unexpected compliment

back alley

back alley

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i met a friend for coffee this afternoon...she has always been very complimentary about my photography, usually telling me what a good photographer i am...but like most compliments i get - it is taken lightly by me as it normally lacks any real substance...might as well tell me i must have a really good camera!

but today, she went on about how my images were 'alive' and that they looked 'real' to her.
i felt very flattered and touched...i don't normally get specifics like that...and i just wanted to make it more real by passing it along to you guys!!

this should happen more often and to more of us...i hope it does for everyone.
 
That's great Joe ... it can go long way to making you feel better about what you're doing IMO.

I was told by a highly qualified friend that I'm a 'studio photographer' and my environment is my studio ... which does confirm to me that I'm very structured in my shooting and probably always will be.
 
I was unwrapping some of my photographic images at a local art gallery during initial intake and the president of the gallery took a look at my photos and said, "oh, wow." Since it was my first gallery showing, I was happy.
 
I am a mere enthusiast. Recently, a pro friend told me out of the blue that my street photo are "full of silence". As this is exactly what I am aiming at (usually without even realizing it) when shooting busy Tokyo, I felt extremely honoured.
At least, I seem to have that part right.
 
kumotaki said:
I am a mere enthusiast. Recently, a pro friend told me out of the blue that my street photo are "full of silence". As this is exactly what I am aiming at (usually without even realizing it) when shooting busy Tokyo, I felt extremely honoured.
At least, I seem to have that part right.
Click to expand...

now i want to see some of your pics...
 
Have you photographed said friend Joe? :)

I get a compliment now and then but I think they come from good manners as opposed to any real talent on my part!

It is nice to get a compliment especially one from the heart.
 
Contarama said:
Have you photographed said friend Joe? :)

I get a compliment now and then but I think they come from good manners as opposed to any real talent on my part!
Click to expand...

i have not...my bad!

i feel the same...people are just being nice...what are they going to say? this stinks!?
today was nice because it was completely unsolicited...
 
back alley said:
i have not...my bad!

i feel the same...people are just being nice...what are they going to say? this stinks!?
today was nice because it was completely unsolicited...
Click to expand...

Well when you do photograph her try to capture her "heart" because it sounds like she has a good one and it would probably make a good picture. Don't ask her just do it...
 
I shoot film exclusively and I sincerly believe that it sometimes helps with the praise.
People are so used to the clinically perfect look of digital that b/w grain or the subuded colors of cheap C41 (that I use profusely) turn otherwise boring pics into something worth looking at.
 
i agree that shooting film gets people interested but on the other hand it often distracts from the photos and you end up getting compliments for the process ('wow, you developed those by yourself?') and not for the photos.

a few weeks ago a friend told me that I captured the mood of the day (we spent it at the lake with a few others) perfectly with my photos and that she likes my 'style'. She doesn't know a lot about photography but that made me feel good :)
 
Just yesterday I was taking a prints from lab. The girl handed me the envelope with the prints and one from the protests in Sofia slipped out. She exclaimed "Jesus!" and asked me for a copy.:)). I was happy as a kid in a candy store.
 
I think sometimes what is criticism to one is a compliment to another...that day I was talking with a friend about my new work in Hong Kong (mostly street shots). He said that my pictures were too "serious" and "calculated". I was very happy - since this is more or less how I see Hong Kong. Expressing what one wants to express is a great feeling :)
 
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