who here thinks that they are a good photographer...

Based on the number of cameras and formats I own, I must be a good photographer!

On the other hand, I know that I would like to be a good photographer.
 
LCSmith said:
...

I would encourage everyone to think they are a good photographer, whether they "actually" are or not (since the "actually" question is entirely different and will be answered in different ways by different people.)

One thing is certain. If you do not think you are good, you never will be! The human brain has a way of actualizing our most spirited intellection.
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Many years ago, mamma mia rethinking it was around 20 years ago sic, I took a workshop with Amy Arbus (daughter of Diane) and I still remember she always insisted on the fact we have to believe in our own work.

If we are the first not to believe in what we do we'll never make progress in what we do, we'll never reach what we are aiming to. This "mantra" was daily part of her lesson. At the end of the week we believed it !
 
back alley said:
and what makes you think that?
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Yikes! This seems a little like walking into a waterfront bar and calling out, “Who here thinks he's tough?”

The ones who know they aren't won't answer, and the ones who really are probably won't answer either. Better not try to find out which is which!
 
Who thinks they know the generally accepted description of "good photographer" or "good photography"?

I contend that anyone who answers "yes" does not comprehend the vast spectrum of photography.

Myself, I am reasonably content that I meet my photographic objectives. However, I also know that mine are not universal.
 
Absolutely not! But I was looking at some old pictures the other day and realized that I have gotten better. Some comfort.
 
I don’t think that being a “good photographer” is a big deal. There are millions of good photographers. I believe it likely that there are far fewer bad photographers than good ones. It’s probably best not to think about whether or not one is good and far better to ask oneself if you stand out from the crowd of the good ones (in a good way of course).

One thing I know for sure is that I’m a better photographer than I am a poet, painter and singer.
I can cook food that tastes good but that doesn't make me a good cook. A good cook can consistently produce good food meal after meal after meal.

Clearly I am overthinking this.

Lastly, I agree with a lot of what others have said. Especially what Bob Michaels said.

And lastly, lastly, yes, I’m good in bed. You can take my word for it! :D

All the best,
Mike
 
I can take some good photographs, if I take a LOT of them. My percentage of keepers is not great. But the keepers give rise to an emotional response when I and others view them, and that's how I know they are good.
 
My pictures make me happy. Not all of them, but enough. I used to get two to five pictures that I felt was good on a roll of 36.

Back in high school I won Best Photographer two years I in a row in the Empire State School Press Association. So at one time some others thought I was. Won a Key award my senior year and the judge said that my work was already good enough to turn professional. That was a long time ago.

I like to think I have a good eye finding pictures. Bit of luck, great equipment I can’t afford to use, and sadly zero time. So all my shots these days are on my iPhone 7.

B2 (;->
 
sreed2006 said:
I can take some good photographs, if I take a LOT of them. My percentage of keepers is not great. But the keepers give rise to an emotional response when I and others view them, and that's how I know they are good.
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Didn't Mr. Frank have around 80 shots in that one book? ... shooting around 900 rolls? that's a .2% "success" rate.

... on the other hand, Looking In shows us that there's plenty more "good photographs" we didn't see.
 
I am excellent at setting the aperture, the shutter speed, focusing, and releasing the shutter. I have mastered these skills. Sometimes, however, the objects in front of the camera fail to arrange and light themselves properly. That is their fault, not mine.

Bob Michaels said:
...
Myself, I am reasonably content that I meet my photographic objectives. However, I also know that mine are not universal.
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BillBingham2 said:
My pictures make me happy. Not all of them, but enough.
...
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These reflect my thoughts most accurately.
 
ask a simple but not easy question and someone has to throw water on the fire.
my motivation is questioned and who knows what isn't being said beside what is printed here.
the good thing is that i don't care about the negatives and i really appreciate the positive input.

it took a lot of my virus19 'free time' to do some soul searching and honest self chatter to come to my own conclusions.
there are many types of photography and i do poorly at many of them...but the photography i really care about i believe i do really well at. i used to have 2 audiences for my work...you & i...like any normal healthy person i like recognition and praise and most things positive around me. i have wasted many years for the 'you' audience to recognize me...turns out the true audience is me, what i think and feel about my work.
i don't have hundreds of iconic images that others pay ungodly amounts of money to hang on a wall but my walls are filled with images that please me. good enough for me.

i originally asked this question because i wanted to create a valve for all of us to have a moment of sincere self expression.
 
I'm good at landscapes, cityscapes, western townscapes. Steam locomotives. Things that don't move. No good with portraits.

Lately I'm into photographing reality. Leaving the telephone poles in the picture. Don't pretty it up too much.
 
I just realised that I must be as I have both the M6 and original box; but I must get around to buying a lens and reading the manual...


Regards, David
 
Unfortunately my taste always seems to be a bit ahead of my abilities so I'm perpetually haunted by the knowledge that my work is rubbish.
 
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