oftheherd
Veteran
Bill, lots of good comments and advice for you ( or anyone else ) by a lot of the menbers of the forum already.
I wrote the lines below just after Captainslack's 2nd post. Then got called out of the office until just now. Some have said some of what I was trying to say better than me. Still if any of it is different or said in a different way that makes more sense, here it is. If not, just ignore it gleefully.
For what it's worth, I don't take that many photos any more, other than family snapshots. But, I still find myself looking at them later and realizing I can still do what I used to do, compose well sometimes, without realizing at the time I was doing so. Or I see I used light well that I didn't even notice when I was taking the shot. I don't recall that I ever did that naturally.
I had to look at a lot of my own bad photos to see what needed improving. Then carefully composing to insure I was getting a better composition. Eventually it worked such that I was getting some good ones along with the bad. I learned a lot of other things along the line, by experimenting mostly. I learned how to use light. I learned how to appreciate different lighting. I learned how to paint with light. I learned how to choose different lenses for their effect. I learned how to recognize different lens focal lengths that had been used. I can still do some of those things.
It was sometimes discouraging when I had trouble getting what I wanted, and sometimes I quit trying. Sometimes I went back later and tried again. Sometimes I didn't, and almost always regretted not having done so. Sometimes I almost just had to make myself go back and try something. I always felt better when I did. Even if I still couldn't get quite what I wanted.
But you know, out of all that time when I was at my best, I still got some bad photos. Worse, I still got some really really bad photos. I hated that! I hate that now I don't have (make) the opportunity to take more photos. I often wonder if I should have tried to make photography my living. Truthfully, I used to worry about two things. It might get to be work rather than pleasure, and I might not be good enough. I put those reasons in that order, but probably it was the later that scared me the most. Anyway, I never tried.
I sometimes used to show some of my photos to others, naturally expecting a lot of praise. Sometimes I got it, sometimes not. I still somewhere have a small portfollio of different photos I put together, just to see the reactions. About 12 or 15. Some were interesting, some I didn't much like. Two were of dandelions with bees on them: some of my early experiments with extention tubes. They were without a tripod and dof wasn't well controlled either. Just about everybody who saw them praised them. That's why they were in there. Looking for someone who wouldn't. Some I thought were really great were flipped over with hardly more than a glance. I still haven't figured that out. Phillistines!
I still like to take photos just because I think I saw something interesting that might make a good photo. But I don't do it so much now. When I do, I don't share them so much. I try to be happy at what got if I think I got what I wanted. Of course I usually show them to my family. Especially my daughters. My wife is harder to please.
Lessons (I think I) learned?
If you can sell photos, there should be pleasure in it over and above the money. If there is no pleasure, why do it?
Take all photos for yourself first. Even if for pay. Don't try to be the photographer of everybody. You do some things better than other things. Since at least a part of that is the pleasure you get from that type of photography, try to do that the most. Never however, be afraid to try new things. We grow that way.
Sometimes you have to push yourself to stay with photography. You will almost certainly thank yourself if you do. You will almost certainly hate yourself if you don't.
Don't worry too much what others think of your photos. Sure, it is nice to receive the compliments. But if the photo pleases you, it has pleased the most important person in your life. That doesn't mean you should turn yourself off to criticism. There is always something to be learned from others' critiques. Either they can point out things you didn't notice, and you can use that to improve, or you can recognize tasteless people and learn to ignore them. Either way you are the one who gains.
You mentioned depression. You don't come across in the forum as someone who would likely be depressed. However, that can happen to anybody at any stage of their life. If you even suspect that, talk to a doctor about it. If you have it, it can be treated. If not, take comfort that isn't your problem.
Inability to acheive what you want, especially in something that is art as well as technique can be frustrating. Attack it head on! Experiment. Take more photos. Get people to critique them. Critique the critiques. Your photography has to be yours.
Don't take it too much to heart if everybody isn't jumping up and down praising your photos. Some people really are hard to please. Some have no souls. Some just have other things on their mind than your belief in your own artistic ability. My wife has fibromyalgia. She doesn't see much pleasure in anything but our grandson. No matter what I try.
If you like your photography, don't get disappointed in others. If you don't, find out why and fix it. It's your hobby after all.
Sorry for the long post. Just thought maybe it might get your thinking juices moving in the right direction. Whatever that is.
