Why Do Bad Photographers Think They Are Good ?
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- Опубликовано: 8 окт 2020
- Every photographer is rubbish when they started out. I am certainly no exception to the rule. I sucked for the longest time! Ten years later and I am still in the huge growth part of my photography where I am learning more every day.
Here is my advice to those who are looking to quit their day job to become a professional photographerMy NEW WEBSITE is ready ! www.tinhouse-studio.com
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Thank you, I really appreciate all you do and the frank forward informational~conversation you provide. I prefer the mentorship, not the entertainer!
I need help on what my 1st steps should be in becoming a Professional Photographer in the near future?
I'm not scared to go into photography because I see what 90% of photographers do.
It's so true. People who are good, have got good by being extremely critical of their work. But it doesn't get to the point where they say - oh it's good now. They spend their life being critical of their work as a means to make it better. Getting better is an endless quest.
Totally agree
Undoubtedly 👌
But is this a one-size-fits-all thing? Can you be a sloppy photographer who is good at selecting the images that work from an experimental shoot and can those be good photos? Or do you have to be all technical and mathematical with the art form? I get the sense that there are some photographers who think there’s only one path to being good and it’s through precision and technical skill, where I see a thousand different ways to be good, done technical, some artsy fartsy, some a mix of both.
@@SeanAndersonMedia Having technical ability is good and useful and can get you out of a tricky situation or just get you a shot with incredible depth of field but most cameras will cover the technicalities leaving you to concentrate on the image. Then it's really down to 'seeing the image'. Probably the most important aspect - look at David Bailey's tightly cropped photos or Arnold Newman's (admittedly cropped post) but they had a vision of what they wanted to achieve before clicking the shutter. If you don't have a vision or can't spot an interesting composition as you walk around it is difficult to get shots you enjoy. Look to the masters for inspiration in all fields of art.
You've hit on some very good points here. If you've ever had a class of art students going through their photography module, you'll quickly learn that their thin skin blocks advancement. Part of the reason "some" photographers fail to progress is that they have been told that everything they do is absolute perfection. Being open to critiques and realizing that the largest room in the world is the "room" for improvement. You'll make some headway. My favorite gripe is the confidence that beginners seem to have which leads them to charge incredibly high prices for their work. I am still learning new approaches to my subjects and improving my skills. Stay humble, remain inspired :) All the best to you!
My first photography instructor went through my camera on our first couple of sessions and deleted a bunch of photos. The faces he was making while looking at them were hilariously disappointing. He taught me to be extremely critical of my own work. It's stuck with me to this day. I shoot the photos and think "Oh these are gonna be great", then I edit them and once the last photo is edited I get depressed. Then things happen and I fall in love with a photo or two until the next shoot. Then the process starts all over again. I sunk into a really deep depression last year, and almost quit. Then a few months ago I started getting published. Then nothing for the last couple weeks. A few nights ago I decided to start emailing local galleries. I emailed 8, 4 didn't respond, two acknowledged me with a rejection, and 1 is considering, and one wants me asap. Photography has been a very emotional trip for me, and I still haven't taken what I consider a 10/10 photo. Tonight, I'm stuck between am I good enough for the next step, or do I need to find something more profitable? Every time I think I'm good, I soon realize I have a long way to go.
Deleting your photos from your camera?
Ouch, that sounds very demeaning. Gotta have hurt. 😔
Keep at it it’s a great hobby but don let the process of growing good be hard enough to make you quit!! It’s such a great hobby
What a beautiful and humble view. 🤍
Humility is good advice period. I am more than 40 years in to taking pictures and some days I feel like I am beating my head against the wall. I know how to work a camera inside and out - but an image that I would be willing to hang on a wall still comes out of my camera way too infrequently. I simply keep pushing ahead and trying new things and remind myself that failure leads to learning if you are willing to embrace it. Getting good is a lot of hard work and a lot of pressing the delete key out of embarassment.
Nice video. Thanks for being the rare RUclipsr who is both realistic and encouraging.
The tipping point is when you realise you need to grow in every aspect of your work. There is no secret sauce, no silver bullet to it. Just hard work and a passion to create! Another great video, cheers sir!
Very much so!
