Does it happen to you that your most popular pics are NOT those you like most ?

ruben said:
Sorry Stewart, but the significance of your last post is unclear to me.

Nevertheless, I have to retreat from my assertion that the circumstances are not a factor in my preferences about my images. It happens that when an image is easy-for-me to obtain, I tend to disdain it somewhat. In my case it doesn't happen both directions, but in the mentioned one.

Yet this easy-for-me, or for you, encompasses a mixture of talent, experience and luck.

Hmmm, the mistery is starting to unveil...

Cheers,
Ruben
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I think my contention is that a well composed photo will be liked by the majority of people they will all tend to like it, anyone with an emotional attachment will view it differently, and you clearly are emotionally attached to your photography.

Consider a photo of one of your children; would I see it as you do? Your knowledge of how and where it was made must alter your appreciation of it

regards
 
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Vain Glory

Vain Glory

I've always strived for a certain look in my photos, which is a rather limited compositional set of themes. I am competing with my self to match the moment to those themes and if those who look at my work don't make the effort to play my game they can go hang.
 
maybe it's frustrating because we always want our choices validated, and not contradicted, but to me that just makes it all the more interesting.
 
Probably a little of everything that has been said above. But of interest to me is that I once put together a small "portfolio" and took pleasure in showing it around. There were two photos of closeups of bees and dandelions. Everyone always commented on those photos and mentioned how they liked them. They were slightly fuzzy from focus or camera movement, but everybody liked them. Another was of a sunrise that really only had color, not much comosition. There were two contest winners there that nobody took any real notice of.
That was probably the most pleasure I got out of showing it, to see if anyone would show any interest in the contest winners. Never happened. Go figure. I never could.
 
Interesting observation oftheherd.

Without wishing to sound sound snobbish, I personally think the amount you have educated your palette affects your taste.
As an example take pop music and jazz, both are valid forms of music. However, pop is instantly accessible (and liked more by the young I'd say). Where as Jazz requires some knowledge of the music to appreciate it. You could say it's the same with wine.

We look at photographs regularly and repond to subleties within the image both technical and compositional. People who aren't into photography look for bright colours and accepted themes of beauty.

I'm not really into wine or Jazz BTW so I may be talking rubbish. ;)
 
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d_ross said:
The answer is simple, we all like different things, thankfully :)
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All the theories I’ve ever read conclude the opposite to that, people actually like the same things

How many people (adults that is) don’t like patterns?

Image005-800.jpg




Or things in groups?

test009.jpg
 
ferider said:
It happens, Ruben.

The more interesting question is why it's frustrating (to me at least).

Roland.
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That would be god’s way of saying “do better next time” I suspect it’s an evolutionary thing

:angel: :D :angel:

regards
 
Bobfrance said:
Interesting observation oftheherd.

Without wishing to sound sound snobbish, I personally think the amount you have educated your palette affects your taste.
As an example take pop music and jazz, both are valid forms of music. However, pop is instantly accessible (and liked more by the young I'd say). Where as Jazz requires some knowledge of the music to appreciate it. You could say it's the same with wine.

We look at photographs regularly and repond to subleties within the image both technical and compositional. People who aren't into photography look for bright colours and accepted themes of beauty.

I'm not really into wine or Jazz BTW so I may be talking rubbish. ;)
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That what I was failing to get across to Ruben earlier, that knowledge must change opinion.

Remember that HBC photo put up for criticism anonymously; would they have said what they did had they known the truth, and more important still which opinion was closest to the truth?
 
I can contribute with two other inter-related aspects.

Images, our images, are our own creations. Can we be objective towards our own creations? Can we be objective towards our own children, towards our own behaviour ?

Now, most of us, although needing the support of others, create for ourselves.
Therefore we do not develope a sense of popularity, or what the public likes or dislikes.

Be it stated that by my opinion, "the public" sometimes has good taste, sometimes not. Popularity is a statistic fact. Good taste - a highly subjective issue.

Popularity is popularity, good taste is good taste. Sometimes the go along each other, sometimes against. My mistake is in taking for granted they are the same.

Cheers,
Ruben
 
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Hi Ruben, if you work in a creative occupation, then it is crucial to develop “a sense of popularity, or what the public likes or dislikes.” How else do you work out what to make? And if it will sell?

Good taste may be subjective, would you also say visual perception was, I don’t think so, yellow and blue remain complimentary colours whoever is looking at them.

regards
 
Hi Stewart,

Kindly take note of your word "perception". Perception is to my opinion highly personal. But it can find popularity and become a success.

Now all these leads to the next conflict: How to obtain a measure of support we all need (popularity), without relinquishing our own taste.

But it seems to me I will take a rest and leave it for another thread. Meanwhile some shooting.

Cheers,
Ruben
 
I guess the viewer has a individual opinion about a picture of yours, and it might not correndspond to what you feel. The viewer also might not be able to put himself in your shoes to see the image from your standpoint.

Samuel
 
ruben said:
Hi Stewart,

Kindly take note of your word "perception". Perception is to my opinion highly personal. But it can find popularity and become a success.

Now all these leads to the next conflict: How to obtain a measure of support we all need (popularity), without relinquishing our own taste.

But it seems to me I will take a rest and leave it for another thread. Meanwhile some shooting.

Cheers,
Ruben
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Then, sadly, our opinions differ, I believe the vast majority see hear and touch the world around them in the same way and therefore appreciate it in generally similar ways

Do you get good light in the winter over there?
 
alternatve said:
I guess the viewer has a individual opinion about a picture of yours, and it might not correndspond to what you feel. The viewer also might not be able to put himself in your shoes to see the image from your standpoint.

Samuel
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I agree completely it’s impossible for me to separate my ego from my opinion.

However I can attempt predict what you will like, and I’m predicting you will like the two shots I posted above

regards

PS feel free to comment on the photos I don’t get offended
 
I think the answer also lies in what type of pictures you primarily take, and of course the type of people you show your photographs to. But more importantly perhaps, does it matter ? Ruben, how does it make you feel when people respond better to the pictures you don't like the most. Does it make you feel good that you have taken a picture that someone responds positively to, or does it make you question your personal choices?

To quote Jeff Koons the conceptual artist. "The art is in the viewer"
 
Ruben, I've noticed this on my flickr gallery. I agree that I am maybe a bad editor of my own work, and that the feelings encountered while making the photo influence my own preferences. But here are some samples from my last four flickr uploads. They're all made with an SLR, so pardon that, but my favourite is NOT the one that has gotten the most comments. I'd appreciate any thoughts others might have about which they like better. I won't tell which is my favourite yet. :D

http://www.flickr.com/photos/97373293@N00/2026370207/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/97373293@N00/2026368911/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/97373293@N00/2026367729/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/97373293@N00/2027169072/in/photostream/

And yes, I have one or two images (not those posted here!) that, from the very capture to the final print, I knew were great to me ... and continue to be so 30+ years later.

Earl
 
My money is on the dulcimer shot. Have you considered a more speed-enhancing developer, like Diafine? It looks like you're shooting in no light at all and an extra stop would be a big help.
 
Thanks... BTW, I don't want to hijack this thread, Ruben!

Diafine: Sorry, I'm not fond of it. Yes, I'm shooting in virtually no light. My effort is all merciful's fault!
 
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