Cheers.
I wrote the lines below just after Captainslack's 2nd post. Then got called out of the office until just now. Some have said some of what I was trying to say better than me. Still if any of it is different or said in a different way that makes more sense, here it is. If not, just ignore it gleefully.
For what it's worth, I don't take that many photos any more, other than family snapshots. But, I still find myself looking at them later and realizing I can still do what I used to do, compose well sometimes, without realizing at the time I was doing so. Or I see I used light well that I didn't even notice when I was taking the shot. I don't recall that I ever did that naturally.
I had to look at a lot of my own bad photos to see what needed improving. Then carefully composing to insure I was getting a better composition. Eventually it worked such that I was getting some good ones along with the bad. I learned a lot of other things along the line, by experimenting mostly. I learned how to use light. I learned how to appreciate different lighting. I learned how to paint with light. I learned how to choose different lenses for their effect. I learned how to recognize different lens focal lengths that had been used. I can still do some of those things.
It was sometimes discouraging when I had trouble getting what I wanted, and sometimes I quit trying. Sometimes I went back later and tried again. Sometimes I didn't, and almost always regretted not having done so. Sometimes I almost just had to make myself go back and try something. I always felt better when I did. Even if I still couldn't get quite what I wanted.
But you know, out of all that time when I was at my best, I still got some bad photos. Worse, I still got some really really bad photos. I hated that! I hate that now I don't have (make) the opportunity to take more photos. I often wonder if I should have tried to make photography my living. Truthfully, I used to worry about two things. It might get to be work rather than pleasure, and I might not be good enough. I put those reasons in that order, but probably it was the later that scared me the most. Anyway, I never tried.
I sometimes used to show some of my photos to others, naturally expecting a lot of praise. Sometimes I got it, sometimes not. I still somewhere have a small portfollio of different photos I put together, just to see the reactions. About 12 or 15. Some were interesting, some I didn't much like. Two were of dandelions with bees on them: some of my early experiments with extention tubes. They were without a tripod and dof wasn't well controlled either. Just about everybody who saw them praised them. That's why they were in there. Looking for someone who wouldn't. Some I thought were really great were flipped over with hardly more than a glance. I still haven't figured that out. Phillistines!
I still like to take photos just because I think I saw something interesting that might make a good photo. But I don't do it so much now. When I do, I don't share them so much. I try to be happy at what got if I think I got what I wanted. Of course I usually show them to my family. Especially my daughters. My wife is harder to please.
Lessons (I think I) learned?
If you can sell photos, there should be pleasure in it over and above the money. If there is no pleasure, why do it?
Take all photos for yourself first. Even if for pay. Don't try to be the photographer of everybody. You do some things better than other things. Since at least a part of that is the pleasure you get from that type of photography, try to do that the most. Never however, be afraid to try new things. We grow that way.
Sometimes you have to push yourself to stay with photography. You will almost certainly thank yourself if you do. You will almost certainly hate yourself if you don't.
Don't worry too much what others think of your photos. Sure, it is nice to receive the compliments. But if the photo pleases you, it has pleased the most important person in your life. That doesn't mean you should turn yourself off to criticism. There is always something to be learned from others' critiques. Either they can point out things you didn't notice, and you can use that to improve, or you can recognize tasteless people and learn to ignore them. Either way you are the one who gains.
You mentioned depression. You don't come across in the forum as someone who would likely be depressed. However, that can happen to anybody at any stage of their life. If you even suspect that, talk to a doctor about it. If you have it, it can be treated. If not, take comfort that isn't your problem.
Inability to acheive what you want, especially in something that is art as well as technique can be frustrating. Attack it head on! Experiment. Take more photos. Get people to critique them. Critique the critiques. Your photography has to be yours.
Don't take it too much to heart if everybody isn't jumping up and down praising your photos. Some people really are hard to please. Some have no souls. Some just have other things on their mind than your belief in your own artistic ability. My wife has fibromyalgia. She doesn't see much pleasure in anything but our grandson. No matter what I try.
If you like your photography, don't get disappointed in others. If you don't, find out why and fix it. It's your hobby after all.
Sorry for the long post. Just thought maybe it might get your thinking juices moving in the right direction. Whatever that is.
Cheers.