Enjoyed this. Humility, in general, is a good thing.
But my mum said I'm brilliant!
"The problem with the world is that the stupid people are cock sure while the smart people are full of doubt."
When I was lecturing I could gauge who would do well pretty reliably because they would constantly doubt whether or not they should be there and ask for help. The loud people in lectures who submitted their work weeks early were invariably shitehawks.
Haha yeah I can imagine that from uni. I did a very different degree and the same was true there
@@TinHouseStudioUK Yea my degree is pretty far removed from this... BSc. Social Policy. Super wanky! Really glad I found this under similar circumstances to you, I know of only 2 people a degree in photography didn't kill the love of photography for...
@Edgar G. hello
Which is your Instagram account?
Is not to judge you:), just learning
Can I shamelessly copy this phrase? ("The problem with the world is that the stupid people are cock sure while the smart people are full of doubt.")
@@MarcKoetse HA! I shamelessly neglected to cite Bertrand Russell so crack on.
Dang man. This topic is so helpful! I’m setting a reminder to watch this regularly. Just found your channel and I’m about to binge. Thank you!
I’ve heard this described before as four stages:
“unconscious incompetent” you don’t even realise how little you know
“Conscious incompetent” - finally realising you have a long way to go, as you see the bigger picture and how much you are missing
“Conscious competent” - gradually you reach a stage where by applying your full focus and attention, you can get good results
Unconscious competent- this is where everything is so ingrained it becomes second nature. Salvation! Nirvana!
Really liked this video Scott, it’s one I will return to one day to bring myself back into check.
my 2cents -
the first stage was actually very useful for my own business development (!) as it meant I actually had the courage to get started!!
Of course my work wasn’t good, customers weren’t always so happy or keen to rebook me, but at least I turned up, was keen and overall it made me take the leap to becoming full time self employed (because you will NEVER be ready ;) and from there plugging gaps in your knowledge as they come up is much easier than when you have another job :)
✌️
Yeah the confidence at the start is really useful. And knowing that we all mess up at the start, but of course get better and move onward and upward
Tin House Studio you’ve got an excellent comments section here Scott! - a great ratio of signal to noise!! You have clearly inspired a great bunch of people ✌️✌️✌️
I'm terrible, but I still like some of my work. I enjoy shooting even when the results are not awesome.
I’m sure you are not haha. Yeah keeping the enjoyment is key, it’s a long upward struggle to get really good
Kevin Solie it’s know where as hard as these so called experts make it out to be. They are just looking for people to purchase their garbage 1v1, lessons, etc.
Man... love the value you brought me in 8m52 sec.. wow. Got a legit follow and will now dig through your content. Thanks for existing and for taking the time to share this. Only God knows how much hours and effort you've put into your craft to get where you are right now and thanks for that. For keeping up.
Loved this video all around! I’m still very new to photography, about a year in and in general I think I understand certain elements of photography that may be harder for others to grasp, but I still think a lot of my work is so so and I spend so much time setting up and editing and playing around. Very much in that enjoying the learning stage. And figuring out who I’d like to be as an artist. But I’m always very humble about my work and always looking for someone to give me honest feedback because I’m so ready to grow. This is something to honestly think about. Thank you for making this video.
A very good video, I think that self awareness and humility is the path to growth not only as a person but as a creative.
Yes I couldn't agree more.
This is so true and applicable to basically any field. I do music and I’ve become very self aware of this effect. Probably the most difficult thing for me is deciding to continue to operate in an area in the early stages when I’m certain I’m bad, I don’t know exactly how, and I know the only way forward is to be bad for a while.
“Good photos” is so subjective though. It’s based on preference. Just because you don’t like how someone’s composed an image doesn’t mean they’re bad.
Exactly
Thanks for this frank and useful video, it's given me some hope. I recently looked through my back catalogues because I was searching for a direction and personal style. I thought that if I put my work into different categories, it would help me to see what I do best and then perhaps it would point me in the right direction. Through this process I decided that 99% of my work is shit, and I had thoughts about packing it in. Soon after this realisation, I decided that I just needed to work harder, do more research, and just give stuff more thought. I'm feeling better about my photography now, it's like I'm just beginning. Cheers.
