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03/30/2011 05:09:00 PM · #26 |
Originally posted by ambaker:
The powers behind 1x have a "vision". As long as it is the same as your vision, that's fine. Their vision is no better than any other vision, it is just theirs. They sell the site based on a "higher standard". If only the top 10 images each challenge were shown, the same or perhaps higher "standard", would be said to be here. |
I am actually interested if that holds true.
How many of images that scored below DPC Top 10 here were accepted by 1x?
How many of DPC Top 10 images where rejected by 1x?
Has anyone got answers to that? |
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03/30/2011 06:32:17 PM · #27 |
Originally posted by sjhuls:
Why can I not take pride in the success of my work if I get a few helpful pointers from others? |
If you sing songs other people write do you still take pride in being a singer/song writer or just a singer? Same thing applies in photography. If all you do is take instructions others provide to shape your image (ex. telling you what to shoot, how to light it, how to process it, etc) then it's no longer your work. Mind you, I'm not talking about general advice you request like how do I achieve motion blur behind my subject and someone tells you to set your flash to rear curtain and drag the shutter. That's not affecting your vision. It's helping you achieve it. Big difference.
Originally posted by sjhuls:
Why can I not take photos in many different styles and subjects? How am I to learn what I like best if I don't try all different mediums? Just because I am not a good nature photographer doesn't mean I am not curious about how to take a good photo of a bird, and once I try maybe taking pictures of birds doesn't turn out to be my thing, I can still apply that knowledge to other areas of my photography. I don't necessarily love taking photos of still life, but when a challenge comes up and it is required, I give it a try and end up learning so much in the process. I then use what I have learned and apply it to my portrait work (something that I love).
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Was this directed at me? I never said you shouldn't try out other styles and subjects. |
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03/30/2011 06:36:18 PM · #28 |
Originally posted by hihosilver:
Withdraw this post...sorry! |
I tried to view this page in Google's cache but unfortunately it only has the posts prior to yours. That being the case I must assume it was a profanity laced post directed at the OP. Shame on you Mae! |
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03/30/2011 06:49:49 PM · #29 |
Originally posted by yanko:
Originally posted by hihosilver:
Withdraw this post...sorry! |
I tried to view this page in Google's cache but unfortunately it only has the posts prior to yours. That being the case I must assume it was a profanity laced post directed at the OP. Shame on you Mae! |
@Richard...LOL...I'm feeling shy today...shamelessly so...;-P
@All...as an amateur, I LOVE to pester the professionals. And, I am a GOOD pest!
Here are my tips:
1. Ask others for advice (even Mr. Setzler!)...don't be shy!
2. Always have the last word on your own work no matter who the advice comes from (unless you ask  Yanko...you must always follow HIS advice otherwise he will send the alien horde after you!)
3. Forget all the advice...and take the time to look...look...look at as many images as you can! (I got that advice from  Ursula...and she always knows best!)
Being a part of the community...DPC...1X...brings joy to what would otherwise be an isolating experience.
So, enjoy the process.
Well, Richard...that's my two cents...;-P
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03/30/2011 07:03:55 PM · #30 |
Originally posted by yanko:
Originally posted by sjhuls:
Why can I not take pride in the success of my work if I get a few helpful pointers from others? |
If you sing songs other people write do you still take pride in being a singer/song writer or just a singer? Same thing applies in photography. If all you do is take instructions others provide to shape your image (ex. telling you what to shoot, how to light it, how to process it, etc) then it's no longer your work. Mind you, I'm not talking about general advice you request like how do I achieve motion blur behind my subject and someone tells you to set your flash to rear curtain and drag the shutter. That's not affecting your vision. It's helping you achieve it. Big difference.
Originally posted by sjhuls:
Why can I not take photos in many different styles and subjects? How am I to learn what I like best if I don't try all different mediums? Just because I am not a good nature photographer doesn't mean I am not curious about how to take a good photo of a bird, and once I try maybe taking pictures of birds doesn't turn out to be my thing, I can still apply that knowledge to other areas of my photography. I don't necessarily love taking photos of still life, but when a challenge comes up and it is required, I give it a try and end up learning so much in the process. I then use what I have learned and apply it to my portrait work (something that I love).
