Do you feel comfortable sharing your photos ?

[John Bragg]

I have frequently asked myself over the 35 years or so that I have been shooting and developing black and white film, if am I happy with others seeing and possibly being critical of my work. A lot of it comes from our perception of style. Do I have a style? If I am honest about that, I do have a style that I am very comfortable with now, and have been for possibly the last 20 years. I have learnt so much from those wiser than I on forums and other sources of disseminated wisdom and I have particularly found a look that pleases me. In conversation with the late Roger Hicks, (a fellow Cornishman), on a similar thread, I came to the conclusion that you have a style when, no matter what materials you use, (or what camera), your pictures look like "YOUR PICTURES". Also I have come to accept that others may not like my work. I am ok with that in a way my younger self would not have been. How do you feel about your photos ? Are you trying to develop a style and if a seasoned photographer, what advice would you offer to novices starting out and others on the journey ?

 

[retinax]

Personally, there are different things that keep me from sharing more pictures. For one, most of my recent stuff isn't digitized. I tend to believe that my random pictures don't matter enough to go to the trouble of somehow publishing them. I do however give prints to people to whom they, or the people or things depicted, may have some meaning.
I do have one or two projects I'm currently preparing to actually shoot, and I put more thought into them, and they have the goal of eventually being shown to people. I'm much more comfortable with presenting something finished that I have thought about and know what it means to me. That being said, I do enjoy looking at other people's random day-to-day photos if they're good and have been reasonably edited down, it's just not an approach I see working for me.

 

[John Bragg]

Personally, there are different things that keep me from sharing more pictures. For one, most of my recent stuff isn't digitized. I tend to believe that my random pictures don't matter enough to go to the trouble of somehow publishing them. I do however give prints to people to whom they, or the people or things depicted, may have some meaning. And I do have one or two projects I'm currently preparing to actually shoot, and I put more thought into them, and they have the goal of eventually being showed to people. That being said, I don enjoy to look a t other people's random day-to-day photos if they're good and have been reasonably edited down, it's just not an approach I see working for myself.

Alway good to have a goal. My best shots have been as the result of some positive brief or need. I took some interior shots of my local Church years ago, the day after a serious fire had all but destroyed it. Those photos have a terrible beauty and I was very proud that they were instrumental in persuading a Consistory Court that the fabric of the building including unique woodwork was worth restoring, and it was completely rebuilt. Result indeed !

 

[CharlesDAMorgan]

It's the poor victims I mean viewers of mine I worry about...

As a boy I was sent on an exchange to the family of a German Colonel, a friend of my father. One evening we were summoned to a slide show by his boss, a Brigadier in the Pioneers, of the family trip to Sweden that summer. Apart from the strange and rather fascinating sight of numerous bits of nudity in Swedish streams, the one abiding impression I retained, I think after about the 30th picture of the "midnight sun in summer" is that the number of photos that amateurs and pros wish to share greatly exceeds the number of viewers who wish to partake.

So I try to ration mine, not necessarily to my best, but merely those that speak to me at that time. As long as no one actually nicks them (yes, amazingly, it's happened to even me), I'm not in the least bit bothered. And those special polaroids stay in the locked drawer...

 

[jarski]

my way out of limbo of not having any style, has been to create series of photos that tell a story, with some text accompanying them 🙂 oftentimes having something meaningful to say is harder and takes longer, than to select good photos that do justice to the topic.

 

[jsrockit]

Yes, I am happy with my work. Very. And I share it all of the time. Not everyone is going to like it. However, you always have to look at who is being critical and figure out if you should listen or you should disregard it. There are a lot of people who will tell you to do it another way, but what does their photography look like, what is their experience? You have to find people who you respect and trust to give you constructive criticism, not the average Joe on the internet who photographs cliches on vacation.