You articulated it better than me, but I believe that most people confuse technical ability with artistic vision ... gear matters less than a vision and I personally feel that having multiple artistic disciplines will leach into your work ... never stop looking at art that is not specifically what you do ... when I am in a drawing group, I always find something positive to say because you never know where someone is on their journey!!!
I am mortified by my photography and know I have a ways to go; but people like them and they consistently ask me for more. Right now I'm enjoying myself and am not allowing myself to get stressed or envious when I see other great photographers' work: I just learn from them.
Thanks taking the time to post this video. I really appreciate this ... I felt it when you said you learning a few things, now you think you are a good photographer... reality check
Came here to see if I’m a bad photographer and don’t know it
haha I am sure you are not.
You’re only bad if you stop taking photos 😉
I know I'm not very good.
@@animestarlord9021 yet*, keep shooting
Same. I am over thirty and have only discovered my passion for photography in recent years. I really want to go at it professionally, but sometimes I don't know what I don't know yet. This more than anything else is a hurdle which is hard to tackle.
Hey dude! Love your work. It’s been really helpful this last couple of days for me. I felt like at was at that stage of I need to learn more so I came across your inverse Swire law breakdown video and also your moody food edit video and it helped me tremendously! Thank you for what you do. Staying curious about anything I do in life is how I keep going and getting better.
Hey Daniel. Really glad they were helpful :)
Love all your videos very helpful full of great useful information as always. Keep up your amazing work.
I enjoyed listening to this Scott. I have used the unconscious incompetent for many years in training in advertising sales and seen how my team have grown. However I have never it applied to my food photography, so although I know I have a long way to go, I consider myself as a conscious incompetent and strive every day to improve. Its a great hobby, not sure I will ever be good enough to make money from it, but as long as I enjoy the process I am happy!
Yeah I think that is a very similar idea. As long as you are having fun, that is all that matters.
I agree with pretty much everything you said. It is definitely very important to be critical of your work and some people think they’ve made it when they’re actually just starting out and learning new things (not gonna lie, I used to do that myself a little bit hahah, but I bet everyone goes through that stage at some point). The only thing that I don’t agree with is that feeling great about your work automatically means that you’re a bad photographer. I personally know some photographers whose work is genuinely amazing and they know it; they’ve spent so much time doing it that they just feel when their art is looking good and when it isn’t if that makes sense. And I think that’s a very good thing, you should be proud of the work that you do! I guess what I’m trying to say is that these rules don’t always apply to everyone
I just started to dabble in product and drinks photography - mostly to get that feeling of excitement again. I started with the knowing I don't know what I'm doing, you are right the technical part is the first step, and it transfers over from other genres. It's what is in front of the lenses, the way it's arranged, what it is communicating that vastly outweigh where the light is placed or the composition technically.
Starting on YT was a bit different for me, again started making my own videos to become better. I always lived behind the lens, and in post, so stepping in front of the camera was a challenge I avoided for a long time. But worth the adventure!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! And I'm off to take my next crappy shot!
You sir, earned a subscription. I struggle with this from both sides... in most everything I do. Fantastic perspective. I love your humor as well. Top notch
Great video as always!
I enjoy your style of content where you are having a conversation with us. :)
I personally struggle with this a lot in the sense that I never feel that I'm good enough.
I see how much more I need to learn and it gives me difficulty to know where I place on the scale of skill level...
Will try to follow your advice and send my portfolio/book to agencies!
Yeah just throw some emails out and see what happens. Worst case scenario is nothing, which is the same as not sending them :)
Wonderful content. You’re the real thing thank goodness. I hope to do some of your courses soon.
Thank you so much for this video. I needed to hear this.
Man, I really needed to hear this. Not because I think I'm a great photographer, I'm not, but to realise how vast the subject is and how little I actually know. Thanks for the wake-up call.
Good video. As someone who has being a working photographer since the 90's I can say this feeling of self loathing of your own work never ends. But the more that you see in your work that you don't like, the more you address it and get better. It's a never ending process of disliking your work, getting better and feeling proud and then only disliking something new that you've only just noticed. It's very much a case that anyone really good often really doesn't like their work.
Well said! I am just in the process of updating my rather out of date portfolio. I cringe at a lot of the work in there haha. Time to get testing again!
