Good photographs are a dime a dozen...

This thread kinda reminds me of one of my favorite quotes:

A "critic" is a man who creates nothing and thereby feels qualified to judge the work of creative men. There is logic in this; he is unbiased---he hates all creative people equally... Lazarus Long

I enjoy photography because I enjoy photography, simple as that! It takes me somewhere else in my mind, it takes my mind off everything else, it relaxes me and I have a reason to go off and do what I enjoy doing.

If I shoot a photo and it makes me think I've done good, most of the time, others will see it. If I think it stinks, it does. I don't really care what others think and no, I am not a snob. If someone goes gah gah over a photo of mine, it's no different than if they said "not bad". I respect everyones opinion but we all have different opinions. I'll usually have a reason, personal or whatever, why I like it.

I've posted photos (here and other places) and gotten some great advice, advice that I will take with me next time I take a similar shot. Also have gotten advice and wondered what is wrong with that person? And I do have thick skin.

I'm also a poor critic of anyone else. To me, it's a thumbs up or a thumb down, no in between. If there is a photo I like, I don't think of what should be done to it but how can I do that, what can I learn from a photo like that.

Now I just have to take my photography more serious. Problem is, everytime I say that, it costs me lots of money ... 1st it was my 10D, then the 17-40 L, then the 100-400 L IS. Before I knew it I had two 10D's and dreaming of then buying a 5D with a 24-70 L ... where will this madness end?!?! ... Boy, that 39mp Hassleblad sure looks nice

I almost laugh every time this photo sells. It is one of my top sellers.

Great Photographers on the Internet

Yes! Yes! Yes!

And it can drive me crazy if I let it. I have maybe a dozen photos simply framed and hanging on the wall of my office. Folks will come in; look at the photos; and tell me I really need to take my photography more seriously. I need to sell my photos. They would like to buy my photos.

But a couple of things enter into the picture. First, I don't think for a minute that my images are good enough. I am my own worse critic. And second, I'll come back here to POTN, post a new image or series and get ripped for something or other which only serves to bring me crashing back to Earth. And I am left with the haunting question - Is my work good or just mediocre. If you tell me mediocre, I will believe you and at the same time feel "crushed", so to speak. If you say good, I won't believe you and I will feel doubt.

What I have learned here is that I sometimes get carried away and post images that, in retrospect, I really shouldn't have. Not every shot is a winner. And some days you just crap out and none of the images are worthwhile, so don't post anything. It's taken me a while to learn this lesson.

The more difficult time is when I feel I have captured something special and post an image that I really like - an image that really speaks to me. Because I was there. I saw. The camera and lens captured. And I see the beauty in the image. I proudly post and what happens? Others don't see what I see. The image doesn't move them. They shoot down the image. But as much as that can hurt, the biggest hurt is saved for when those images are posted, many look and no one even bothers to respond. Zip. Zilch. Nada. I find being ignored is far worse than being criticized.

What separates a good image from a mediocre one? A great image from a good one? I think it depends on what you set out to accomplish with the image and who your target audience is. As an amateur, I feel great image is one that captures what I hoped for when I shot it out in the field and more. Where the mood is just right. One where the composition is right. Then I may look for validation by posting here on POTN. Do I ever receive that validation. I really don't know. Sometimes I get a string of "nice image" comments but I'm not certain that is the validation I seek. I keep looking for some sign, something that says yeah or nay! I've got it or I don't.

In the final analysis, I guess I just suffer from basic artist insecurity!

Don't know if this answers the question but it was cathartic to write it.

PhotosGuy wrote in post #4524502
Great Photographers on the Internet

Love it! I had to bookmark this one!

Wow. Interesting thread. I'm not happy with most of my images. I don't have to be as I don't get paid for them, but it really bugs me. I can't even bring myself to print them out let alone hang them on the wall. I took this one of my boys and their friend on the front porch of his house eating popsicles and decided to do the selective coloring thing. Used the 18-55. Only lens I had at the time. I do like the image, but think it was somewhat successful only in that it conjured up feelings of summertime during childhood. Does that make it a good image? Funny thing, it was not done with much thought. I took a million shots that day and the expressions seemed most pleasing in that one. There definitely is the element of learning to see creatively (as in the book by Peterson). But, at least in my experience, you don't always actually see something until after the picture has been taken.

Lord_Malone wrote in post #4522944
Ever have anyone who's not into photography look at your stuff and go "WOW! Those are some amazing photographs! You should be a professional! (has an instant orgasm from seeing one of your duck shots)" or something along those lines? Then you say to yourself "Gee wiz. I think I'll post this shot on my favorite photography forum!" Only here your photo gets ripped apart on a technical level by your peers (or worse, no comment at all) and you're reduced to a quivering simpleton and crawl off to a corner to pray to the gods of digital imaging to have mercy on your soul as you drown in your own sorrow. Is our subjective critical eye suffering from sensory overload from viewing thousands of published and web based images? What separates the mediocre from the good? The good from the great? The great from the masterpieces? Let's hear your story.

Disclaimer: This is not intended to start a heated debate or flame war, but if one ensues then I'll have the popcorn ready.

nope, i dont react that way. I just drink.

PhotoJourno wrote in post #4523941
Lord M., great thread Starter.

I Personally like to apply a common saying, transformed into photgraphs.

"For every photograph you take, there are three. The photo image that others see, the photo that you see, and what the photo image really is".

I have asked myself the same question over and over during Photo Contests, peer pressure gives into me submitting a photo, and what other photogs think is great, gets turned down on the first round. I did once submit the same turned down photo to another Contest, and it got a Second Place, and it was purchased later by the owner of the Hosting Organization. So somehow it seems to be in the eye of the beholder. Perhaps different people have different tastes, different perceptions.

