselves that, and millions of times.
Am...

Very helpful.

[Fenster]

It is a prime but even the highest-level primes benefit from stopping down a notch or two. If you were at f/3.5 or f/4 it would have more sharpness to start. I do feel though that it is your post processing that is stopping this shot. Do you mind posting the RAW or DNG or a 800 px wide TIFF so there is some latitude to work with and someone else can whack at processing it (for sharpness and other considerations)?

In general, stop down a notch or two... but I think you have creativity. If it is just softness annoying you with your work, that is always fixable.

Sorry that it has taken me so long to respond to this post! Please find a link to the raw file below:

http://www.newworldphotos.net/files/pics/kid_sample_potn.cr2