Second video of yours I’ve watched. I’m liking you already. I appreciate the straight honesty.
This video is amazing, love the deeper critical thinking on something we see everyday but don't always pick up on🤙🤙
Bang on the money. I have gone through that same epiphany of realising I know nothing and need to work a thousand hard times better to get to where I need to be. Good video Scott
Thanks Rai
I completely agree with you. I am an academic and I have factored rejection as part of my publishing process. Rather than bringing me down, rejection is that part of the process which gives you feedback to improve your work. Superb piece of advice! Thanks a lot for sharing your wisdom.
Love this video, I’m deeply into photography for about 5 years, I am getting fairly positive feedback from people who follow me, but on a pro level never had any positive comment. This makes me really worry that my photography might be catchy for the eye but actually shit... and even though I am pushing myself to do more and get better inside I’m pretty down that I won’t get anywhere with this. On the same side I’m seeing many “popular” photographers producing much worst pictures ( for my eyes) and selling their images :(
You are absolutely KILLING me with your honesty and insight. Don’t change a thing about this channel. If I’m ever in Leicester, drinks are on me.
Thanks for doing this.
Incredible breakdown video. I definitely realized how much I’ve learned so far in my photography journey.... I had quite a bit of a challenge trying to photograph a married couple at night on a balcony, trying to expose for the NYC skyline with just a OCF w/diffuser. I colleague came to the rescue with his 38”softbox
Really what I needed to hear lately thank you!
Great video as usual, Scott. The way you put things is just straight forward and no BS, love it! But now I'm really scared to send you that portfolio haha.
Thanks for the kind words :)
This is literally why I'm on your channel. I finally picked up my first real camera 3 days ago, and although I love taking photos, I know that I'm absolute garbage at basically all of the basics.
Big lesson. Really. Thanks. In a world of overconfident people a slap of reality brings back the desire to study while staying humble.
This is a brilliant video! Shows how important self reflection really is!
Great video is as usual, and I think it is applicable to many professions. Thanks
Thank you, this has given me an answer on why I’m never happy with the images.
Such a great point. Just goes to show that being humble is a great way to keep your head on straight
I'm at the very beginning of this journey, and these are all very good things to think about. I appreciate your video
Firstly all valid points and there’s a lot of truth. I just want to touch on the rejection part in regards to agencies. If you don’t get a reply it may be for other reasons. The industry is now heavily saturated for one. Most agencies/brands/companies already have a team,photographer they typically use. They will also get a high volume of emails per day/week and may not reply simply down to not having the capacity to reply to all. I think people should understand that as well so that they don’t become disheartened when they don’t get replies. Also a lot of brands wait for follow up emails to see if you’re really interested. Something I personally have a lot of success with. The initial email falls on death ears but the second shows interest and determination to work with them.
I would say we are very different types of photographers. But we are both good, I respect your point on thinking we are better than we are but self confidence is important in order to progress as well.
A lot of creatives already struggle to break into this industry because of their lack of confidence in their work and I think people need to understand that although some may think their “amazing” most think their terrible.
I think we all need to remember the most important part is the process and enjoying it. Regardless of the quality or where you are in the journey people should feel excited and confident in their own work.
I think this video as whole has good intentions to motivate those who think like you. However I do feel some may take what your saying in a negative way.
Create more, stress less 🤙🏼
Yep I left the 4th Nikon Facebook group because people who don’t even post any of their work tearing apart everyone’s photos. Landscape photographers telling portrait photographers how to do stuff and it’s just got unbearable. Trying to help a new photographer learn his camera and he got people telling them to go sell it because if you have to ask the question you should even bother with the camera. It’s crazy with so much hate I want to help anybody and I am nowhere near a professional but I do know enough that I want to help anybody who wants the help. Great video.
This is great! I’m really happy I stumbled upon this today!
I haven't started my career in food photography yet, so I can't talk very specifically about the subject of this video.
But I have been following your channel and other people in the industry and I have learned a lot.
Thank you for sharing knowledge.
Greetings from Brazil.