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Was this directed at me? I never said you shouldn't try out other styles and subjects. |
Sorry that last bit wasn't aimed at you just people in this thread in general.
I am trying very hard not to read too much into this, but I can't help feel that you are accusing me of something. I am hoping all this is, is a misunderstanding on my part, and you are just making generalities that could apply to anyone. But if you are, I feel I have to defend myself and say that never at any time has anyone told me what to shoot, how to shoot, and yes I have asked for advice on lighting, but I don't just do that in challenges I do that all the time, don't we all? I do have my own ideas, I am a very creative person, I like to use photography as a way to get these ideas out of my head. I have NEVER asked someone for a challenge idea, occasionally I have asked for advice if I don't understand the subject, but for the majority of the challenges the idea was mine and nobody even knows about it until the shots are already taken and edited.
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03/30/2011 07:06:02 PM · #31 |
Originally posted by hihosilver:
Originally posted by yanko:
Originally posted by hihosilver:
Withdraw this post...sorry! |
I tried to view this page in Google's cache but unfortunately it only has the posts prior to yours. That being the case I must assume it was a profanity laced post directed at the OP. Shame on you Mae! |
@Richard...LOL...I'm feeling shy today...shamelessly so...;-P
@All...as an amateur, I LOVE to pester the professionals. And, I am a GOOD pest!
Here are my tips:
1. Ask others for advice (even Mr. Setzler!)...don't be shy!
2. Always have the last word on your own work no matter who the advice comes from (unless you ask Yanko...you must always follow HIS advice otherwise he will send the alien horde after you!)
3. Forget all the advice...and take the time to look...look...look at as many images as you can! (I got that advice from Ursula...and she always knows best!)
Being a part of the community...DPC...1X...brings joy to what would otherwise be an isolating experience.
So, enjoy the process.
Well, Richard...that's my two cents...;-P |
I remember there was something about audience before :) |
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03/30/2011 07:55:52 PM · #32 |
Sorry people -- but I think this thread is getting a little ridiculous.
If you have ignored every piece of photography/art and only worked on your own, then perhaps your style is your own with no outside influences. It would be ridiculous to do this. Our own styles are a conglomeration of everything we've seen/experienced/learned over the years. We assimilate it all and go our own direction. I think it's ridiculous to limit yourself to only looking at your own work in order to better your work.
With this premise in mind, asking for opinions is just another way of gathering information. Knowledge is power. It's rather ridiculous limiting yourself to only your knowledge when trying to work out your own style. I learned about luminosity masking because of asking Ursula a question regarding one of my images. I didn't know it was possible. I use people's comments/opinions, take the information I like and appreciate and ignore the rest. I then take these suggestions and merge them into what I want them to be. This is no different than looking at other people's works, finding out what you like and what you don't like and creating your own personal style.
Information is power. If you are a slave to the critiques and don't sort through them, yes, you are doing someone else's vision. If you are working through them, selecting bits and pieces, you are creating your own interpretation. |
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03/30/2011 08:21:42 PM · #33 |
Originally posted by yanko:
Makes sense if you want to take pride in the success of your work. However, if the goal is to win lots of reribbons ribbons then it's much easier to expediate the required assimilation process by getting feedback from others, preferrably those who have already been assimilated. |
May I restate this as I hear it?
Makes sense if you want to take pride in the success of your work.
If you have no pride, and your work will never be worth taking pride in, then you may listen to the opinion of others, for your work will never there after be you own, for your mind is weak, and easily swayed.
it's much easier to expediate the required assimilation process by getting feedback from others, preferrably those who have already been assimilated.
