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07/06/2005 11:51:22 AM · #1 |
I just realized that my ribbon was just pure luck, more and more challenges i enter the more i understand that it was luck... I sometimes think i cannot go any further in my knowledge. It seems that i just fixed my self half the way in photography.
Any tips on moving to the next step? I really like my photography but sometimes i think they could come out even better but can't see what it really is.. any suggestions or help?
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07/06/2005 11:55:11 AM · #2 |
Moving to the next step may involve pulling away from 'mass appeal'. My next step has been and continues to be shooting from personal inspiration rather than handed-down topics. I love shooting multiple photos on a single theme. I find myself really involved with photos that have very little mass appeal, and I also find myself striving to shoot images like that.
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07/06/2005 11:57:24 AM · #3 |
Originally posted by Discraft:
I just realized that my ribbon was just pure luck, more and more challenges i enter the more i understand that it was luck... I sometimes think i cannot go any further in my knowledge. It seems that i just fixed my self half the way in photography.
Any tips on moving to the next step? I really like my photography but sometimes i think they could come out even better but can't see what it really is.. any suggestions or help? |
I certainly do not agree that your ribbon was pure luck. It is just a surprise that you haven't won more of them. |
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07/06/2005 12:00:20 PM · #4 |
Originally posted by jmsetzler:
Moving to the next step may involve pulling away from 'mass appeal'. My next step has been and continues to be shooting from personal inspiration rather than handed-down topics. I love shooting multiple photos on a single theme. I find myself really involved with photos that have very little mass appeal, and I also find myself striving to shoot images like that. |
bravo bravo
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07/06/2005 12:10:52 PM · #5 |
ummm. i wanted to respond but I'm not sure what to respond with :] What am I proving wrong?
I like what jmsetzler said about mass appeal.
I am pretty much a newbie - but an opinionated one at that. Your photography is pretty confident and beautiful. Your subjects are definite and strong for the most part - and I would say that generally speaking your photos are "cool". Your macro shots are limited - you could get into broadening that. There are people that go macro-crazy! You could challenge yourself by getting into medical photography, Aerial shots, or shots that play with time. If you have political or environmental / social thoughts, I would go in that direction - it will be satisfying in more ways than one!!!
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07/06/2005 12:17:10 PM · #6 |
I like your work if that means anything.
Try shooting new things, or go places you haven't been before. As John eluded to, shoot for yourself and not for a challenge or a pay check. You obviously know how to take a picture, maybe you just need to find new things to take pictures of?
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07/06/2005 12:23:58 PM · #7 |
Take a good hard look at your current style...
Make a list of "your rules" to the way you shoot...
Break them and see what happens. |
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07/06/2005 12:27:24 PM · #8 |
Guys and girls i am liking these ideias you are giving out just keep on shooting them out... it is feeling better now. i really have to take the step forward.
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07/06/2005 12:30:16 PM · #9 |
i wouldnt call it luck, i would say you won it with very great talent. I love your work, keep it up!
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07/06/2005 12:37:08 PM · #10 |
I feel your pain, I too am a one ribbon winner, and hopefully it wasnt just luck for either of us. I see a lot of talent in your shots, do not give up hope, there are a lot of talented people who have never ribboned yet. Stepping outside of your comfort zone and shooting something new helps me get refreshed, good luck to you and keep the faith!
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07/06/2005 12:39:56 PM · #11 |
Originally posted by Discraft:
I just realized that my ribbon was just pure luck, more and more challenges i enter the more i understand that it was luck... I sometimes think i cannot go any further in my knowledge. It seems that i just fixed my self half the way in photography.
Any tips on moving to the next step? I really like my photography but sometimes i think they could come out even better but can't see what it really is.. any suggestions or help? |
Works of art are of an infinite solitude, and no means of approach is so useless as criticism. Only love can touch and hold them and be fair to them. Always trust yourself and your own feeling, as opposed to argumentations, discussions, or introductions of that sort; if it turns out that you are wrong, then the natural growth of your inner life will eventually guide you to other insights. Allow your judgments their own silent, undisturbed development, which, like all progress, must come from deep within and cannot be forced or hastened. Everything is gestation and then birthing. - Ranier Maria Rilke, 1903 |
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07/06/2005 12:49:54 PM · #12 |
| Maybe a 'muse' would help your creative inspiration. |
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07/06/2005 12:51:33 PM · #13 |
I had an interesting experience -- my wife and I lived in Mongolia for a year, and I had both a wildly different daily experience, and very little in the way of creative input (environment or social or demands of work) or outlet (no work, no peers). The personal work that I did could be edited and tinkered with and massaged until I liked it.
At some point in that process, I had a striking realization: that I really didn't know WHAT I liked about my own work. I could see and like and even discuss other peoples work easily, but couldn't translate that into my own work.
I really believe that in order to extract from yourself a likeable piece, by definition, you must know specifically the things that you like.
And, experimentation helps build your "portfolio" of things you like.
