how do you know if you're any good?

back alley said:
there are ... days when i think i should just sell it all and find a new way to spend money and time.
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If running around and taking picture is a passion there is no need to give it up. If you think you should have done it better, try again (and again). As long as you don´t have to make your living with photography it´s all up to you in first place.

Dreaming about being the admired photog ? Forget it, just look a flickr and realise how many pictures you like have no comment at all. Some people have found their special way of seeing the world, got the attention of others - you will know some of them. I have no problem to admit that I like their work far more than my own, but they are also an inspiration.

Don´t give up.

Thomas
 
I used to care a lot less about what poeple thought before i discovered the internet and forums and such and started posting my images all over. Actually enjoyed just doing it for myself. Once again...too much time online.....
 
I've gotten to the stage where I shoot for myself alone.

Of course I appreciate constructive comments and always try to take them on board. I do as much reading up as I can and always try to learn as much about the fundementals of an area. Overall though, as long as i'm happy with the shots that's all that matters.


The biggest area that I work in photographically speaking is in photographing ships. In my local area there are a few of us who do this and whilst we don't compete with each other I always like to see what others are doing. Personally I like to produce something a little different to what others are doing and perhaps add my signature look to these images.

I also like to work alone and then discuss my output with others at a later stage. I've found that whilst out shooting with the local Flickr group or it's members they cramp my style and I feel pressured to come up with the goods.
 
Frankl.y, I think you have to trust yourself. You have to trust yourself to set goals that are high enough to be good. You have to trust yourself to honestly critique your own work. You have to trust yourself when you have a postiive or negative reaction to to your own work. Now, it is exceedingly nice to have your own feelings corroberated by someone else. But, in the end, it is your personal experssion and you must be happy with it. As others have pointed out, even photographers with large reputations for good work can not appeal to everyone. But the biggest reason to trust yourself is because if you are are really making art, it just might be that you are ahead of everyone's curve. It may take a little time for your critics to reach the same level where you are operating. Usually, if something is really new it takes time for people to really understand and appreciate what they are seeing. So, you must be honest with yourself and trust your own instincts and feelings.
 
John I agree - though I do a combination of that and feedback from others. Really, my best critic is my wife. She's pretty honest with me because she wants me to succeed photographically. If she likes it, she says why. If doesn't like it or it does nothing for her, she says so too.

Man, is that loaded with double entendre... 🙂
 
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how do you know if you're any good?
After you are dead a couple of decades your negatives are found and there is a retrospective of your work at a renowned museum with a high gloss book issued. (Which means if you shot all your work in digital you better hope that flickr is still up.) The living are only well paid.
 
Just watch "American Idol" early in the season.

You'll see dozens and dozens of people who fervently believe they are "good".

It's absolutely painfully obvious to anyone watching (go on, you don't have to claim you've never seen it), who is good and who is bad.

The people who believe they are good are bitterly angry when rejected. They still feel they are good and everyone else is wrong. They are "misunderstood", or have some self-proclaimed "special talent" or "vision" that they are aware of, but everyone else is not.

You can extrapolate that to about 99.99% of those who have expensive camera equipment. websites, Flickr pages, galleries, participate in online forums, etc., and believe that they are talented.

They are "making themselves happy", but feel their talent is unrecognized by the ignorant masses.

Frankl.y, I think you have to trust yourself. You have to trust yourself to set goals that are high enough to be good. You have to trust yourself to honestly critique your own work. You have to trust yourself when you have a postiive or negative reaction to to your own work. Now, it is exceedingly nice to have your own feelings corroberated by someone else. But, in the end, it is your personal experssion and you must be happy with it. As others have pointed out, even photographers with large reputations for good work can not appeal to everyone. But the biggest reason to trust yourself is because if you are are really making art, it just might be that you are ahead of everyone's curve. It may take a little time for your critics to reach the same level where you are operating. Usually, if something is really new it takes time for people to really understand and appreciate what they are seeing. So, you must be honest with yourself and trust your own instincts and feelings.
 