As we all know assimilation into the hive mind will occur should you allow the opinion of others to enter your ears. Which is why education in general is such a dangerous thing for lesser minds. Only those born like Athena, sprung full grown from Zeus' head, are worthy of enjoying their labors. Lesser mortals that must grub for knowledge amongst books and conversation with their fellow men will never have a pure though, for their minds have been tainted. |
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03/30/2011 09:05:26 PM · #34 |
Originally posted by sjhuls:
I am trying very hard not to read too much into this, but I can't help feel that you are accusing me of something. |
Don't. I meant in general.
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03/30/2011 09:29:40 PM · #35 |
Originally posted by yanko:
Originally posted by sjhuls:
I am trying very hard not to read too much into this, but I can't help feel that you are accusing me of something. |
Don't. I meant in general. |
The brilliance of Richard is that he does not accuse us, but rather challenges us to expand, broaden and deepen our own artistic vision beyond the measure of a ribbon and the artistic (as opposed to the technical) advice of others. For this quality alone, I will always respect his words and his opinions.
Plus, he takes cool cat pictures...;-P
P.S. Don't be fooled by him...he's really all about the money!!!
::ducks and runs::
Message edited by author 2011-03-30 21:36:27. |
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03/30/2011 10:39:48 PM · #36 |
Originally posted by BrennanOB:
Originally posted by yanko:
Makes sense if you want to take pride in the success of your work. However, if the goal is to win lots of reribbons ribbons then it's much easier to expediate the required assimilation process by getting feedback from others, preferrably those who have already been assimilated. |
May I restate this as I hear it?
Makes sense if you want to take pride in the success of your work.
If you have no pride, and your work will never be worth taking pride in, then you may listen to the opinion of others, for your work will never there after be you own, for your mind is weak, and easily swayed.
it's much easier to expediate the required assimilation process by getting feedback from others, preferrably those who have already been assimilated.
As we all know assimilation into the hive mind will occur should you allow the opinion of others to enter your ears. Which is why education in general is such a dangerous thing for lesser minds. Only those born like Athena, sprung full grown from Zeus' head, are worthy of enjoying their labors. Lesser mortals that must grub for knowledge amongst books and conversation with their fellow men will never have a pure though, for their minds have been tainted. |
I see merit in both sides. All yanko is saying is that if your idea of "success" or "quality" is simply the aesthetic espoused by DPC, then sure, go and ask those who have been successful in creating that aesthetic. I'm not sure he's necessarily passing judgment on said aesthetic, simply pointing out that it is narrowly confined and is, in fact, just one of many aesthetics. If anything, I think he's saying that confining "success" to the DPC aesthetic is folly because one's aesthetic should never be dictated. I pointed out the other day that 1x has an aesthetic too... neither is more "correct," they simply are.
On the other hand, yes, there is much to be learned from seeking the input of others, and I'd highly doubt that yanko would argue that, he's simply implying that one must determine their own aesthetic ultimately, and that it's easy to fall into line with any mentor. It's key to strike your own path. It gets tricky when you feel you want to follow the path of the DPC aesthetic because you think it's your own. The answer to whether that is correct or wise is not one for anybody to answer but yourself.
Yes, it's admittedly easier to find your voice when there's nobody else talking, when you've sequestered yourself, but I don't think art is really about the individual, and I have a hard time accepting art created in a vacuum. To me, it is the definition of vanity. |
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03/30/2011 11:29:15 PM · #37 |
Originally posted by sjhuls:
Originally posted by jmsetzler:
Originally posted by sjhuls:
It helps to get feedback from others. |
This is a double-edged sword. I personally believe that doing this will stunt your growth as a photographer. Reason 1: When you request and use advice from someone else in developing a photograph, that photograph is no longer 100% YOURS. Reason 2: Because of reason 1, you will take much longer to develop your own interests and ideas when it comes to creating an image. The ideas you take from others will embed themselves in your style and interests.