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07/06/2005 01:50:03 PM · #14 |
| If you think your photography is stinted due to not winning another DPC ribbon then the best advice would be to quit DPC for a while. Without expectations you are free to internally explore subjects and styles and potentially grow beyond the limitations of what appeals to DPC. |
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07/06/2005 03:31:07 PM · #15 |
Have you considered reading any books on photography? I would highly recommend "Learning to See Creatively: Design, Color & Composition in Photography" by Bryan Peterson.
Immerse yourself in photography and decide what styles (and photos) you like.. and why.
Try some photo exercises (possibly some of those listed here in a thread by John).
I agree with the comments by John and moodville. DPC ribbons aren't the end-all determinant of photographic expertise/ability. There are plenty of good photographers on DPC that haven't even ribboned once!
Start a project, with perhaps one style or one theme in mind. Hidden letters. Feeling of never-ending depth. Parts.
The possibilities are endless!
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07/06/2005 03:43:53 PM · #16 |
I probably will never win a ribbon here (brown maybe) but I have experimented in b&w, backlighting, shooting portraits, still life, etc. that a outdoor oriented person like me has no idea how to do. So, learn from trying different challenges and most of all have fun (don't take all comments seriously). Van
Message edited by author 2005-07-06 15:45:00. |
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07/06/2005 05:09:16 PM · #17 |
| Frederico........ Of course this site is a competition and acceptance (by winning ribbons)is desirable, but you should also seek other rewards. This site has many riches and you are one of them. None who enter here go unnoticed. A dpc challenge is nothing more than some motivation to EXPLORE what might be possible about a given style, subject or technique. The beauty of the site is that you have a set amount of time to examine, develop an idea and then create something. I try to keep it fairly simple - I shoot and submit if I have time and opportunity, keeping in mind that the learning experience is as important as any ribbon. I think you should not worry too much about your personal interest (no one will be an expert about every subject, except bear music) personal style, the same. I say enjoy the challenges, enjoy what others contribute and take pride in your own work. |
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07/06/2005 05:29:12 PM · #18 |
I think DPC has a style of photography all its own, Just because you havent won any more ribbons does not make you a bad photographer. By the looks of you photos I think your pretty damn good. Alot of people without ribbons are great photographers. Dont let this place judge you too much. Just let it judge your DPchallenge skills.
Travis
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07/06/2005 05:47:50 PM · #19 |
Dis:
A truly significant percentage of published and/or exhibited photography by acknowledged "names" in the various fields would not finish above the middle of the pack in DPC. I'm serious: go look for yourself, look at Time or Newsweek or other magazine annual editions, look at the archives of Life magazine, look at exhibition ctalogues from museums, look everywhere and see it.
For me, the "challenge" just gives me somethign to focus on. I do my own thing with it, whatever moves me, I mess around and experiemnt. Y'all have seen me run a whole series of Gothic Glow shots (mostly well-received) and I'm currently in a series of "banal objects" shots (not so well-received), and I'm having a lot of fun.
Bear in mind that we're in the same boat, so to speak; we each have one ribbon, our top scores in our profiles are very similar, and so forth. Perhaps the only advantage I have over you (and I don't know if it exists because I don't know you) is that I was "validated" long ago by 25 years as a professional/published photographer, and several museum/gallery exhibitions, plus a small but steady stream in sales of "art" prints. So I don't get too hung up in what this particular community thinks of my work. I'm happy when they approve (of course) but I'm not depressed when they don't.
That's how I survive with a smileon my face, and you can too :-)
Robt.
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07/06/2005 06:23:04 PM · #20 |
I love dpc very much but like any other addiction sometimes it have have negative side effects... *hits update button, then runs back*
I dont think your ribbon was a fluke, I think you are talented and have it in you to win many many ribbons. I was in your shoes at some point in the past, I got my first ribbon in one of my first 5 challenges and it just seemed the harder I tried the worse i did.
Here is some bits of advice I can give... take a step back and appreciate different things in your photos, take a 1 or 2 week break from challenges, dont take your scores personally, experiment new things, different control, situations, setups etc. Most of all have lots of fun taking photos
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07/06/2005 06:32:33 PM · #21 |
I think your profile has some great pictures in it. Sometimes, it's not about mass appeal. Would you rather have 20 people think something's a 10...or 500 people think your work is a 7? Don't worry about it so much and another one will probably come.
If you're really concerned about another ribbon, make refinements here and there...but don't change anything.
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07/06/2005 06:33:15 PM · #22 |
remember you are always your own worst critic. Most of the time anyway. Many photos I take I show around to some friends and family. Im usually not to thrilled with them, but they love them. Then again when I shoot a photo Im REALLY excited about, most find it dull and boaring, go figure
DPC has really taught me to try different things and see things much differently than i did before.
So I have everyone here to thank for that, lots of ideas and always something new
James |
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07/07/2005 04:18:20 AM · #23 |
Originally posted by jab119:
Many photos I take I show around to some friends and family. Im usually not to thrilled with them, but they love them. Then again when I shoot a photo Im REALLY excited about, most find it dull and boaring, go figure |
My post is going on a slight tangent from the topic, but this reminds me of my experience. The photos I really enjoy are somewhat accepted by friends/family.. and the ones that I'm ready to delete are the ones that they say "wow, that one is cool!".. I think they're generally impressed with different things that I am.
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