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 11/06/2007 09:06:30 AM · #1
How many good shots do you get a year?

At a few of the gtgs and meetings with other photogs this question came up a number of times and I figured that I'm doing ok if I get 3-4 good shots a year. By good shots, I mean special, once in a lifetime occurrences. The shot could be commercial but mostly nothing you could really set up. A special grab. If you look at portfolios of Kertsz, Brassai, HCB, Friedlander, Winogrand etc. keeping in mind you're viewing an entire lifetime of their work....how many great shots did they actually get per year?



I may have one or two more decent shots taken in 2007 but those from my port are what caught my eye.

Post what you think and what your best/sinificant/relevant shots might be...

Message edited by author 2007-11-06 17:51:35.
 11/06/2007 09:26:47 AM · #2

I am not sure if any of these would really be considered great, but they are three images in my portfolio that are not set up that I so love looking at. The fact that they are all of my daughter might make me a bit more biased, but none of them are necessarily a gratuitous kid shot. All just lucky captures.
 11/06/2007 09:28:18 AM · #3
Originally posted by pawdrix:
...I figured that I'm doing ok if I get 3-4 good shots a year. By good shots, I mean special, once in a lifetime occurrences.


Wow, you get 3-4 once in a lifetime shots every year? :-)

Seriously, I strive to get 1 good shot from each special photographic outing I take. I'm happy to get a handful (3-5) of what I consider excellent shots per year.
 11/06/2007 09:43:22 AM · #4
I mean special moments that can't be captured again and of course, a moment that viewers connect with. You can get many good shots in a day but I mean extraordinary. If someone posted your Top 20, which would seriously make that cut?

This Masters site made me think of this topic. Again, bearing in mind these are what someone else chose to post as each photographers top 5-10, some are extraordinary (unbelievably great)and some IMHO are ordinary. I assume those are more or less their best. I keep thinking over the course of their or my lifetime what's a respectable yield???

I only have 3-5 good shots in total for ALL my days of shooting and a few others that rank well.

Message edited by author 2007-11-06 09:48:01.
 11/06/2007 09:44:04 AM · #5
I have been going a little over a year now and I am still striving to get one that I can truly say I like everything about it, I have a couple of shots I like but not that one killer shot yet and I strive yet because I will continue to try!
 11/06/2007 09:47:45 AM · #6
Man the year is almost over and I dont think I have recorded one good shot this year. Man I must really suck, anyone want some equipment? I dont seem to be doing any good with it!

MattO
 11/06/2007 09:50:11 AM · #7
One...uhhh...well maybe none...
 11/06/2007 09:52:19 AM · #8
Well, there are a few shots i'm proud of this year. They won't win any prizes but to me they represent an evolution in my style/ability, or failing that, the pic that broke certain doors and walls for me in certain circles. Like this one:

[thumb]594350[/thumb]

I was appointed photographer for a pro wrestling organisation and they wanted to see what I could do compared to the other guy since they had heard about me and my stuff. I did this and some regular in-ring shots for elbowdrops and all that kind of stuff, and now i'm the sole photographer. So this shot has a special place in my portfolio and although it isn't the 'nicest' of shots, it's exactly what i intended, which is very gratifying.
 11/06/2007 09:52:44 AM · #9
Originally posted by MattO:
Man the year is almost over and I dont think I have recorded one good shot this year. Man I must really suck, anyone want some equipment? I dont seem to be doing any good with it!

MattO

If I may point out one of your great shots. Not once in a lifetime but very memorable. I still remember his expression in my mind:

[thumb]605750[/thumb]

Message edited by author 2007-11-06 09:53:15.
 11/06/2007 09:53:01 AM · #10
0
 11/06/2007 09:59:07 AM · #11
Originally posted by NstiG8tr:
0


!
 11/06/2007 10:05:57 AM · #12
All of them, ;D
 11/06/2007 10:10:59 AM · #13
I'm just about to get started I guess.

I have a couple of okay shots this year, but my expectations are typically running ahead of my actual talent.
 11/06/2007 10:53:53 AM · #14
Really hard for me to answer this question, but I think it's a good question. I've taken some shots that I really liked at the time, but am unconfortable saying it's "one of my best of the year". For example, I really like this one:

//www.shutupmilo.com/blog/index.php?showimage=229

... but best of the year? no

It's always a goal of mine to get out and take some shots of people being people, so those shots give me a sense of accomplishment, but aren't my best stuff. Example:

//www.shutupmilo.com/blog/index.php?showimage=181

Lastly, I set out to photograph the endangered Karner Blue Butterfly, which I did, so I feel good about that, but the photo itself is certainly not my best of the year ... but it's one that I remember this year:



To answer the question - I probably take 10ish shots a year that really make me happy ... for one reason or another.

Message edited by author 2007-11-06 10:54:45.
 11/06/2007 10:54:52 AM · #15
Originally posted by pawdrix:
If you look at portfolios of Kertsz, Brassai, HCB, Friedlander, Winogrand etc. keeping in mind you're viewing an entire lifetime of their work....how many great shots did they actually get per year?


Ansel Adams said if he got 12 memorable images, it was an exceptional year for him.

