Discouraged!! What to do?

I wouldn't call myself a "great photographer", I'm more of a hobbyist. It's something I enjoy doing, something I occasionally make money with, and something I have fun with. Recently, I've started feeling better about my skill, and honestly thought I was getting better at...
Then, I was browsing thru the critique section the last hour or so, and I made myself feel worse lol. Like I said, I don't think I'm great, and theres always going to be someone better, but what do you do when you start hating your photos? Has anyone else experienced this lately, and what did you do to pick yourself back up?

It's natural. I generally start to dislike my images within 24hrs of posting them online. I only print the stuff I still like a year later, which is to say, not a whole lot.

If you really want to get discouraged, spend an hour browsing 1x.com .

Scatterbrained wrote in post #16470992
It's natural. I generally start to dislike my images within 24hrs of posting them online. I only print the stuff I still like a year later, which is to say, not a whole lot.

If you really want to get discouraged, spend an hour browsing 1x.com .

Ahhh dammit. That did discourage me more. Crap! lol

Idk...I think I need to get better with lighting. I'm not getting the look I want.

Start by identifying the weaknesses you're seeing in your own photos; make a list and start working on improving those things...one at a time. When you have one nailed down, move on to the next; then star combining them til you're happier with what you're getting. Also, post your own images in the CC forums and see what feedback you get from others.

It's something that most, if not all, of us go through as we're learning. Don't let it get you too down Just get out and practice!

LOL, I think if I ever say "I'm a great photographer" then I think I'd like a ton of other photographer to kick me in the crotch and remind me that I'm not!!

We all go through the "oh my god I suck" phase. Hell I don't think I will ever get out of it or that I ever want to. It challenges me to learn, grow, and become better. I don't know how you are, I'm thinking you might be the same way, but I more critical of my own images then anyone else. People might tell me what a nice image something is, but I will look at it and see the flaws. See what l I did wrong. See what I wish I had done differently. Does that mean I do not like any of my own work? Hell no! I love some of my own images even with their flaws. But I still know what I would change in them and I use that as a tool.

When looking at other peoples work don't sit there and judge yourself against them. You are not someone else. Find inspiration in others work not stress....and if you can't, then just stop looking at other peoples work

If you think you need to get better at lighting then get some books on lighting. TRY lighting techniques. Watch some tutorials. TRY more lighting techniques. Ask questions about lighting. TRY even more lighting techniques..........Tr​y something. That didn't work? Try something else. That still didn't work? Well keep trying till you get what you're looking for. Because that moment that you get the results you've been looking for, and understand how you did it, is one of those truly uplifting moments.


P.S. Where at in Michigan are you?

I was a serious amateur photographer for over 25 years before I found a niche and went pro. Even now, I will look at another photographers (phenomenal) work and think, "Wow, my stuff sucks". I don't get discouraged by it though...I get motivated! I am at a point where I can analyze others work and see what makes it so appealing to me. I learn from them and try to incorporate the lessons into my own stuff. Photography is a journey of discovery. Enjoy it!

Bob

gremlin75 wrote in post #16471042
LOL, I think if I ever say "I'm a great photographer" then I think I'd like a ton of other photographer to kick me in the crotch and remind me that I'm not!!

We all go through the "oh my god I suck" phase. Hell I don't think I will ever get out of it or that I ever want to. It challenges me to learn, grow, and become better. I don't know how you are, I'm thinking you might be the same way, but I more critical of my own images then anyone else. People might tell me what a nice image something is, but I will look at it and see the flaws. See what l I did wrong. See what I wish I had done differently. Does that mean I do not like any of my own work? Hell no! I love some of my own images even with their flaws. But I still know what I would change in them and I use that as a tool.

When looking at other peoples work don't sit there and judge yourself against them. You are not someone else. Find inspiration in others work not stress....and if you can't, then just stop looking at other peoples work

If you think you need to get better at lighting then get some books on lighting. TRY lighting techniques. Watch some tutorials. TRY more lighting techniques. Ask questions about lighting. TRY even more lighting techniques..........Tr​y something. That didn't work? Try something else. That still didn't work? Well keep trying till you get what you're looking for. Because that moment that you get the results you've been looking for, and understand how you did it, is one of those truly uplifting moments.


P.S. Where at in Michigan are you?

Thats definitely what I have to do...try, try, try. And when I'm done trying, try some more.
"Find inspiration in others work, not stress"...I like that.

I live in Novi actually

It's a natural part of the process. Just keep plugging along! (And definitely seek out critique: it helps a lot.)

There is, by the way, a significant difference between a "hobbyist" and a working "pro", and then there is the rarified breed of those who are dedicated to and successful in "fine art" photography!

We hobbyists are often "all over the map" when it comes to what we shoot, how good we are in shooting it, and how motivated we are to shoot it!

The working pro will typically have a "specialty" (or two or whatever) and will devote the time, energy, and resources to excelling in that field (or fields). So, you may see the work of a "pro", doing say studio portraits, weddings, whatever, and you'll go "Wow!"...but that same photographer may fall flat doing, maybe landscapes, whatever...

For fine art photographers to be "successful", well, there are challenges, since "fine art" photography may be something like a "still life", or it could be a landscape, or it could fall into the realm of "street" photography, or...

There is a reason why the genre of "fine art" photography is "special", and why there are few that actually succeed in making a "career" of it.

And I think that many of us "hobbyists" lean toward "fine art" and then get discouraged when our "art" isn't so "fine"!

Scatterbrained wrote in post #16470992
It's natural. I generally start to dislike my images within 24hrs of posting them online. I only print the stuff I still like a year later, which is to say, not a whole lot.

I know, what it up with that? Although I have to say often it's not the actual photo, but the processing.

So I process, then post on Flickr, then realize the PP is crap, so spend the next 3 days reprocessing and then print 3-7 days later if I still like it.

I do still print stuff that I took over a year ago though.

tbsguy18 wrote in post #16470975
....but what do you do when you start hating your photos? Has anyone else experienced this lately, and what did you do to pick yourself back up?

Well I hate them to start with and can't even look at them. Then after a week I start to see that some are really nice and I go from there. I thought I was a bit weird but then we had a Magnum photographer come to talk at our camera club and he said the same thing. He gets depressed, cant look at them for a week and then after that starts to see the good stuff. That made me feel batter.

Phrasikleia wrote in post #16471102
It's a natural part of the process. Just keep plugging along! (And definitely seek out critique: it helps a lot.)

That chart is great!! More true than I care to admit! (but it predicts that!)

What helps me sometimes is to look "WAY" back at old photos. When I do this I can see the improvement in my pictures and I can tell my logical brain that I am getting better.

My subjective brain is another matter.

Actually, playing golf helps me with this. Part of becoming a good golfer is forgetfulness. You must forget the last shot, especially if bad, and concentrate on making the next shot. Later you can evaluate the shot and take away any lessons learned. Same with pics. "Forget" them, leave them alone for a while, then go back and learn from them.

Or, get frustrated and sell all your gear here for ridiculously low prices.

Phrasikleia wrote in post #16471102
It's a natural part of the process. Just keep plugging along! (And definitely seek out critique: it helps a lot.

@ Phrasikleia, I love that graph. Luckily, I never fell into the HDR pit.

Love the "HDR hole" in that chart