The only piece of advice I can give someone who wants to get better at photography, and is not trying to do it for a living, is to do it because you LOVE it, not because you want someone else to recognize you or praise you. Through loving it, you can only get better and you will get better. If it is your job, and you do not love it, that's a different type of motivation to get better. I cannot speak to that.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I do share my photos. Where are few who understand my photos, but most does not. I feel totally comfortable to be not primitive candy maker. 🙂 Just in case, it is about like, not like.
And I couldn't care less about style. What it has to do with photography?
I take pictures not for fame, not for been recognized because they looks the same (style) and other non related to photography comfy things. I do take pictures because I have need for it. Just like I feel better if I walk and exercise. Photography is another way to say something. And as I often write, it is not for easy reading, but to think, find.
Oops, it is my style 🙂

 

[LCSmith]

Alway good to have a goal. My best shots have been as the result of some positive brief or need. I took some interior shots of my local Church years ago, the day after a serious fire had all but destroyed it. Those photos have a terrible beauty and I was very proud that they were instrumental in persuading a Consistory Court that the fabric of the building including unique woodwork was worth restoring, and it was completely rebuilt. Result indeed !

Now that is practical photography.

 

[Bob Michaels]

..... I think after about the 30th picture of the "midnight sun in summer" is that the number of photos that amateurs and pros wish to share greatly exceeds the number of viewers who wish to partake. .....

I have concluded that the maximum number of photos that anyone ever wants to see is around 25. It does not matter if the viewer is your mother or your best friend, or if they are of your year long trip around the world. No one wants to see more than that so edit and sum it up.

 

[LCSmith]

I have concluded that the maximum number of photos that anyone ever wants to see is around 25. It does not matter if the viewer is your mother or your best friend, or if they are off your year long trip around the world. No one wants to see more than that so edit and sum it up.

This is definitely true.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

This is definitely true.

Truth vary. To me ten pictures in series is total maximum. Two dozens is just lack of editor skills and incapability of telling story sharp.

And if picture is really good, one is enough.
This photog went to Cuba and posted just one picture.
http://rangefinder.ru/glr/showphoto.php/photo/58574/ppuser/7332/cat/500
Best photo about Cuba I ever seen.
The rest on the net is one cliche series of pictures. Close up of old woman face with cigar and same pictures around it.

 

[charjohncarter]

John like you I have a 'style.' In fact if I make a goof-up and I have trouble trying to fit that negative to my style I lose sleep. Strange that more goes into my/your style than composition or the camera I/you use. For instance I use HC-110h to develop not just because it is easy but it fits my 'style.' I like shadow detail because to me it finishes the image to that juicy fullness. Now HC-110h is not Kodak's best developer for shadow detail, but that can easily corrected by lowering my film speed. Gain is something that I don't care for so I use Tmax films (with alot of Trix). HC-110h is in the middle when it comes to gain, and that suits me fine. Acutance (with HC-110h) is generally called sharpness but if I want super sharp I'd use digital, so I settle for a little less with HC-110h when compared to other Kodak developers.

The overall effect with developer on my 'style' is to produce a smooth, soft, full toned image and my developer does that.

Some think HC-110h is for dummies or high production developing houses, but I choose not for its ease of use but the characters that I describe above.

That is just one thing on the technical side of 'style' that but there are many others. But, I won't bore you.

I do feel comfortable sharing my photos, if people don't like them they don't have to look. Before this shut down I would print photos for friends and family at least every week. And hope to be able to do that again.

 

[Brian Atherton]

Do I feel comfortable sharing my photos?

No, not really. Only one or two around me are remotely interested in what I do; I wander around and take photos for my own enjoyment and benefit.

Prior to putting images on my website, years ago I joined to local camera club, exhibited once or twice and had fair comments, but left because the majority were more interested in buying gear, selling gear and talking about gear but not using their gear to produce anything. Nothing wrong in this but I’m not inclined this way.

Nowadays I digitally print to A4 or A3 size because a really good image gives me satisfaction and pleasure, however the prints end up in boxes.

 

[RichC]

About my photography:

• I take photos because I have something to say to people. Rather than use words, I use pictures. I don't photograph objects, but rather ideas, statements and feelings (I've photographed the speed of technological change, the perils of fast food, the importance of forests to Finland...).
  
