man, i suck at this!

[kkdanamatt]

It happens to all of us...

It happens to all of us...

...at one time or another.

An upcoming vacation usually gets my photo juices flowing.
The thought of assembling the necessary gear and anticipating exciting subject matter are the key elements igniting my photography flame.
Also, take pictures solely for your own enjoyment.
Don't expect other people to like your work or comment favorably about it.
You will inevitably be disappointed.

 

[CK Dexter Haven]

With the internet, there's a lot of 'pressure' to shoot all the time. You constantly see blogs of people who post a photo a day, or some portfolio of a prolific photographer... and you feel like you aren't justifying your gear or your interest....

But, i feel like there really are too many banal images floating about, displayed just because people have a compulsion to show what they're doing all the time. It's like tweeting. That, or people need to justify their gear and gadget obsession.

Just don't shoot. Unless you have a real reason. There's no real reason to take your camera to the supermarket. Or, even to the park. Seriously- i'm in central park every weekend and everyone's got a camera. It's funny to see the things people feel a need to bring home with them, and then i try to imagine what they could possibly do with those images.

Basically, it seems like a lot of wasted energy. We need to be better editors of our work and that starts with making decisions on when and what to shoot. If it's just for the purpose of shooting- as an exercise- skip it for a while. Recharge and maybe the real opportunities will mean a little bit more.

 

[batterytypehah!]

I was away from RFF for some months earlier this year for personal reasons and when I got back, I noticed the gallery preview strip at the top was gone. I think this has a lot to do with fewer comments, for everybody. I rarely stroll in the gallery anymore, which is a crying shame, but that's what happened.

 

[FrankS]

Joe I'm confident that a change in surroundings will be the tonic you need, and that your visit to Toronto this week/weekend will be creatively reinvigorating. I know that a vacation to a different locale helps me out greatly.

 

[filmfan]

Try this:

-Get out more / go to places you don't usually go to and are interested in

-one camera and one lens

 

[kxl]

Joe I'm confident that a change in surroundings will be the tonic you need, and that your visit to Toronto this week/weekend will be creatively reinvigorating. I know that a vacation to a different locale helps me out greatly.

Same here. Life sometimes gets in the way of the things we really want to do. The monotony of a daily routine just saps my creativity, and a good jolt is often what I need -- not necessarily a vacation (although that certainly helps) but just something that gets me out of my day-to-day rut.

 

[reagan]

man, I suck at this.

Simple solution. Commit yourself to use nothing but FSU gear. You'll spend so much time wrenching on your kit, you won't have time to post your crap in the gallery.

 

[gb hill]

You can count on 5 fingers the ones who comment on photo's in the gallery. There are some great photo's that never get commented on. I spend most of my time on flickr than the gallery here. Lately I haven't had much time for commenting there. You are a good photographer Joe. The trip to Toronto will do you good. I wish I could be there. Looking forward to seeing the photos & reading about your trip.

 

[monochromejrnl]

I suggest figuring out why you need the validation of others.

Photography seems to be a hobby for you so why be so judgmental of your images and yourself?

If you think you suck then you either find a way to improvement or you find another hobby.

 

[Richard G]

Yeah. If that pool was your only pool, maybe you'd appreciate things more. What with the long walk to your front gate past that enormous pool, no wonder you're too tired to take a good picture. But I'll say this, to be picked once in the gallery picks here is like winning the national competition anywhere else. Keep at it. Ivan Lendl, who was a pretty good tennis player, was asked after a bad loss whether he felt like giving up tennis. No, he said, on a good day he felt like giving up tennis, on a bad day he felt like committing suicide. He was exaggerating.

 

[redisburning]

I feel invisible on these forums.

If it were images I were posting, that would be one thing, but I feel like no one even reads my posts -_- I have literally zero doubt that when I finally get some pictures back people won't even take the time to say "garbage" or "what were you trying to accomplish?"

a RFF member I friended on flickr made a simple comment on a photo of mine and it really made my day. dunno, we all have a little bit of attention seeking behavior in us.

 

[Carterofmars]

Yeah dito.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

This thread needs pictures posted to it.

Not the time to feel sorry for yourself, just get out and take some pictures.

 

[deerstalkr]

I speak as a student of a music college. I'm fairly new to photography--I've only been shooting for about a year and a half, but I have a background in various creative arts. It's a competitive environment and there's a lot of pressure that I submit myself to that isn't being placed upon by my peers. Although we have a duty to maintain our own practise schedules to maintain a standard of quality musicianship in order to pass a lot of us practise to one up each other.

I understand that it can be disheartening when you aren't able to meet your own standards or impress yourself and/or others. It is even more disheartening if you've become emotionally attached to it because it can feel like rejection--whether it be rejection from a beloved or in a pool of hopeful job seekers.

It's my first year in college and I came here thinking I was great, but not fantastic. I hope to one day become a songwriter in the same league as Lennon/McCartney, John Mayer and others. I've been here for almost a full semester and i've become incredibly disillusioned. I've heard some great musicians, while it is nice to be around people who are better than me it can make me feel very insecure and sometimes it's too much to bear.

I have thought about dropping out and enrolling in a real course at a real university so I can go somewhere reputable in life and not rely on my parents forever. I have also considered enrolling at a college of fine arts because I feel as if I'm better at photography than I am as a writer and musician. As a writer and musician I am rather jaded because I invest so much of my emotions into it and anything less than wonderful feels like rejection from somebody I love dearly. I don't feel that sense of rejection when I am out shooting. I'm glad if I have even one keeper. Although I don't think I have a keen eye for beauty on par with the masters I am working on it and it is something I like to immerse myself in when I feel burnt out from music.

