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03/20/2006 11:22:46 PM · #1 |
How many of you guys have heard this?
I took some photos the other day and every one wants to see them. And I tell them I dont want to show them because they are really bad. I havent gone through them yet, but I know they are. I can feel it. But every one keeps saying "Its ok. I dont know anything about photography."
But if an image sucks, it sucks. Bottom line. Or am I completely missing something, and as photographers, we only shoot for other photographers?
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03/20/2006 11:27:29 PM · #2 |
| There are lots of people I know who think I'm really, really good. :) I don't let them know about this site. Lots of those people have point and shoot cameras and really don't know anything about composition, or light, or... And it may be a mediocre image by a true photographer's standard, but the average Joe may indeed find it pleasing. |
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03/20/2006 11:36:25 PM · #3 |
Don't let the scenario that you depicted dissuade you from showing your photos. You will learn a lot more by receiving feedback from the viewers, regardless of their experience in photography. Just keep showing, listening, and learning. All the while, consider the experience of the viewer. While experienced photographers can catapult you way ahead of where you are with your photography skills, there is still a lot of value in the opinion of the "average Joe", especially if you eventually want to sell prints to the "average Joe".
Message edited by author 2006-03-20 23:37:09. |
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03/20/2006 11:41:44 PM · #4 |
| Your work might get cut down here but your friends and family just LOVE it .. take the best of both worlds for a nice balance, enjoy the ride, share your photos and learn as you go .. that's my advice :) |
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03/20/2006 11:45:11 PM · #5 |
| Also what is generally thought of as not good to you and me, will generally be thought of as great among the civilians! Don't even worry about it. Show them the pics and I guarantee that if you don't say anything about how bad you think they are...they will tell you how much they love them. At least thats how it usually goes! |
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03/21/2006 12:18:55 AM · #6 |
Photography means different things to different people. A photographer who takes him/herself seriously often gets too wrapped up in the artistic side of things. I love fine art photography as much as the next guy and I enjoy attempting to make it. However, I also enjoy the simple snapshooting that we all do occasionally. Everythign isn't meant to be fine art. Don't forget to have fun with your camera :)
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03/21/2006 12:24:38 AM · #7 |
Originally posted by jmsetzler:
Everythign isn't meant to be fine art. Don't forget to have fun with your camera :) |
Best piece of advise for the day! :) |
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03/21/2006 12:36:23 AM · #8 |
Originally posted by crayon:
Originally posted by jmsetzler:
Everythign isn't meant to be fine art. Don't forget to have fun with your camera :) |
Best piece of advise for the day! :) |
Yeah, it is. |
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03/21/2006 12:50:06 AM · #9 |
Originally posted by ursula:
Originally posted by crayon:
Originally posted by jmsetzler:
Everythign isn't meant to be fine art. Don't forget to have fun with your camera :) |
Best piece of advise for the day! :) |
Yeah, it is. |
amen brother! |
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03/21/2006 01:06:27 AM · #10 |
"Its ok. I know nothing about photography"
Heck, that's my opening line, and I'm the one with the camera. |
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03/21/2006 09:46:58 AM · #11 |
Originally posted by blurbayou:
"Its ok. I know nothing about photography"
Heck, that's my opening line, and I'm the one with the camera. |
brilliant.
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03/21/2006 09:56:52 AM · #12 |
| The average joe will judge most photos by how much they like the subject. Show any parent a picture of their kid with a great smile, or in a cute outfit at the school play, and they will forgive all KINDS of technical shortcomings. :o) |
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03/21/2006 11:24:18 AM · #13 |
Looking at the top-10 photos in each challenge gives you a very high idea of "what is a great photo", and when I compare my photos to the top-10, I am almost always disapointed.
I just saw a slideshow with photos that someone who's an "Average Joe" took, and realized that I take great pictures!
So don't worry about your photos, if you're going to compare your photos, use the photos your audience takes as a basis. And remember that many who place in the top-10 here occasionally have entries that don't do as well. |
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03/21/2006 03:07:22 PM · #14 |
My wife does scrapbooking, and without fail she'll come home and say everyone was raving about my pictures ... "could be a postcard!", "will he do my portraits?", "he's a master at Photoshop." Made me feel great. And then I found this site... :-}
Really though, it does depend on a person's own knowledge and skill of photography. People like my mother-in-law, who can't take a photo without cutting off the top of people's heads, think I should go professional. My wife LOVES the photos I take, because she realizes she couldn't do it half as well and doesn't understand all the technical aspects of composition and so forth. My dad, who was into photography when I was a teen, admires my photos because I've basically gotten to the level he did. And as for you guys, there's a reason I haven't entered any challenges yet.
And that was all with my P&S Olympus and mostly "opportunistic" shots. Now since I have entered the DSLR world, I've actually found it harder to take really good photos. (When I bought my D70s, I expected it to make me a better photographer just for having it.) Sure, the photo quality is much better than my Olympus produced, but I still have so much to learn, especially after seeing the work here, that it has really been a humbling experience.
No matter to the women doing scrapbooking, though. My wife still comes home and tells me how impressed everyone is with my photos. I just smile and wish I could agree.
Message edited by author 2006-03-21 15:11:07. |
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03/21/2006 03:20:56 PM · #15 |
Its just that 'Joe Public' will look at a photo differently to how 'we' look at a photo. They will not notice whats going on in the background and if they do they will not care. The will not notice that we have not followed the 'rule of thirds' and will be so impressed that we had the subject dead centre!. Let them see them and bask in your glory!!
Mike
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03/21/2006 11:32:47 PM · #16 |
I shoot stuff and it goes on my walls and computer. Often this is at my work. People see it and comment. 99% of the time the comments are fantastic - have gotten several requests for shots and sold a couple for minimal $ to coworker/friends. Have a growing number of requests to "frame that and sell it" or "put that on a product and sell it".
Bottom line - I shoot for what I like and want to see. If someone sees it and likes it, ok. If they see it and don't like it, ok too.
If they see it and either do or don't like it but can logically explain why, then I will start to listen and debate it with them.
I keep it fun for me by shooting what I want to shoot. I recognize that people will either see something they like in it or not. They may or may not see what I saw and often what I saw is personal because it relates to the specific memory of the time and place I took the photo. |
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