POST YOUR BEST B&W SHOTS!

garryknight wrote in post #19012228

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2iv6​MMK
Hot Food in Chinatown by Garry Knight, on Flickr

Beam me up Scotty!

sapearl wrote in post #19012293
Beam me up Scotty!

Steam me up, Scotty! ߘ

garryknight wrote in post #19012228

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2iv6​MMK
Hot Food in Chinatown by Garry Knight, on Flickr

You can smell the street with this shot. Garry you need to put together a body of work. Seriously.

Landing on ice and goose poop

Perspectives

airfrogusmc wrote in post #19012479
You can smell the street with this shot. Garry you need to put together a body of work. Seriously.

Thanks. I’m working on it, though I have difficulty knowing what people like and don’t like. For example, a photo I nearly deleted recently hit Flickr Explore, got nearly 50,000 views overnight, and is now my second most viewed photo on Flickr. And I think the photo is just OK. I’ll get there, eventually.

garryknight wrote in post #19012889
Thanks. I’m working on it, though I have difficulty knowing what people like and don’t like. For example, a photo I nearly deleted recently hit Flickr Explore, got nearly 50,000 views overnight, and is now my second most viewed photo on Flickr. And I think the photo is just OK. I’ll get there, eventually.

I have noticed that phenomena in the past, so sort of trained myself when I was working I took shots I knew the boss would like, and they sold. What I liked sort of didn't sell, but nowadays, with internet you never know what is going to happen to your artistry. However nowadays you can pretty much quarantee, there is always someone who is going to like your photo, maybe eventually but there is always someone who will like it.

Tastes differ.

kiwichris wrote in post #19012890
nowadays you can pretty much quarantee, there is always someone who is going to like your photo

Yes, I've noticed this, too. But still, putting together a collection that includes photos that a lot of people are going to like is a really difficult job for me. It probably doesn't help that I'm not motivated by money.

garryknight wrote in post #19012929
Yes, I've noticed this, too. But still, putting together a collection that includes photos that a lot of people are going to like is a really difficult job for me. It probably doesn't help that I'm not motivated by money.

Ultimately you are the artist, you put out what you are happy with. It is a collection of your photos collected by you, not a collection of photos you think might sell, or be liked. You put your work out that satisfies you, someone will like it.

I can't help you with your money motivation either, I wasnt motivated by money or status. I'm 71 and broke. Elton John is the same age, he put his artistry out there and is worth in the region of 350 millon pounds.

My advice? Start loving your bank account and watch it grow. I do now but of course it is much too late for me.

garryknight wrote in post #19012889
Thanks. I’m working on it, though I have difficulty knowing what people like and don’t like. For example, a photo I nearly deleted recently hit Flickr Explore, got nearly 50,000 views overnight, and is now my second most viewed photo on Flickr. And I think the photo is just OK. I’ll get there, eventually.

Garry the key is not putting together images that people like but the ones that you see a theme or some kind of visual thread with and that you like or feel the connection to. Ones that say what you are trying to say visually with.

Heres some words about one of the truly great bodies of work.
https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=mHtRZBDOgag

I think likes on flicker are not a good way to judge anything. I have a friend that used to say if to many people liked her work she was doing something wrong. Remember Threes Company was once the most popular show here in the US and Van Gogh didn't sell a painting in his lifetime. You have to be true to yourself first.

garryknight wrote in post #19012929
Yes, I've noticed this, too. But still, putting together a collection that includes photos that a lot of people are going to like is a really difficult job for me. It probably doesn't help that I'm not motivated by money.

it helps that you are not motivated by money with your personal work. That way money isn't driving your vision. Many of the greats took on commercial work so money wouldn't influence their personal photography and they could still pay their bills.
Heres a great quote from Edward Weston:
"When money enters in, - then, for a price, I become a liar, - and a good one I can be whether with pencil or subtle lighting or viewpoint. I hate it all, but so do I support not only my family, but my own work."- Edward Weston

I am a professional photographer but I work to pay the bills. That feeds the family and pays for everything and gives me a base so I can do my personal work. The work I do professionally is ultimately someone else's. I work with other visual professionals so the work is a lot of times a collaboration and ultimately it is the clients and if I don't consistently exceed my clients expectations then I don't stay in business. But my personal work is created by me and for me. If others like it thats ok. If not that's ok to.

When it comes to your personal work I say do it for you and what stirs you to make the photograph. Nothing else. Be honest with yourself and your work.

Thats my 2 cents. Take it for what it is worth.
Allen

garryknight wrote in post #19012929
Yes, I've noticed this, too. But still, putting together a collection that includes photos that a lot of people are going to like is a really difficult job for me.

"A lot of people" will like photos of cute kittens, but what would that do for you? Those people aren't your audience.

kiwichris wrote in post #19012934
Ultimately you are the artist, you put out what you are happy with.

airfrogusmc wrote in post #19012975
Garry the key is not putting together images that people like but the ones that you see a theme or some kind of visual thread with and that you like or feel the connection to.

airfrogusmc wrote in post #19012984
When it comes to your personal work I say do it for you and what stirs you to make the photograph. Nothing else. Be honest with yourself and your work.

OhLook wrote in post #19013077
"A lot of people" will like photos of cute kittens, but what would that do for you? Those people aren't your audience.

Thanks for your thoughts, Chris, Allen, and OhLook. I've had problems with mono photography for years, only starting out in March 2018 after 10 years of shooting colour. At first, I found it hard to really 'see' them the way I can with colour photos. I'll get to where I want to be eventually, and I really appreciate your feedback, so thanks again.