I've recently had an epiphany; when I start to feel insecure about my art I make a conscious effort not to judge myself too harshly and just doing what I enjoy--in the context of photography I like to go for a walk and take photos and not having the negatives processed for a few days/weeks. Just do what you enjoy and don't worry about how it looks or sounds.

If photography is an art or discipline you enjoy and love you must nurture it through regular practise before it will love you in return. It took me a while to realise I was spending too much time online talking about music/photography and gear as opposed to doing what I enjoy. Consider taking classes at a local community college if you have the time. If not to study the art and improve yourself then surrounding yourself with like minded individuals withins arm's length will motivate you to better yourself.

I find it whimsical that it was only a few days ago I was feeling down and it was somebody else who gave me a pep talk. I still feel down, but i'm getting by. I feel as though I may have said too much, but hopefully nobody is horribly offended by the space I have taken up. I'm not really qualified to tell you what to do and what not to do, but if you keep at it you'll be pleasantly surprised and grateful for it. If not, you better find something to fill the void quickly when you decide to give up.

 

[taskoni]

Go back to film-it will greatly improve your images and bring u back your confidence. Don't shoot everything, pick a theme and try to stick with it for a while. Also try to take one shot only of your target...
Regards,
Boris

 

[SciAggie]

It's the pits sometimes Joe. I notice that I tend to comment on photos made by the same people that comment on mine. I have read where some people speculate that is the "good 'ol boy" back slapping "nice photo" crowd. I think it's quite simple; there are a couple of members here that "see" the same kinds of photos I do - so we like each others work. Ours is probably cr#p too - we just share the same vision in our cr#p 🙂.

I have also noticed something interesting about my own photos. There seems to be a general opinion held by RFF members that having a strong passion or emotion toward what one photographs is a key ingredient to producing exemplary work. While I agree with the theory - it hasn't held true for me. I have posted photos here that have truly been emotionally touching and meaningful to me that have been almost totally ignored. I end up deleting them from the gallery. At first I was somewhat bewildered; then it occurred to me that I don't really care. Those photos touch ME - and it's only a bonus if anyone else likes them.

I do think you make fine images. There are some I like a lot. For me, they are about an environment much different than my own. I enjoy them but don't comment.

Go out and continue to enjoy making images. Search for what makes you happy and a pox on everyone else. If you feel a little stale, shoot something that's outside your comfort zone. That works for me.

 

[zauhar]

I second the folks who suggest that your upcoming trip should be seen as an opportunity for shooting.

(I hate to travel. Since I have started taking photos, I now tell myself that any trip is really a photo trip! It has totally changed my attitude. )

Another thing - do not take a break from photography. Clearly this is too important to you. If anything shoot more, even if you think it's crap, until you feel better.

You do still shoot film, right? If you want to take a break, take a break from that X100 gadget.

Finally, somebody asked if you were asking for "validation" or some such. I am a newcomer to this forum, but my sense is that this is a place where you are meeting with friends, and if you are depressed with your work you ought to be able to talk it out.

All the best,

Randy

 

[paulfitz76]

I've found that the pictures that I never set out to make, but just happened upon and I was lucky to have a camera with me always seem to get comments. Pictures that I went out to make never get any.

So I've decided just to use my eyes first and hope I have a camera. Seems when I use the camera first it's boring.

Go out for a walk or a drive and DON'T take a camera. See what you can see, and whatever you say "I wish I had my camera with me" is probably a good shot.

It's worked for me. Especially at night. For example, I went out on a Friday night, saw long bare leg hanging out of the truck window, with tat and spiked high heel. Can't see the driver. Stopped at a light, all I could see was the frozen daiquiri from New Orlean's famous in the cupholder. NO CAMERA - UGGGH - another cajun friday night missed shot. Next day, I went and got a Nikon P7000 just to have with me all the time. Next morning, made the shot in my gallery (there's only one pic) while I was waiting to go for a meeting with a client. No intention of shooting anything. It received one good comment. I never went out to shoot it, just saw it and happened to have the camera.

Then the P7000 starting locking up so back it went - at least it gave me one good shot.

Still grumbling that I missed that pickup, bare leg and frozen daiquiri:bang:

Sometimes I think we forget that we have to see good photos with our eyes first, then apply a camera to capture it.

 

[Eric T]

Henrietta,
Look at the bright side - you live in Sydney. I have been there several times and, in my opinion, it is the best city in the world.
I have made a point never to try to make money at photography. I have enjoyed it for many years but I have done what Charles Ives (one of America's early great composers) did. Ives loved music. He studied it in college but decided to never make it his living. Instead, he became a very successful insurance salesman. He wrote music when he could and composed a body of work that is still respected.
Ives thought that if he made music his living, he would never be able to compose as he wanted. He also thought that doing it for a living would take the joy out of music.
I am not a particularly talented photographer. But even if I was, I would not try to make a living out of it. For me, that would take the fun out of it. So I chose science as a career. I am a microbiologist and I enjoy my work very much. And I still enjoy taking a camera with me everywhere I go - including Sydney.

 

[randolph45]

the best solution

the best solution

Gee Joe
When my wife gets the grumbles like you have I tell her it's just not enough sex🙄

P.S. And you gotta laugh more sides your goin to Toronto for some photo fun and the game.

Plus you still wake up in the morning Soooo 🙂