Tanks for the kind words Rafael
Always great philosophy and content Scott!!👏
Thanks Jason. I appreciate the kind words
Great insight. I constantly self doubt about my works too, I know that it's a good thing because I have urge to improve, but sometime that doesn't feel very good and can breaks my confident while shooting, still learning to adopt this feeling.
Very interesting indeed. I started photography with an old (wasn’t worth much then, but still have it) Leica M3 with 35mm and no light meter on it (they used to be attached on top) and I had more black film rolls than probably anyone, but I did have the eye, the negs that I could still see through looked fairly well composed, that’s when I was 8. I knew I could draw fairly well so that gave me confidence and then from there on (I’m now 57) I have been learning and still am all the visual and technical ways to express myself more concisely with every new element (tech or visual) that I can grasp, and there is a lot of good and some great creative people out there! I like your videos, I’m new to RUclips because I’m less out shouting so I’m curious! Keep it up and best of luck. Cheers.
Thanks Andreo. I appreciate the kind words and I am very jealous of your Leica!±
thank you, i just started landcsape photography and i really needed this video. =)
Its a painful journey at times and the sunshine doesn't come at the end. Success appears now and then through the clouds. Its so nice to bask in a brief moment of sunshine as understanding and clarity cast on a small area of the wonderful occupation of photography .
I know I'm not at the level where I want to be in photography but I do know that I'm improving. I always told myself if I ever felt content then somethings wrong lol. Great video, thank you!
Haha that’s a good way to put it
This is an excellent discussion of the importance of being self-aware, and then obviously of working from whatever current level of expertise to something greater. There is one concept that you expressed a couple times which I suppose is a useful concept, but which rubs me the wrong way... you say that if you think you're good, you're probably not. I think the problem with that statement is that it essentially negates the reality that some people really are good, and suggests that you can no longer be self-aware enough to know it. I think they greater point in your comment is to always remain humble about your skills and abilities, not matter your level, and also no matter your level, there is always room for improvement. By being self-aware, seeking feedback and input, and being both open to the feedback and willing to act on it is what's most important.
I thoroughly enjoy your channel and your presentations on the variety of topics you cover. I'm a fan!
Thanks for the hit and reminder. Definitely opening my mind
Great channel to have found! One of things I personally really struggle with is, working on the sort of not quite glamour, but not quite fasihon, but still a 'particular' type of shooting, is how little feedback you get from people who really know what they're talking about, it's mainly thirsty dudes or very dismissive comments from "serious" photographers. So it's really hard to know if your works is progressing in the right direction. I am also hyper critical of every mistake I make (coming from a commerial design background), so things no-one else might notice can sap my motivation for weeks at a time. It's good to be reminded how subjective this all is.
Thank you so much for this video. I don't think my photos are good enough. But on social media, I always see photographers who just get a random click on their phone and do a little colour grade on their phone and people go bonkers on their content. It demotivated me in the beginning but now I've learnt to look beyond metrics.
So many comments already, do I need to add to this? I am just an enthusiast and hate most of my shots, it is so frustrating. I am not good at all but want to become good at least to my own standards. The only thing that consoles me is that I am at least critical enough to see my errors, so there is still some potential . Your videos are spot on!
Interesting. Will keep working on both my photography and self-awareness. Thanks. 🙏
Very interesting chat. And I like the format. Makes me want to try some chit chat about such topics.
Really enjoyed it brother. We should all be aware and conservative with our skills. Helps us grow and really, be more likeable. Haha
Cheers!
Tuan
Amazing tips and humbleness. Great rant / perspective.
Haha, very precise. You really want to reduce the time for which you think your great seems to be the lesson. I've been lucky to have the seed of doubt sown in me at a relatively early time. I sought out someone I knew was competent and experienced. Got the same message - 'nothing wrong with the technical aspects'. Sometimes you just need a signal. When you start out there's a lot of justifying language - until really strikes. Great points Scott.
Being critical of your own work, it is zest art form....no matter photographer or any tape of art.....we are in search perfection.....this is art.....be humble but stay hunger.......Great content, thank you for sharing . Cheers Ramin
Some of the best advice was from experienced Art Directors from top advertising agencies in London, of which the good ones offer constructive criticism. A heavy critique is a blessing in disguise and it exposes the flaws or techniques that should be standard practice and expected.
this video i came too by accident , im in that first stage learning photography , and you made me think that even i have doubts , it is very true that it feels amazing because im learning alot but there is moments i step back and realize i still dont know jack ... great video sir
You'll find that most photographers' self- perception of their abilities increases with proportion to the amount of money they have spent on gear.
