so, I've been thinking....I feel a little 'stuck' with my photography right now.
I upload to here, -as well as another photo sharing site that has been pretty boring- get a pretty good amount of comments and a few critiques on my photos, and think I'm doing 'pretty good'.
It's not like I am un-inspired, but I KNOW that I can do better. and I really, really, want to do better. my goal here isn't to show how great a photographer I am, but to become a better photographer. I don't want to stay where I am, I want to be a photographer with passion and drive in my work.
So, ANY ADVICE would appreciated. how did you get to where you are with photography? are there any sites that really helped you? I love taking pictures of people, so if you have any advice that has to do with that -FIRE AWAY!!!
I've been thinking about getting Flickr for a while, and would really like your thoughts on that. what are the pros and cons of that site? would I get critique and would it help me grow?
Thanks in advance, and thanks so much to all my followers for all your positive comments on my work, you have no clue how much it means to me! and to you guys that critique me, GOOD FOR YOU, thanks so much. and to those that don't critique me, PLEASE DO if you think it will help!!! :)
@gracej Keep shooting. Only shoot what you love. Try new things even if it seems wrong. Sometimes doing something "different" makes it really click for you. Tag your posts and specifically ask for critique. If you really want to be better, there are some other sites where the critique is brutally honest, such as my favorite: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/. Posting pictures and getting feedback is the best way to get better.
For what it's worth, I find your pictures in general to be quite nice.
@swguevin thank you very much. what you said all sounds very helpful. I really will have to check out that photography site. sound brutally wonderful :)
I would caution you about focusing your efforts on just getting critique. I'm always concern about criticism because it may constrain your creative efforts. Unless the criticism is technical by nature (i.e. the subject is out of focus or your image is over/under exposed), than the criticism is often subjective. You may get criticism that you should follow rules of third and avoid symmetry. However, as an artist, you may choose to break these guidelines/rules. So having this subjective criticism may steer you down the path where your work looks like everyone else's work.
I think there are really two major areas where you can work to improve yourself as a photographer... the technical side and the artistic side...
With the technical sides of photography, you have to really learn how to use your equipment and more importantly, how to use light. You can read about techniques from web sites or books (get a copy of Light, Science and Magic... great book about lighting) and listen to audio podcasts. Or you can look at photography work and try to reverse engineer how the photographer create the image.
On the artistic side of photography, take in and study art. Not just photography but other visual forms of art. They often share similar techniques in composition, colour theory and story-telling. Look for inspiration from everywhere.
And my final tip is to commit the time to pursuing photography. Photography, like most other skills, require a commitment of time and practice and making a lot of mistakes along the way.
Good advice so far, especially regarding critiquing. If it's not about the technical it is subjective. There is no pleasing subjective and you will find yourself chasing shadows that don't exist. Don't fall into that trap.
Check out meetup.com for photography groups in your area. Join a group and go to the meetups. Become involved with people in real life who are passionate about photography.
Do some of the challenges. If anything can come of it, it would be trying new things either with editing or composition or whatever. It's a great way to push yourself to learn about the art of photography. This, I feel, is where you will find your passion.
FWIW; This is the best site I've found where the community is positive and willing to share knowledge. Taking pictures everyday and sharing them is the best way to grow as a photographer. It's all about practice, exploring technique, learning new edit tricks, and showing the world through your eyes. No one else can do that for you.
Most of all you need to have the patience to be willing to take it one day at a time, literally. There is no jump start to being whatever you have in your mind today because something will come along and derail that and you will then be off into another direction. Your passion will come in spurts but it will come. As you gain confidence in yourself, you will gain confidence to push yourself to the next level, whatever it is for you.
You are very good already... You have the heart, soul and commitment, off to a great start. Join a group or do a workshop, finding other people who have the same passion will help. And good luck in you endeavour, I know you will make it.
You are doing great! Your portraits are really gorgeous. If you are feeling stuck, look at sights like Cafehaze and photography 591. There is a less conventional (than here or flicker) approach to subject matter and the rules of photography. Not all of it is great, but the work there liberates me..makes me want to try new things and take chances.