It is difficult to become a good critic of one's own work. The simplest solution to the problem is to learn to verbalize what you like and don't like about any given photograph. In my early days in digital photography, I figured this out and took advantage of it. |
I hope you didn't mean this as offensive as it sounds. I feel that you are implying that because I ask for critiques on my photos they are not %100 mine. Just because you ask someones opinion on which shot is more successful for a particular challenge, or if the crop is right, or if the message is being conveyed effectively does not mean in anyway they own a part of the photo. I came up with the idea, I photographed it and I edited it.
I have found the complete opposite to be true with seeking opinions of others. It has helped me grow tremendously as a photographer, I don't think I would have learned half as much without seeking honest critiques from others. As far as not developing my own style, I don't like to box myself in with any particular style, I let the photograph itself and my personal vision for that particular shoot dictate what kind of style I apply to it. |
I did not mean it to be offensive at all. It's just food for thought, and the idea has generated a good bit of engaging conversation here. I did say 'double-edged sword' which means that it's both good and bad at the same time. I do agree that it will help you. I also believe that it will take you longer to develop your own ideas. Once again, just my opinion based on a lot of experience.
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03/30/2011 11:30:19 PM · #38 |
Originally posted by marnet:
Originally posted by jmsetzler:
Originally posted by marnet:
Originally posted by jmsetzler:
1. Do I think this is a GREAT photograph? |
I would not enter any challenge if I started with this question! :)
(99.9% of time - my answer to my own photo is NO) |
I'm not saying that you should not enter a challenge. What I'm trying to explain is how to self-critique your work. I think a lot of people set their expectations a little high sometimes. If your answer to that question is NO 99.9% of the time, you will be getting a lot better in a short amount of time if you follow through with the rest of the questions on that list. |
I was exaggerating a bit. I enter most challenges regardless but I think only about 1% of my photos have a chance at 1x. That's what I consider GREAT. |
You will get there if you aspire to do so :)
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03/30/2011 11:33:15 PM · #39 |
Originally posted by vawendy:
I think it's ridiculous to limit yourself to only looking at your own work in order to better your work.
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This is 100% true and accurate. Looking at other great work is one of the best ways to improve your own work, but not by imitation of it. The concept, as being discussed in another thread, is learning the art of self critique. It's a fantastic plan to critique great photographs, but it needs to be a true critique. You need to be able to write down or verbalize exactly what it is about that image that you love. On the other side of that coin, you need to be able to write down or verbalize what you really dislike about other photographs. Doing that regularly will embed the concepts in your mind and they will easily come forward while you are looking through your own viewfinder.
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03/30/2011 11:36:46 PM · #40 |
Originally posted by jmsetzler:
Originally posted by marnet:
Originally posted by jmsetzler:
Originally posted by marnet:
Originally posted by jmsetzler:
1. Do I think this is a GREAT photograph? |
I would not enter any challenge if I started with this question! :)
(99.9% of time - my answer to my own photo is NO) |
I'm not saying that you should not enter a challenge. What I'm trying to explain is how to self-critique your work. I think a lot of people set their expectations a little high sometimes. If your answer to that question is NO 99.9% of the time, you will be getting a lot better in a short amount of time if you follow through with the rest of the questions on that list. |
I was exaggerating a bit. I enter most challenges regardless but I think only about 1% of my photos have a chance at 1x. That's what I consider GREAT. |
You will get there if you aspire to do so :) |
Thanks. I am probably working too hard on this. I need to take a break! Back home soon will help. |
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03/31/2011 11:58:21 AM · #41 |
Originally posted by spiritualspatula:
...On the other hand, yes, there is much to be learned from seeking the input of others, and I'd highly doubt that yanko would argue that, he's simply implying that one must determine their own aesthetic ultimately, and that it's easy to fall into line with any mentor. It's key to strike your own path. It gets tricky when you feel you want to follow the path of the DPC aesthetic because you think it's your own. The answer to whether that is correct or wise is not one for anybody to answer but yourself. |
Unless you can find a mentor who knows how to mind meld the vastness of their own experience to their men-tee (is that word?), a true mentor will INSIST and DEMAND that you follow your own path. A good mentor knows that all he/she can ever be is...a sign post.