R.
 11/06/2007 10:55:54 AM · #16
You beat me to the quote Bear :P
 11/06/2007 11:01:20 AM · #17
I'd also like to add that very few of us probably bring an image to completion ... which is to say a large print, properly framed, hanging on a well lit wall for all to enjoy.

My hat's off to those who put forth the effort to get a canvas print (refering to that other thread that keeps popping up). That's where you can look at what you've created and say, "well done - it looks great!"

I need to do more of this
 11/06/2007 11:08:17 AM · #18
Originally posted by hopper:
I'd also like to add that very few of us probably bring an image to completion ... which is to say a large print, properly framed, hanging on a well lit wall for all to enjoy.

My hat's off to those who put forth the effort to get a canvas print (refering to that other thread that keeps popping up). That's where you can look at what you've created and say, "well done - it looks great!"

I need to do more of this


I just recieved my matted and framed pano that measures 12X60 I'll take a photo of it sometime, its hanging on my wall, and everytime I see it I wonder how in the world I accomplished that.

MattO
 11/06/2007 11:14:04 AM · #19
Originally posted by Gordon:
... my expectations are typically running ahead of my actual talent.

That's probably an "ok" thing from a motivational standpoint. BTW - I love that line. Can I quote it sometime? :-)
 11/06/2007 11:14:35 AM · #20
here are a few i consider the best non-setup shots of this year:



and my personal #1:


great shots btw, steve, yours are truly once-in-a-lifetime moments...
 11/06/2007 11:15:26 AM · #21
Originally posted by MattO:
I just recieved my matted and framed pano that measures 12X60 I'll take a photo of it sometime, its hanging on my wall, and everytime I see it I wonder how in the world I accomplished that.

MattO

Do you have a link to it anywhere (portfolio maybe)? Sounds like a really cool thing to have done - expensive I imagine.
 11/06/2007 11:19:25 AM · #22
Originally posted by glad2badad:
Originally posted by MattO:
I just recieved my matted and framed pano that measures 12X60 I'll take a photo of it sometime, its hanging on my wall, and everytime I see it I wonder how in the world I accomplished that.

MattO

Do you have a link to it anywhere (portfolio maybe)? Sounds like a really cool thing to have done - expensive I imagine.


I made a low res copy and uploaded it to my portfolio.

[thumb]609632[/thumb]

And no it wasnt cheap, the size of it breaks just about every rule for matting and framing. Even at half off it was almost $500 for the custom frame and matte

MattO

Edit to add a link to my port.

Message edited by author 2007-11-06 11:25:46.
 11/06/2007 11:46:29 AM · #23
Originally posted by glad2badad:
Originally posted by Gordon:
... my expectations are typically running ahead of my actual talent.

That's probably an "ok" thing from a motivational standpoint. BTW - I love that line. Can I quote it sometime? :-)


I think it is okay from a motivational standpoint in some ways. But it means I have very little framed on my wall, because its always somewhat lacking. In fact, most of the stuff I have framed is from several years ago, before I knew any better :)

The other problem I have with claiming 'best of the year' for any shot is that I lack perspective. I'm tempted to say a couple of shots I took last month are my best of the year - but I don't have the distance to be able to see them objectively. Maybe I can decide that next year ?

I do plan on going through and picking my favourite dozen or so and making up some calendars. That's a good way to round out a year with a retrospective. That and then stick the better ones into a portfolio from there.
 11/06/2007 11:58:19 AM · #24
I've just finished 4 pano frames/mats/UVglass / running ~40$ in materials each (and about 4-6 hours of time ..
these are 2 x ~20"x54", 1 of ~20"x46"& 1 was 13"x 54" among them:
Delta Beach
Nyland
Charleston Lakes

i havea canvas 24x60 thats ready to go .. just time ...
for the OP
.. every year the # goes up but i'm in the average of 20-40 sale'able images a year ..

Originally posted by MattO:
Originally posted by glad2badad:
Originally posted by MattO:
I just recieved my matted and framed pano that measures 12X60 I'll take a photo of it sometime, its hanging on my wall, and everytime I see it I wonder how in the world I accomplished that.

MattO

Do you have a link to it anywhere (portfolio maybe)? Sounds like a really cool thing to have done - expensive I imagine.


I made a low res copy and uploaded it to my portfolio.

[thumb]609632[/thumb]

And no it wasnt cheap, the size of it breaks just about every rule for matting and framing. Even at half off it was almost $500 for the custom frame and matte

MattO

Edit to add a link to my port.
11/06/2007 12:49:57 PM · #25
Originally posted by Gordon:
The other problem I have with claiming 'best of the year' for any shot is that I lack perspective.


I agree, getting perspective or proper distance from ones own shooting isn't always easy.

Sometimes getting comments or reactions from certain people gave me better insight to what I had done. e301, Ubique, posthumous, to name a few were commentors that I recall, making a difference in what I shot and helped me stick to my themes....or keep with my instincts.

Having said that, I wasn't really looking for a "Best Of" response because we all have a "Best Of" in our years folder. Not always easy to indentify but they're there.

Sometimes you can get No good shots in a year depending on what you consider good. I suppose this is about our indiviual standards, relative to the topic we choose to shoot.

The first shot I posted of the little girl running is probably my ONLY good shot of the year though I may have one or two more. The other two I posted are ok.

Message edited by author 2007-11-06 13:01:36.
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