Looking back.

On a recent thread, someone was criticizing a "competitor's" work. I'm not trying to beat up on that poster, because most of us have done it in some area of our life; but, how many on here started out as high quality photographers? I anticipate someone will suggest that they wouldn't dare charge for their work until it was at a professional level.

Looking back, if you compare your photographic work today to your first year of work that you were paid for, how does it measure up. When I look back at our first year, I'm embarrassed at images that I thought were stunning back then. We still have plenty of room for improvement, and I hope we always do. The day that we can't see room to improve our own work, is the day that our egos have overtaken reality. I hope I never reach that point.

Does anyone else feel this way?

I agree, totally agree. I think instead of criticizing our competitors work, I think we should network with them and grow off each other. I think everyone has a different perspective.

of course, my work has improved since i jumped in full-time just over 8 years ago.

then again, i had been shooting for nearly 28 years before i really started taking money for it...

and i still push myself to improve each time out.

I think of photography like golf - yes everyone is competing but 99% of the opponent is yourself. I don't think I have ever seen a golf player root against another golf player and wish them a bad game - because even if the competitor has a bad game you still have to be on your A game to even compete.

The day you don't learn something is a day you should have tried harder.

I enjoy looking at other photographers work, if it's better than mine I try to work out what they did so that I can be better. If its worse than mine then I work out what they did wrong so that I don't make the same mistake.

Life is a learning experience, it's up to you to pay attention.

BearSummer

Your only true competitor is the photographer you were yesterday. Everyone else is irrelevant. I compete with myself.

longspur wrote in post #16084010
I anticipate someone will suggest that they wouldn't dare charge for their work until it was at a professional level.

That would be me, for one. Hiring yourself out before reaching a certain level of competence is unfair to the client, the profession and yourself. I see far too many MWACs who buy their Rebel from Best Buy on Monday and are billing themselves as professional photographers by the weekend. When P mode is not enough and they fail, the client is cheated out of a record of an unrepeatable event, the client's friends hear that "the photographer" messed up which reflects on the entire profession and the promising career of the MWAC comes to an ignominious end.

I certainly do. A day does not go buy where I don't add to my skill set. I think the drive to improve is common to all good photographers, both pro and amateur.

I work at pushing myself to new pictures, keeping the repertoire fresh and trying to stretch. Thats the goal to get great work every time out. thats what separates a professional from an amateur in my mind.

I don't think I have taken an image in the last 3-4 years that made me say wow. Most are just this will have to do. Not sure if that is bad or good....

Zack Arias says it best - http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=KZYlQ4Wv8lE