M. Valdemar said:
Just watch "American Idol" early in the season.
You'll see dozens and dozens of people who fervently believe they are "good".
It's absolutely painfully obvious to anyone watching (go on, you don't have to claim you've never seen it), who is good and who is bad.
The people who believe they are good are bitterly angry when rejected. They still feel they are good and everyone else is wrong. They are "misunderstood", or have some self-proclaimed "special talent" or "vision" that they are aware of, but everyone else is not.
You can extrapolate that to about 99.99% of those who have expensive camera equipment. websites, Flickr pages, galleries, participate in online forums, etc., and believe that they are talented.
They are "making themselves happy", but feel their talent is unrecognized by the ignorant masses.


So, just what are you trying to tell me? 😉
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The only way to "know" you are good is to define the criteria for what is good and then meet that criteria. There is no definition that we can all agree on, so from that standpoint the answer to your question is, "you will never know." But if you decide what being "good" means to you, then you have a chance. Otherwise it's just a popularity contest, and judging by the musicians who make it to the top 40, popularity doesn't necessarily equal talent.

At this point in my photographic journey, I feel like I am still a student. I may make a photo once in a while that I really like, but even then I can always point out errors. I put a lot of photos on flickr because I use it as a kind of visual blog to keep my friends and family involved in what's going on with my life. Sometimes that is serious photography and other times it's just documentation. I take the few comments I get as encouragement to continue, so in that since I love getting them. As long as I feel like I'm improving, I'm happy. I'll worry about being good later.

Paul
 
Anyone wishing to know if they are good photographers or not may post three of what they consider to be good photos of theirs in this thread.

I will then tell them, so there is no further question, whether they are good or whether they would be better off taking up bingo or golf.

You can then sleep nights.
 
M. Valdemar said:
Anyone wishing to know if they are good photographers or not may post three of what they consider to be good photos of theirs in this thread.
I will then tell them, so there is no further question, whether they are good or whether they would be better off taking up bingo or golf.
You can then sleep nights.
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Okay, I'll bite. I'd be interested in your opinion, since we seem to have such a conflicted on-line relationship.
 

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i don't think i'm any good, but i have two of my photos in the window of my frame shop and people always stop to look at them.

i've sold a few of them, but i wonder if it was because i price them cheaply to get rid of leftover moulding or if they really like the images. i have a hard time believing anyone would want to pay for a picture they can take on their own.

i would have never put them out there, but my wife insisted i try it. i'm glad she did, the last one i sold paid for half of my new m6!

bob
 
Thanks Ned.

M.V. has told us that he was once a magazine editor. I don't know if it was as a photo editor, or for which magazine, but he may have an informed opinion. Please, post away, Ned and everyone. Let's take up his offer. I'm hoping M.V. will also post 3 of his own favourites. Somehow it's easier to accept criticism from a photographer who's own work you respect.
 
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Technically, your photos are adequate, but I don't see anything groundbreaking or really original that would advance the consciousness of the hive mind.

I sense the photos are meaningful for you, but would not be outstanding in any important way for future generations. I don't think you could commercially support yourself with photography.

I would describe my own work about the same way. I have taken commercial photographs that have paid well, and I can shoot pictures to satisfy a client. I take photos for my personal use that are meaningful for me and are technically extremely competent, but I don't think I have made any photographs that would be appreciated by future museum curators as anything "important", except maybe as historical ephemera with certain landmarks or people in them. I'm not that good.

FrankS said:
Thanks Ned.

M.V. has told us that he was once a magazine editor. I don't know if it was as a photo editor, or for which magazine, but he may have an informed opinion. Please, post away, Ned and everyone. Let's take up his offer. I'm hoping M.V. will also post 3 of his own favourites. Somehow it's easier to accept criticism from a photographer who's own work you respect.
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