A good mentor doesn't so much place their own stamp on their student's work, but rather knows how to draw out the gift within the student themselves. A talented artist and a talented teacher aren't necessarily the same thing.
If we stray from the path the sign post points to and are eaten by a troll...well, that's our own fault. ;-)
Message edited by author 2011-03-31 12:14:44. |
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03/31/2011 01:59:40 PM · #42 |
Originally posted by BrennanOB:
Originally posted by yanko:
Makes sense if you want to take pride in the success of your work. However, if the goal is to win lots of reribbons ribbons then it's much easier to expediate the required assimilation process by getting feedback from others, preferrably those who have already been assimilated. |
May I restate this as I hear it?
Makes sense if you want to take pride in the success of your work.
If you have no pride, and your work will never be worth taking pride in, then you may listen to the opinion of others, for your work will never there after be you own, for your mind is weak, and easily swayed.
it's much easier to expediate the required assimilation process by getting feedback from others, preferrably those who have already been assimilated.
As we all know assimilation into the hive mind will occur should you allow the opinion of others to enter your ears. Which is why education in general is such a dangerous thing for lesser minds. Only those born like Athena, sprung full grown from Zeus' head, are worthy of enjoying their labors. Lesser mortals that must grub for knowledge amongst books and conversation with their fellow men will never have a pure though, for their minds have been tainted. |
You have an active imagination. The only point I'm trying to make is just be yourself and take pride in what you bring to the table. As a viewer I'm pretty selfish. If I want to see an Ursula then I'll go see her work and not some second rate knockoff by someone else. That is not to say trying out shots others have done isn't beneficial. You can certainly learn a lot from that. When I entered the Deja Vu II challenge I tried to duplicate Gordon's Fantasia shot. I learned a lot and even got a PB out of it. I can take pride in the fact that I learned a new technique that I can now apply to my own work, but the image itself is a throwaway. |
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03/31/2011 02:20:29 PM · #43 |
Originally posted by yanko:
Originally posted by BrennanOB:
Originally posted by yanko:
Makes sense if you want to take pride in the success of your work. However, if the goal is to win lots of reribbons ribbons then it's much easier to expediate the required assimilation process by getting feedback from others, preferrably those who have already been assimilated. |
May I restate this as I hear it?
Makes sense if you want to take pride in the success of your work.
If you have no pride, and your work will never be worth taking pride in, then you may listen to the opinion of others, for your work will never there after be you own, for your mind is weak, and easily swayed.
it's much easier to expediate the required assimilation process by getting feedback from others, preferrably those who have already been assimilated.
As we all know assimilation into the hive mind will occur should you allow the opinion of others to enter your ears. Which is why education in general is such a dangerous thing for lesser minds. Only those born like Athena, sprung full grown from Zeus' head, are worthy of enjoying their labors. Lesser mortals that must grub for knowledge amongst books and conversation with their fellow men will never have a pure though, for their minds have been tainted. |
You have an active imagination. The only point I'm trying to make is just be yourself and take pride in what you bring to the table. As a viewer I'm pretty selfish. If I want to see an Ursula then I'll go see her work and not some second rate knockoff by someone else. That is not to say trying out shots others have done isn't beneficial. You can certainly learn a lot from that. When I entered the Deja Vu II challenge I tried to duplicate Gordon's Fantasia shot. I learned a lot and even got a PB out of it. I can take pride in the fact that I learned a new technique that I can now apply to my own work, but the image itself is a throwaway. |
Yet isn't that the step we all go through? And I think it's a worthwhile step.
1. We start off doing our own thing. We're happy with it, it's fun. Then it's not enough. We want to grow.
2. We start doing someone else's thing. We see the techniques we like, we want to figure out how to do them. It's easier copying something else to make sure you get the techniques down correctly.
3. We move on to the next step. We take our own stuff, we take others techniques, we blend them, warp them, and create our own style.