• I take photographs intending them to be seen in galleries, magazines and other public spaces – in the same way that writers need readers. But I take photographs for me, not my audience – we are interdependent, though, so my images need to engage with them.
  
• If you have something to say, a style will come naturally, in the same way that we can recognise ourselves and others through writing style. Like most things, style needs to honed and practised.

Advice for novices:

• Take photographs for yourself, not others.
  
• Think about why you take photographs, and then consciously make that central to how you make photographs. Perhaps it's the thrill of the hunt (think "decisive moment"); graphic design (patterns, shape, colour); documenting your life, others' lives or your town; or how you feel about the impact of global warming or consumerism or (as I did) how fast technology changes...
  
• Do you like taking photographs in a particular way, such as B&W or colour, or with film, or using a telephoto lens, or a wide-angle lens? Perhaps you're only interested in photos seen on screen, and couldn't care less for prints. Perhaps you like prefer photos to be in books or "zines". Again, build these preferences into your photography.
  
• Look at as many photographs by others as can, perhaps keeping a scrapbook. What do you like about these photographs? What don't you like? Without copying someone, is there something in a photograph that could alter the way you do photography? Or you may see something you want to avoid doing!
  
• Looking at paintings helps too: photography and painting have a lot of differences, but also a lot in common.

Doing the above will all help to clarify why and what to photograph. Your style will develop and your photographs become more cohesive and interesting – both to you and others.

The following is part of a published interview with me that may clarify what I've said.

 

[Henry]

Photographs that I share aren't always my "best" work according to me. They're bits of something that catch my interest, or fit into a conversation as an aside. I also enjoy whimsey, so I sometimes like absurdity (my deep love for the "Sharpness is a bourgeois concept" thread being an example).

I share what fits my mood at the time, and I don't mind criticism. I like what I like, but that doesn't mean it isn't interesting to hear what other people like or don't like too.

 

[Huss]

I don't share the pics I sell. Which happen to be my best pics.
A case of giving it away for free...

 

[Hari]

too big a hassle to share on line

 

[Damaso]

The whole reason I got into photography (photojournalism) was to share my work with the public. Going to art school and having regular critiques really toughened my skin. And while I have certainly come across rude people who insult my work, I have come across far more who have been inspired by my images or interpreted them in ways that I could never have imaged.

For my an image in incomplete without the viewer...

 

[LCSmith]

About my photography:

• I take photos because I have something to say to people. Rather than use words, I use pictures. I don't photograph objects, but rather ideas, statements and feelings (I've photographed the speed of technological change, the perils of fast food, the importance of forests to Finland...).
  
• I take photographs intending them to be seen in galleries, magazines and other public spaces – in the same way that writers need readers. But I take photographs for me, not my audience – we are interdependent, though, so my images need to engage with them.
  
• If you have something to say, a style will come naturally, in the same way that we can recognise ourselves and others through writing style. Like most things, style needs to honed and practised.

Advice for novices:

• Take photographs for yourself, not others.
  
• Think about why you take photographs, and then consciously make that central to how you make photographs. Perhaps it's the thrill of the hunt (think "decisive moment"); graphic design (patterns, shape, colour); documenting your life, others' lives or your town; or how you feel about the impact of global warming or consumerism or (as I did) how fast technology changes...
  
• Do you like taking photographs in a particular way, such as B&W or colour, or with film, or using a telephoto lens, or a wide-angle lens? Perhaps you're only interested in photos seen on screen, and couldn't care less for prints. Perhaps you like prefer photos to be in books or "zines". Again, build these preferences into your photography.
  
• Look at as many photographs by others as can, perhaps keeping a scrapbook. What do you like about these photographs? What don't you like? Without copying someone, is there something in a photograph that could alter the way you do photography? Or you may see something you want to avoid doing!
  
• Looking at paintings helps too: photography and painting have a lot of differences, but also a lot in common.

Doing the above will all help to clarify why and what to photograph. Your style will develop and your photographs become more cohesive and interesting – both to you and others.

The following is part of a published interview with me that may clarify what I've said.

This is really strange.

 

[RichC]

This is really strange.

How so? Good strange, bad strange!? 🙂