Can we define whether Spaguetti or Linguini is a better pasta? What about Gnocci? Depending on who you bring to the table, you will get different results. However, anyone of the three would agree that no pasta should be cooked in Bleach. Or using Sawdust instead of Parmegian cheese.

I guess my view is that different people like different styles, and that is ok. But we ought to be careful as to not say "sorry, your linguini is nothing like spaguetti, which is the best food in the world". (Apply that to photos, or artists, or styles).

We can however, do two things:

1- Express our Opinions: "Though I am a spaguetti man myself, I did (or did not) enjoy those gnoccies, however I can tell you did more than macrowave these. That is commendable".

2- Edify the Author: Do say ONLY IF we are sure we can help the Author make a better assessment of the situation "Yes, your cooking efforts are to be valued, however Bleach might not be the best agent to cook the pasta in. I would try some water, and once it boils, I would throw the pasta in. Then add any extra advice "If you put the water and the pasta at the same time, the end result will be soggy". As you can see, these are hardly matter of opinion. They are specific criticisms that can help without sink the hard working author.

And to finish, not every person posting here is an experienced photographer. We have lots of teenagers with cameras, and instead of helping foster a love for this art of photography, we seem to have fun and delight on ripping those photos appart. Sorry, 12tokid, your photo of Yosemite looks nothing like A.Adams version from 1967.

Nuff said. That's my two cents.

Mario, I miss your posts around here. Where have you been?


Grrrreat link Frank. I think im gonna have to bookmark it as well.

At a recent photoclub review of varous images we all got a laugh as one anonymous judge stated "Great composition, I like how you centered the image in the frame, contrary to the rules" whereas another anomynous judge said, "Good image but don't center everything in the middle of the frame."

Point is: Once person's perception may be quite different from another and does not mean either are correct. Don't take it to heart, but do keep an open mind and consider what is being said.

Many times I see images and people say, "Nice but you clipped the wing" or something to that effect.

My thinking is, "Yeah, so what's your point?" I look through the occasional natural history magazines and see a few images that are not "perfect". So what? They made the sale and were published and that is what matters most for many people.

this is why when i comment on a photo on this site or any other, i simply just give my opinion of if i like it or not. if i dont like it i state why (never technical aspecs) and even if i do like it i sometimes comment on something else id like to see added/removed to enjoy the picture more.

I missed you too, Incubus. I have walked ten million miles it seems, but I am always reading POTN. Sometimes I have not felt worthy of posting a comment, but trust me friend, I have been reading, and photographing. Seeyou around, friends...

Lord_Malone wrote in post #4522944
Ever have anyone who's not into photography look at your stuff and go "WOW! Those are some amazing photographs! You should be a professional! (has an instant orgasm from seeing one of your duck shots)" or something along those lines? Then you say to yourself "Gee wiz. I think I'll post this shot on my favorite photography forum!" Only here your photo gets ripped apart on a technical level by your peers (or worse, no comment at all) and you're reduced to a quivering simpleton and crawl off to a corner to pray to the gods of digital imaging to have mercy on your soul as you drown in your own sorrow. Is our subjective critical eye suffering from sensory overload from viewing thousands of published and web based images? What separates the mediocre from the good? The good from the great? The great from the masterpieces? Let's hear your story.

Disclaimer: This is not intended to start a heated debate or flame war, but if one ensues then I'll have the popcorn ready.

LM Heart and soul is what separates them. Seeing a photograph like only that photographer can make it special. I've seen some of that in your work and few others that post here. KEEP SHOOTING. I usually comment on things that I like. Remember theres only one person that can see the way that you do. Sometimes that vision comes at a cost of praise because sometimes really good images are not the one that you get the immediate gratification from. You're WELL on your way to find your on vision. Miles Davis was asked if he ever wanted to play pretty ballads and he said of course but if I did I wouldn't be true to my voice. That takes courage. Its easy to be like the masses its hard to be you...

Yep, been there. Still happens all the time. Nearly 30 years of shooting and I'm still learning that what I see as a good photo doesn't appeal to everyone. That's fine. It's not really a popularity contest is it?

Mark_Cohran wrote in post #4525567
Yep, been there. Still happens all the time. Nearly 30 years of shooting and I'm still learning that what I see as a good photo doesn't appeal to everyone. That's fine. It's not really a popularity contest is it?

Mark's comments remind me of a story I heard about Huey Lewis. When he got one of his songs to the Top of the US Charts back in the 80s, he was swollen with pride, and immediately called his father, to let him know that his song was finally The Number One in the entire list. His father answered the phone, and listened very calmly. When Huey saw that he could get no special reaction from his dad upon such great news, he wondered why that was. "Just because a song makes it to Number One, does not mean that it is the Best one out there". This was Huey's first lesson on keeping his feet on the ground.

Personally, I like this story a lot. If likened to photos, it also tells us something about it.

Cheers,

Lord_Malone wrote in post #4522944
Is our subjective critical eye suffering from sensory overload from viewing thousands of published and web based images?

Yes. "The power of the supermodel is that it makes the viewer pause for exactly 0.6 seconds to be able to read the brand name."

If you're doing excellent photography by the standards of 10 years ago, you're mediocre. If your work is better than what the working pros are producing currently, you're good.

Let's equate masterpieces and great.

I think if it stands the test of time, then it's a masterpiece. When a greek statue, created 2000 years ago hasn't lost its artistic merit and is being studied and taught still... then it's a masterpiece.

I say lets discuss this: "D3 is the only camera with which a masterpiece can be created"