I'm learning how to use flash, at the moment. I know nothing about it. I'm reading books and trying their examples. To try to come up with my own flash style, when I still don't understand the technicals behind it, is too much at once. I need to understand first, then I take what I've learned and start messing around with it.
Getting feedback from others is great in the learning process, but I will probably always ask for feedback from others. Looking at the world through others' eyes is a tremendous learning experience. The strength in a good artist is being able to sift through all the information/feedback/experiences and to mutate them into something that is completely yours. |
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03/31/2011 02:34:09 PM · #44 |
Wow...what else do you have in that "throw away" pile?!
My "throwaway" pile does not look like this...::pout::
Message edited by author 2011-03-31 14:53:11. |
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03/31/2011 03:09:48 PM · #45 |
Originally posted by vawendy:
Originally posted by yanko:
Originally posted by BrennanOB:
Originally posted by yanko:
Makes sense if you want to take pride in the success of your work. However, if the goal is to win lots of reribbons ribbons then it's much easier to expediate the required assimilation process by getting feedback from others, preferrably those who have already been assimilated. |
May I restate this as I hear it?
Makes sense if you want to take pride in the success of your work.
If you have no pride, and your work will never be worth taking pride in, then you may listen to the opinion of others, for your work will never there after be you own, for your mind is weak, and easily swayed.
it's much easier to expediate the required assimilation process by getting feedback from others, preferrably those who have already been assimilated.
As we all know assimilation into the hive mind will occur should you allow the opinion of others to enter your ears. Which is why education in general is such a dangerous thing for lesser minds. Only those born like Athena, sprung full grown from Zeus' head, are worthy of enjoying their labors. Lesser mortals that must grub for knowledge amongst books and conversation with their fellow men will never have a pure though, for their minds have been tainted. |
You have an active imagination. The only point I'm trying to make is just be yourself and take pride in what you bring to the table. As a viewer I'm pretty selfish. If I want to see an Ursula then I'll go see her work and not some second rate knockoff by someone else. That is not to say trying out shots others have done isn't beneficial. You can certainly learn a lot from that. When I entered the Deja Vu II challenge I tried to duplicate Gordon's Fantasia shot. I learned a lot and even got a PB out of it. I can take pride in the fact that I learned a new technique that I can now apply to my own work, but the image itself is a throwaway. |
Yet isn't that the step we all go through? And I think it's a worthwhile step.
1. We start off doing our own thing. We're happy with it, it's fun. Then it's not enough. We want to grow.
2. We start doing someone else's thing. We see the techniques we like, we want to figure out how to do them. It's easier copying something else to make sure you get the techniques down correctly.
3. We move on to the next step. We take our own stuff, we take others techniques, we blend them, warp them, and create our own style.
I'm learning how to use flash, at the moment. I know nothing about it. I'm reading books and trying their examples. To try to come up with my own flash style, when I still don't understand the technicals behind it, is too much at once. I need to understand first, then I take what I've learned and start messing around with it.
Getting feedback from others is great in the learning process, but I will probably always ask for feedback from others. Looking at the world through others' eyes is a tremendous learning experience. The strength in a good artist is being able to sift through all the information/feedback/experiences and to mutate them into something that is completely yours. |
It is the step I went through in that particular instance because that's what the challenge called for. We all have our own ways of learning. I personally learn more by trial and error than by reading a how to book and that in turn helps me develop my own style. If I simply went out and bought Zack Arias or JoeyL's DVDs then I'd learn how to do it there way which isn't what I want. I can learn how to operate a flash by reading the manual it came with. From there it's experiment, experiment, experiment, most of which never sees the light of day. But that's me.
Message edited by author 2011-03-31 15:10:31. |
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03/31/2011 03:31:40 PM · #46 |
Originally posted by yanko:
It is the step I went through in that particular instance because that's what the challenge called for. We all have our own ways of learning. I personally learn more by trial and error than by reading a how to book and that in turn helps me develop my own style. If I simply went out and bought Zack Arias or JoeyL's DVDs then I'd learn how to do it there way which isn't what I want. I can learn how to operate a flash by reading the manual it came with. From there it's experiment, experiment, experiment, most of which never sees the light of day. But that's me. |
How do you know when the experiment is done...or when the lesson is learned? Is that measurable? |
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03/31/2011 03:51:34 PM · #47 |
Personally I agree with Vawendy's opinion.
