You want to make money at photography? read this!

HA! Good post. That reminds me of all the images I see where people are whining that it's not "sharp enough" even though you can see the individual pores in the skin or the small "fuzz" hairs. They they post up their own image and there is so much PP work that everything looks like plastic. That's why I haven't posted up any of my images; I shoot for myself, so if it's "sharp enough" for me and looks good then I'm ok with that.

Denny G wrote in post #10005872
There are a lot of Parrots on this and other forums who simply repeat what they read on other threads. They know little or nothing about photography but can repeat what others have said about another photo.

They have never owned, rented or used a particular camera or lens but can tell you all about it. They are Parrots.

There are also "Photographers" on these forums and they give some very
good information. You just learn after a while who is and who isn't.

That could take a while on here, what with the 2k people that are always online and such

Mike-DT6 wrote in post #10005612
Found it!

http://theonlinephotog​rapher.blogspot.com …graphers-on-internet.html

Bwwhahaha .. freakin halarious!!!!!!!!
Thanks for that man .. OMG, I'm still laffing my ass off ..

Where are these award winning photos you posted? I looked through your previous posts and I didnt see them. I understand the point of your post/rant, but I wanted to see for myself if you were treated unfairly.

I'm glad to see that this post was taken how it was intended.
I created this post on my wifes account for the main reason I wanted to be anonymous. I wanted the focus to on the inspirational part of my message and not the messenger. However, I will post a photo that has won two awards and got picked to death on this forum a while back.

Please keep in mind that I didn't post this for critique but only as reference. (This is not a photoshoped print ready version)

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

Its a nice shot. You should be proud of it. But I take issue with your desire for anonymity. In your post you take some broad shots at the community here, and if you are going to do that, you ought to do it in your own name and with your own history so that it can be judged in its full context, not while using an account with 8 posts. In this case, the message and the messenger are entwined, and should be.

gonzogolf wrote in post #10006441
Its a nice shot. You should be proud of it. But I take issue with your desire for anonymity. In your post you take some broad shots at the community here, and if you are going to do that, you ought to do it in your own name and with your own history so that it can be judged in its full context, not while using an account with 8 posts. In this case, the message and the messenger are entwined, and should be.

You have every right to your opinion Gonsozgolf. My intention with my post was bring attention to something that I think will help other people and not myself. I used myself and my experiences as a form of motivation for other people whom might benefit from it. At the end of the day it really shouldn't matter who I am or my previous post.

By starting this thread I was envisioning possibly helping a photog or two get over the hump- If this does happen then it was all worth it.
Regardless of who I am or my studio address the message remains the same and has potential for helping individuals in more ways than one.

If you are one of the photogs out there like Gonsozogolf that takes exception to be stating my mind without unveiling my identity then obviously this post was not meant for you.

I have already had private messages from guys that have said "Thanks"
That alone lets me know I did the right thing.

Did that Edward Steichen photo attain the value of 2 million pounds because it was a compelling image or because it was a Steichen? If I took a shot like that and presented it in a gallery, shortly after the closing it would be on my living room wall (as many in fact are).

To give all those super-critical devils their due, myself included, I must say that I would have a comment or two to make about many of the shots in the world-famous photograph link. Not the canoe one, though. That one rocks.

We've all had somebody come down hard on images that we thought were good. Sometimes you see the point. Other times you ask yourself, "What was in his coffee this morning?" Or you realize that he's a poser. I find that I often run right into the critique part without first stating the good about an image. And sometimes I'm a little tired and lazy. So I probably come across as more negative than I would like to be perceived. Just because I can make a Monday-morning quarterback statement, does not mean that I do not respect the image or the photographer's integrity in creating it.

By the way, I didn't see the OP's original shot that he said received a lot of criticism. For the record, I think it's a nice shot, although I do harbor a grudge against the entire idea of trashing the dress. There you go, I had to say something negative.

I agree with the OP for the most part. I've felt for a long time that quite often photographers are "too close" to the subject, and thus are not always the best people to ask about photography.... and strange as that may seem.

Wow, I think I just got turned into being a poster child for bad guys. I like to think that I'm a pretty helpful member. I try not to take shots, help when its asked for, and when I critique I try to offer suggestions for improvement. I understand that critique can be hard, and even harder if some mean spirited member takes cheap shots, or is unhelpful. I try never to be that guy. But on the other side there are members who take any criticism or comment that is less than 100% positive as cheap shots by haters. Perhaps you have a point, if you only want inspirational commentary, this might not be the right place.

gonzogolf wrote in post #10006953
Wow, I think I just got turned into being a poster child for bad guys. I like to think that I'm a pretty helpful member. I try not to take shots, help when its asked for, and when I critique I try to offer suggestions for improvement. I understand that critique can be hard, and even harder if some mean spirited member takes cheap shots, or is unhelpful. I try never to be that guy. But on the other side there are members who take any criticism or comment that is less than 100% positive as cheap shots by haters. Perhaps you have a point, if you only want inspirational commentary, this might not be the right place.

I don't think you come off as a bad guy, I think you come off as pretty realistic. I certainly don't sugarcoat everything, and will sometimes give what could be construed by others as negative criticism.

I don't believe "negative" comments are necessarily out-of-line, I just take the OP's point as being that sometimes it becomes an obsession to other photographers where it doesn't really matter in the real world.

POTN is any other place you ask for advice - you have weigh it's validity through the prism of your own experience and what has worked for clients in the past.

The flip side is that I see photographs in the photosharing section that are just snapshots, with glaring problems that get a lot of positive feedback. Maybe it's me, but I've failed if the client could have easily taken the photograph themselves.

This forum is a great place to learn how to improve your skills and what equipment to buy, provided that you don't take every comment literally. Anyone can sign up but that doesn't make them an instant expert.

i understand what you are saying 'globalbrook's husband', but i'm not sure i agree with all of it. but i do have a quick related life story? lol

while a teenager at a basketball camp, i was told by my 'camp coach' that I should just quit and take up golf. i sucked that bad at hoops and had no potential in the sport. i didn't stomp off the court, or tell him off. i took it, for the entire week.

just a couple short years later, i came up against this same coaches team on the road, and personally scored over 40 points against his guys. his team was well ranked and we just humiliated them.

i still don't golf.

Globalbooks - A very well said statement. I agree with a lot of what you say.

All the best.

[QUOTE=Frugal;10007202​]Maybe it's me, but I've failed if the client could have easily taken the photograph themselves.

BINGO...folks we have a winner here ,
I shoot (and sell) landscapes right now (crowded field), and that pretty sums up the why and how of people purchasing my images. If they think they can take the shot and have it look like mine, then what is the incentive to buy mine..

Are they all technically perfect, heck no, faithfull reproductions of what I saw..(see above). I shoot when I see the shot, when it feels right, and when I see the finished image in my head
Am I better now then when I started, I think so, with some help from both here and other forums..and actually critiquing others photos because I then see in others what I may have missed in my own being a bit biased and all to my own work