One think that is helping me right now it's thinking that I am a bad "amateur photographer" (well, it's true xDDD here, in Flickr I have better shots xD), and that's hit me in my head telling me "come on!!! Make more effort, you have your final exams right now (studying pharmacie), but take one shot, and try to make it as best as you can"
Some days works, most not :(
Maybe you just need a month of rest without uploading, and forgeting your camera. After that come again :)
im the same way!! I really want to become a good photographer but right now it seems like I'm not getting worse but I'm not getting better :P. I know i could be a lot better but right now i just can't find the inspiration. Thanks for starting this discussion, though I'm no help! its one i have been thinking about starting for a while!! :)
I agree with the other people here. You have a natural skill and your project is very nice.
I really agree with the @davetom on the getting critique. the problem you find (not so much on here but on Flickr) is that everyone knows how to take photos and they are more than happy to dish it out however when you look through their photos they are rubbish.
Find other photographers that you like and become close with them. If they are on here follow them and ask questions, if they are on other other sites to the same.
My advice is- Dont take advice of people if they are not in line with where you want to go as an artist/photographer. For example a landscape photographer is not the best person to give you advice on your portraits, and a sports photographer is not the right person to give you advice on your wedding photos.
My story is kind along the same lines as yours. I love taking photo and would take photos of everything however I reached a point where I could only take sooooo many photos of a flower/rock/pet and I knew something had to change.
I studied and still do, the changing styles of photography. I read up and studied the fundamentals of what makes a good picture great and try and put that into practice.
Of course these fundamentals are just that... building blocks on where you can start, think of them as foundations to put your mark on. They are not there to use all the time, just to give you some grounding and things to fall back on.
There are sooo many different areas of photography that you can follow and learn... Pick one on study that until you feel you can not go any further, the have a look around and put it even further.
Try not to spread yourself too thin... Master one thing then move onto the next.
Now if you look through my photos you will see a lot of portraits.. Why??? That is because I want to be the best portrait photographer out there.... Will I ever reach that??? No.... For if I do I am not looking and trying hard enough..
Here is another truth to being a great photographer....... You have to get a handle of post processing!!!!!!
99.9% of the fantastic photos you see in books and other places are not straight out of the camera (Oh what is that I hear a can of worms opening up), but the idea starts with experience, which is then transferred into your camera and then enhanced through post processing.
Its a big world out there but I must say if there is any community that can help and guide you through it, it is this community.
Good luck and feel free to ask the me/community for help when ever you feel you need it.
this might come with time, but......my advice is: don't second guess yourself. I found that some of the best shots that i've taken have been something that caught my eye, i heard myself saying "why are you taking a pic of that rock, when you came here to take a pic of the _____ instead?!", i ignored the voice and took the shots anyway.
Good luck - - and i agree........take shots that "feel" right to you!
@gracej I think forcing yourself to try things that are completely different to your usual style/subjects is the best way to expand your skills :) Makes you see things in a different way and helps you become a better photographer :)
My only advice to you is that It's hard to make a living from photography...I should know...I've been a pro for 20 odd years...but I've always had a back up job to support me when the jobs aren't coming in..sorry if this sounds hard...I'm just a realist. Keep going and never NEVER give up. :)
Do the opposite and go for extremes. Those are pretty cool ways to spur creativity... By looking at your shot, there is a lot of face shots. So do the opposite: shoot backs of their heads :-) You can create a powerful shot by making the viewer see what the model sees.... Or you can go for extremes in your portraits (POV : very close, very far, from above, from below.... compose the face to borders, corners, show only parts of face...)
Analyse your shots, why you like/don't like them ? What could you improve ? Could the idea be taken further ? And do this analysis to your favourite shots of others too. Train your critical eye, and learn to apply it to your own work.
Read it, breathe it, live it. That angst you have will too pass.
We are never fully satisfied with ourselves, and that can be a good thing.
Just keep trying. Always. :)
From what I can see, you have a good eye and there's no sign of you going off the boil ... far from it. In learning any complex skill - photography, playing a musical instrument, whatever - progress tends to be in steps rather than continuous improvement. If you feel that you've reached a plateau, I'd suggest that you just work through it and things will get moving again soon enough.
For what it's worth I've started following and will chip in should anything intelligent occur to me to say ;-)
wow guys, thank you so, so much for all the advice!!! I realized that what I'm looking for isn't so much just general critique, but for critique from other people that are into portraits, or with a style I like. also, I want to start spending more time looking at my pictures, and thinking about what I like/don't like and learning from them :)
thanks for all the love and support!! y'all are the best!! :D
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For what it's worth, I find your pictures in general to be quite nice.
Perhaps if you joined in on some of the fun competitions here, or entered a photo contest, you would find a real spark!