Recently I actually asked her for feedback photo I was going to enter and she helped me out and I learnt a lot.
For example if she said 'I think you should boost the contrast and sharpen a bit' and If I had never thought of doing that, it would probably take me a few bad scores and me being bewildered to why they did so badly to realise maybe I should have done those improvements.
I don't think it's so much of she's telling me what to do but she is suggesting I do something to improve and be able to continue improving without being stuck in the same editing style etc. |
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03/31/2011 03:58:08 PM · #48 |
Originally posted by hihosilver:
Originally posted by yanko:
It is the step I went through in that particular instance because that's what the challenge called for. We all have our own ways of learning. I personally learn more by trial and error than by reading a how to book and that in turn helps me develop my own style. If I simply went out and bought Zack Arias or JoeyL's DVDs then I'd learn how to do it there way which isn't what I want. I can learn how to operate a flash by reading the manual it came with. From there it's experiment, experiment, experiment, most of which never sees the light of day. But that's me. |
How do you know when the experiment is done...or when the lesson is learned? Is that measurable? |
I hope the experiment never ends. Unless I'm shooting for someone else the only measure is whether or not I'm happy with the end result.
Message edited by author 2011-03-31 15:59:04. |
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03/31/2011 04:02:17 PM · #49 |
Originally posted by Adz:
Personally I agree with Vawendy's opinion.
Recently I actually asked her for feedback photo I was going to enter and she helped me out and I learnt a lot.
For example if she said 'I think you should boost the contrast and sharpen a bit' and If I had never thought of doing that, it would probably take me a few bad scores and me being bewildered to why they did so badly to realise maybe I should have done those improvements.
I don't think it's so much of she's telling me what to do but she is suggesting I do something to improve and be able to continue improving without being stuck in the same editing style etc. |
I guess that's why I like gathering information from as many places as I can. I'm learning about things I never knew existed. It has also put some other things that I've learned on my own into a little more perspective.
I'm completely self taught -- I haven't taken any classes, but I have read books, because there are things that are just not intuitively obvious to me. For instance, I assumed that when you change your flash from 1/4 power to 1/2, 1, etc. that you were changing the intensity of the output. I didn't realize that you were changing the duration of the output. This makes a difference on how I use it. So I gather information however I can, realizing that my own experimentation isn't enough.
I've been learning photoshop by experimentation. When I'm reading the threads, I'm finding things of which I knew nothing -- things that have been extremely helpful, that I wish I knew a year ago. And yet I was a computer consultant for 14 years, and am extremely used to learning new programs. Yet there are still so many holes because I'm self taught.
I'm just trying to fill the holes. :)
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03/31/2011 04:28:22 PM · #50 |
Originally posted by yanko:
Originally posted by hihosilver:
Originally posted by yanko:
It is the step I went through in that particular instance because that's what the challenge called for. We all have our own ways of learning. I personally learn more by trial and error than by reading a how to book and that in turn helps me develop my own style. If I simply went out and bought Zack Arias or JoeyL's DVDs then I'd learn how to do it there way which isn't what I want. I can learn how to operate a flash by reading the manual it came with. From there it's experiment, experiment, experiment, most of which never sees the light of day. But that's me. |
How do you know when the experiment is done...or when the lesson is learned? Is that measurable? |
I hope the experiment never ends. Unless I'm shooting for someone else the only measure is whether or not I'm happy with the end result. |
I love it when Richard gets all philosophical! ;-)
Took some digging, but I found this old forum thread where yanko and I were battling over who had the highest average but hadn't won a ribbon. I got the first one between us, but of course he soon passed me up by a mile.
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