We've all met people who will tell you, readily, that their pictures are "... fantastic." because they have the newest, top of the range, gear while it spends its life on the Green Square mode.
When I first watched this video, I didn't understand. Re-watching it 6+ months later, it's like a light bulb turned on. I've been treading water situation, trying to get better, because I hate everything I create. Thanks for this insight, it's been encouraging to know that I'm on the right path.
Absolutely brilliant advice, I think you couldn’t put it in simpler terms .
Thanks Adam
Thanks for the advice. I can be hard on myself because I know there is so much I don't know. I want to keep pushing myself to get better.
Words of wisdom. I have the technical stuff down with no problem, but I have been struggling with the creative part of photography for almost 60 years. Once in awhile I’ll get a creative streak, but they are getting to be far and few between.
This was just the video I needed to see at this point in my journey as a photographer
i must say i do love this video, thou all of us is both good and bad photographers depending on who ( not our selfs ) eyes right. and also we all always can learn so mutch more every day witch is something we all need to remember and as you say your self we all needs to not get the "god old mighty I'm brilliant" feeling or thoughts. for me its about to be down on the ground and willingness to learn and still doing photography. that's my own point and thoughts about it. we all progresses in different ways shapes and speeds =) and again thank you for a brilliant video
Excellent video, eye (and ear) opening content.
Great topic and thoughtful way to pose it. I like to think about this in two different veins-ego and criticality. Yes, in the human experience they're often both intertwined being inversely proportional to each other. However, if a person works on reducing the voice of the ego and focusing on the objective (as much as possible) critical loop, I've found the voice of the ego can be reduced enough to get out of the way. Both sides of the ego voice, "I'm the best," and "I'm the worst," generate thoughts that drain mental energy away from the application of critical thinking that could instead go towards our own self-development. When the ego voice is no longer dominant, we can get down to the real work of just learning.
Im always an begginner because there is always something new to learn or be better on. I see my self as photographer as when im training martial arts after 30 years i just has started my Journey. So my own photographer skills is newbee(~10 y) yet so long walk to go.
Open eyes and open mind, then you learn things you didnt know.
Good video 👍cheers from Sweden 🙂
This truth in this hurts me so much...so true about sending your work to agency. Thank you for that!
You are so right! Every time I take photo or video and edit in Lightroom, I find thing that could be better and I often thought it where better! And every time I take it as a small victory. Because then I know what to improve and therefore what to do, or more important, not to do next. As long as I have the ability to se my own mistakes I know I am developing my skills. The day I no longer find mistakes I know I need help.
Thanks for the tip!! Coz just right now... Even i thought that i am good at food photography 😭. I know some things i need to learn but they are pretty less. But now i know... That there's a lot i need to learn. ❤️❤️❤️
This video. So many times I catch myself feeling “crap, I don’t know what I’m doing” and then realize I need to study something specific. This video is EXTREMELY accurate. I started out thinking I was decent and then entered a few contests. Never even mentioned.
Now, I have images published or being displayed at BBA in Berlin.
I’m no where near where I want to be but I know where I want to be. I don’t know how to get there but that’s the fun isn’t it. Tripping along the journey until....I’m there.
67 here; graduated photo school/technical/commercial...all 4x5 stuff, in 1980. Upon graduation- and showing my portfolio to my two instructors, one remarked: "Well, at least you learned how to print.". That took the wind out of my sails but.....I had won best of show IN the program, and only one of two students that got hired out of the program to a big studio. I knew then that I wasn't the end all/be all....and the lack of support from school FUELED my desire to be successful since then. Another lesson I learned is that talent ISN'T the main determinant....it's perseverance.
