Pictures That Photogs Love, and Non-Photogs Don't

[cameron.knight]

I'm one of the lucky few that makes my living with my camera. I say lucky because there are plenty of talented people out there that could do what I do.

As someone who shoots all the time and consumes photos all the time, my photos often get commented on by my friends and co-workers. Often they'll say something nice about it, and I'll shrug it off because I don't really like the image they're talking about. In fact, I don't love most of the images I shoot.

But I recently experienced the inverse of this situation. I took a photo, which I actually love. I think I can say this about .01% of the images I make. My girlfriend and a couple of my friends, on the other hand, thinks it sucks and that it's boring.

I'm thick-skinned and realize that art is subjective. This is just a funny situation, I think.

Has anyone else experienced this?

And here's the image, if anyone wants to offer a critique. (I'm a photojournalist, and think that my landscape, non-people photos are pretty awful generally) I just really like this one. It's displayed in my house with a tighter 8x10 crop and a straighter horizon.

 

[Roger Hicks]

I often think, "I can see the appeal -- but I can't say I'm wild about it myself."

Much the same here. Light; composition; content; contrasts... Yeah, fine, but it's not the sort of picture I'm wild about.

Then again, I'd say the same about Gursky -- so quick, put a $1 million prce tag on it.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Photosynthetech]

My girlfriend hates these 2.

But I think she has something against screaming men with facial hair.

 

[charjohncarter]

I like it. Maybe it has something to do with a combination of skill (exposure, timing, keeping evemrthing straight) and the artistic.

 

[batterytypehah!]

I get it but it doesn't come across too well in this size. The warm light in the window is what makes the picture but it's not a stark enough scene for that to stand out.

Without the big warm brown of the silo, and with just one set of tracks to the door, it would be perfect. As it is, it's good, but not for everybody, as you say.

 

[cameron.knight]

Interesting... I understand not liking the image. No one's going to hurt my feelings. I just think it's interesting that I love the image so much and other people actually dislike it.

The window is what makes the photo for me, too. I like those music shots! That film you're using rocks a real 70s vibe for me.

Anyone else have any images they love, but their loved ones hate.

 

[jsrockit]

Has anyone else experienced this?

Yes, all the time. I love some photos and show them to friends who don't like them... but I feel as long as I am constantly editing over a long period of time, I have to trust my instincts. Not everybody has the same experiences, nostalgia, sensibilities, education, aesthetics, abilities, etc. Some people love the cliches and some people hate them (usually the biggest hurdle in my experience). Also, some people are just jaded and negative (i hate everything, why bother, etc.) and some are just too positive (OMG I love everything ever made!).

And here's the image, if anyone wants to offer a critique. (I'm a photojournalist, and think that my landscape, non-people photos are pretty awful generally) I just really like this one. It's displayed in my house with a tighter 8x10 crop and a straighter horizon.

I think you are right to trust your instincts on this. I like it as well, but see it as one of those polarizing images due to the banal subject matter. These are typically photos that photographers like (the banal that is) when the non-photographer expects to be wowed by the subject or for everything to look like a calendar.