I think there are really two major areas where you can work to improve yourself as a photographer... the technical side and the artistic side...
With the technical sides of photography, you have to really learn how to use your equipment and more importantly, how to use light. You can read about techniques from web sites or books (get a copy of Light, Science and Magic... great book about lighting) and listen to audio podcasts. Or you can look at photography work and try to reverse engineer how the photographer create the image.
On the artistic side of photography, take in and study art. Not just photography but other visual forms of art. They often share similar techniques in composition, colour theory and story-telling. Look for inspiration from everywhere.
And my final tip is to commit the time to pursuing photography. Photography, like most other skills, require a commitment of time and practice and making a lot of mistakes along the way.
Check out meetup.com for photography groups in your area. Join a group and go to the meetups. Become involved with people in real life who are passionate about photography.
Do some of the challenges. If anything can come of it, it would be trying new things either with editing or composition or whatever. It's a great way to push yourself to learn about the art of photography. This, I feel, is where you will find your passion.
FWIW; This is the best site I've found where the community is positive and willing to share knowledge. Taking pictures everyday and sharing them is the best way to grow as a photographer. It's all about practice, exploring technique, learning new edit tricks, and showing the world through your eyes. No one else can do that for you.
Most of all you need to have the patience to be willing to take it one day at a time, literally. There is no jump start to being whatever you have in your mind today because something will come along and derail that and you will then be off into another direction. Your passion will come in spurts but it will come. As you gain confidence in yourself, you will gain confidence to push yourself to the next level, whatever it is for you.
Some days works, most not :(
Maybe you just need a month of rest without uploading, and forgeting your camera. After that come again :)
I agree with the other people here. You have a natural skill and your project is very nice.
I really agree with the @davetom on the getting critique. the problem you find (not so much on here but on Flickr) is that everyone knows how to take photos and they are more than happy to dish it out however when you look through their photos they are rubbish.
Find other photographers that you like and become close with them. If they are on here follow them and ask questions, if they are on other other sites to the same.
My advice is- Dont take advice of people if they are not in line with where you want to go as an artist/photographer. For example a landscape photographer is not the best person to give you advice on your portraits, and a sports photographer is not the right person to give you advice on your wedding photos.
My story is kind along the same lines as yours. I love taking photo and would take photos of everything however I reached a point where I could only take sooooo many photos of a flower/rock/pet and I knew something had to change.
I studied and still do, the changing styles of photography. I read up and studied the fundamentals of what makes a good picture great and try and put that into practice.
Of course these fundamentals are just that... building blocks on where you can start, think of them as foundations to put your mark on. They are not there to use all the time, just to give you some grounding and things to fall back on.
There are sooo many different areas of photography that you can follow and learn... Pick one on study that until you feel you can not go any further, the have a look around and put it even further.
Try not to spread yourself too thin... Master one thing then move onto the next.
Now if you look through my photos you will see a lot of portraits.. Why??? That is because I want to be the best portrait photographer out there.... Will I ever reach that??? No.... For if I do I am not looking and trying hard enough..
Here is another truth to being a great photographer....... You have to get a handle of post processing!!!!!!
99.9% of the fantastic photos you see in books and other places are not straight out of the camera (Oh what is that I hear a can of worms opening up), but the idea starts with experience, which is then transferred into your camera and then enhanced through post processing.
Its a big world out there but I must say if there is any community that can help and guide you through it, it is this community.
Good luck and feel free to ask the me/community for help when ever you feel you need it.
Good luck - - and i agree........take shots that "feel" right to you!
Also this quote from Ira Glass is one of the most assuring and correct i ever found: http://infochachkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Ira-Glass-Quote.jpg
Read it, breathe it, live it. That angst you have will too pass.
We are never fully satisfied with ourselves, and that can be a good thing.
Just keep trying. Always. :)
From what I can see, you have a good eye and there's no sign of you going off the boil ... far from it. In learning any complex skill - photography, playing a musical instrument, whatever - progress tends to be in steps rather than continuous improvement. If you feel that you've reached a plateau, I'd suggest that you just work through it and things will get moving again soon enough.
For what it's worth I've started following and will chip in should anything intelligent occur to me to say ;-)
thanks for all the love and support!! y'all are the best!! :D
@bradleynovak @swguevin @davetom @dmortega @sugarmuser @vase @tracywilliams @superbeyotch @petaqui @hannahpaige @agima @sticksandstones @pocketmouse @veg66 @janmaki @gabrielklee @automaticslim