A ZEISS sponsored street photographer went nuts on a guy saying “I don’t understand why people think this is an incredible photograph.” The photo was complete trash but in sick of street photographers specifically thinking they’re Alex Webb. At the Leica Store in Sydney there was an exhibition and all the photographs were absolutely objectively garbage. Oh but they were taken with an M11 Leica
I had no idea I would stumble upon a video that sounded as if someone recorded my thoughts/belief on this exact topic! Great! I leave my “starting” work on my IG page so that I can be reminded where I started, and where I am moving through. The most humbling moments in photography is when a well known & published photographer liked a dozen plus of my images, started following me. He immediately sent a DM to me saying that he thought it was great that I left my starting-out work on my page, so to remind me & everyone that we start-out somewhere. During our exchange he made the best joke, “...keep at it, and you might become ‘good’ one day. :-) “. Again, this is a great video!
Just did a binge of your videos, love your content man. I noticed you said you do portfolio reviews. I keep my RUclips separate from my photography (for now) I would like to email you my links etc. thank you!
Been doing photography for 3-4 years (mostly in winter) and one thing I've noticed is that every new winter I look back at my old photos that perhaps I thought were ok at the time and now think, "wow...I really have a lot more to grow..." To be quite frank, although others have told me that they like my work, I always have a hard time believing it because I never feel like I'm at the skill level I want to be. To be quite frank I have a difficult time seeing my work for what it is because I still see everything I want it to become. Perhaps the saying is true that we are our worst critic, but I hope someday I'll reach a level I consider to be "good". Until then I will continue to keep working towards that goal.
I have never once thought I was a good or amazing photographer. For me it’s been a confusing journey of why my photos look “okay”, while other photogs are working and maybe even making a living at it.
Hey! Just stumbled across your channel! Loved what you said! I am more a Videographer, but I love to to photograhy as a hobby.
This is a great video. I've been a keen photographer since school (1977, Zenit E, Ilford FP4, Patterson chemicals.. etc).
45 years later I'm an enthusiastic amateur in a photo club, and one of the top 5 in the club. Every time I start to think I'm pretty damn good, I see some images from the big (City) club a few miles away ..... and it blows me away just how incredible their best photographers are. There's another level of quality, of detail, of processing, that I'm missing.
Maybe I need to leave my small club... or just be a member of both.
This is a fantastic video. Well done. Subscribed
Welcome aboard!
Thank you so very much for your insight on this.
Only just found you, and glad I have....I am an "old pro"....Take that as the will :-)
....Worked for too many of the old guard news outlets and magazines to remember, and am tired of photography....Not the photography I knew, the "new photography "....Too many under qualified, I don't mean academically taught with a useless certificate, just ignorant awful "bloggers"....It has nothing to do with age. I recently had the pleasure of meeting an incredible 17yr old, with a portfolio that quite frankly, far exceeded mine at that age. I think she is the exception to the rule. I truly hope sticks with her ethos and work ethic; seriously talented also....Anyway, I really like your content, as they say, and will be checking in on your updates....
You are 100% correct and your analysis applies to every profession and human activity. However, if someone is “happy” thinking they’re great, what difference does that make unless they are somehow bothering others
Stuart Silverman it really depends what your motivation is. If it’s to be a pro and make money then it’s important to understand. If your main goal is to be the best it’s important..but if photography is a hobby and about enjoying yourself then it’s maybe not that important. I’m sure everyone wants to take the best photos they can but many people do it for the enjoyment of the process. If you start beating yourself up about the fact that you’re not good enough, that enjoyment might disappear.
one of the most usefull photography videos i have seen on youtube. Congrats! There is only one problem with getting feedback on being good. Because photography is an art good is subjective a lot of the times. Yes , there is neuroscience that dictates why we like a photograph, however there are people that don`t like the work of Joel Grimes for example. So someone telling you that your`re not that good is also not reliable. I find a good way to measure your greatness is to ask yourself these questions. 1. Have you been putting in at least 5000 hours into your craft? 2. Have those hours for the most part been with the intention of growing and getting a little better than your last project/job? I find people talk about a subject as experts but have less than 500 hours invested.
Good talk... I enjoyed this :-)
I find this is true in other art areas. I think it has to do with not knowing what makes a great photo great and not being able to articulate it. I thought my photos were pretty good until I saw the ones you said were rubbish in various videos. I have such a long way to go.
Terrific video. I do think humility also comes more naturally with age, but once you realize you know nothing, you can only get better.