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01/10/2012 12:35:10 AM · #1 |
My entry in the latest freestudy was an interesting experiment. The shot was a total accident, taken while fumbling with the camera, trying to shoot the group riding around me.
Something about it appealed to me, however, and it got saved from the delete button. Ended up doing much better on average than I expected, but more than that, it had strong appeal for a narrow group. Exactly what I hoped for.
So does this reflect on my skills as a photographer, since the shot was an accident? I believe it does and it drives home a couple of things that I have learned over the last few years, getting my weekly beatings on DPC:
1)Most importantly, I recognized the potential in the shot, so I kept it. 4 years ago I would have likely deleted this blurry accident without second thought. This learning to recognize the keeper (both when the scene is in front of me, as well as when reviewing them later) has been an important skill.
2)I had some ideas of what direction to take the processing in to bring out the interesting textures and motion I saw in the scene. The unedited scene would have probably gotten what I expected from the shot, which was a sub-5.
For me, this was as successful a freestudy entry as a top 10 would have been. I nailed what I was after. It pulled in 11 very positive comments during the challenge, and a high commenter's average. Yes, 39 people thought it was below average, so what? It wasn't aimed at your preferences.
It's also worth mentioning that the master of this style did even better in this challenge, with a somewhat similarly styled shot (though his was probably intentional):
The thing to take away from this is that the average vote is only a measure of what the collective, blended and homogenized opinion is. You have to interpret all the other factors that come into play in order to know if you did well or not.
At this point, I feel my photography has improved to the point where I can effectively capture what I like and I am feeling less need to prove myself in the "ring". I'll probably be participating in challenges less this year. If a subject does not enthuse me, I won't force it anymore. I'll still be entering the subjects that interest me personally. Aviation, military, bicycles and old guys with big mustaches, for a few. I know at least that last topic tends to have broad appeal.
Thanks.
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01/10/2012 12:39:46 AM · #2 |
It was worth a 9 from me. Title was worth a whole point all on its own :-)
R.
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01/10/2012 12:55:27 AM · #3 |
| Got an 8 from me. You're right on with your analysis - don't stop. |
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01/10/2012 12:59:58 AM · #4 |
My "aha" keeper moment was my flock of pigeons at way too slow a shutter speed. I'm a bit more careful about deleting stuff before looking on the computer first.
That said - the other day I went out with a 2G card. Don't know what I was thinking - grabbed the wrong card. Had to do some deleting...
And THAT said, when I'm in a bad mood, or depressed over my DPC scores, I'm a whole lot more ruthless when I review a card's contents on the first pass. A whole lot gets the "x" in Lightroom as I go by. I should definitely review cards when I'm pissed off, as my hard drive is full, my backup drive at my mom's house is full, and my second backup here is getting there.... I keep too much crap!
And all THAT said, that's a great shot, Steve. Glad it resonated with more than just the cyclists! |
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01/10/2012 01:16:30 AM · #5 |
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
It was worth a 9 from me. Title was worth a whole point all on its own :-) |
Thanks. I had intended to rename it "In memory", since this was taken on a memorial ride for a local cyclist who was hit and killed by a driver, but forgot. I think the title probably worked out better as it stood.
Message edited by author 2012-01-10 01:16:44.
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01/10/2012 01:31:41 AM · #6 |
| I gave both yours and bspurgeons 7s :-) |
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01/10/2012 02:50:21 AM · #7 |
Recognizing that a blurry image, or a missed focus, may have potential, is a great step forward to creating interesting, and satisfying images. I certainly enjoyed your entry, and thank you for the mention.
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01/10/2012 07:38:51 AM · #8 |
Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:
At this point, I feel my photography has improved to the point where I can effectively capture what I like and I am feeling less need to prove myself in the "ring". I'll probably be participating in challenges less this year. If a subject does not enthuse me, I won't force it anymore. |
A good revelation, Steve, and what you say here sounds like a good new year's resolution. As you know (and have occasionally derided me for -- in jest, of course) I don't enter every challenge -- even those that sound to be right up my alley. If I don't have something, I don't bother. The next Free Study is just never that far away.
What some seem to forget is that by voting and commenting, you have just as much stake in a challenge as those who enter.
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01/10/2012 11:59:19 AM · #9 |
I just wanted to mention that it's not only about blur.
I was culling the images from my Great Dame shoot, and deleting what didn't satisfy my "vision" for that shoot. For some reason, one of the images I had just deleted haunted me. I went into the trash folder to look at it again and it was still not what I'd been shooting for, but it refused to stay undeleted. So I rescued it, pp'd it, and this is what it ended up looking like. A totally quirky, unexpected, fun image.
What I have learned is that "imperfection" is sometimes what makes the image perfect. |
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01/10/2012 12:59:23 PM · #10 |
Originally posted by tanguera:
I just wanted to mention that it's not only about blur.
I was culling the images from my Great Dame shoot, and deleting what didn't satisfy my "vision" for that shoot. For some reason, one of the images I had just deleted haunted me. I went into the trash folder to look at it again and it was still not what I'd been shooting for, but it refused to stay undeleted. So I rescued it, pp'd it, and this is what it ended up looking like. A totally quirky, unexpected, fun image.
What I have learned is that "imperfection" is sometimes what makes the image perfect. |
Good lord, I WISH I was such an oustanding photographer that THAT was something I would say "meh" to and delete. That is a GREAT shot lady! |
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