I am a bit of a perfectionist and I set very high expectations for myself...most I fall short of.
I am finding this character flaw is taking a little fun out of 365 for me. As I have got further into the year (a whole 3 months lol) I am getting more stressed and my expectations are higher....if I keep going I will implode by July!
It is not so much about the PP, FAV's or comment (although my self confidence will bounce up and down with these...as for most of us ;) )
I know there must be others who have been through this or are going through this...how do you relax your expectations and bring the fun back into it??
So share your tips to keep it relaxed and enjoyable...please :)
Oh, Lisa... I think it's just impossible to take a perfect picture every day unless it's your full time occupation. Also, remember that we're our own worst critics and what might not be perfect for us, will be lovely to some one else. It's one thing to strive for perfection and another thing to hit upon it. Can we learn how to just enjoy the journey of getting there and quit being so hard on ourselves? In one hundred years, would it have a made any difference for most of us? I have my good days and bad days with it, also and it's frustrating sometimes... But I do try NOT to lose sight of what 365 is all about. I've read at least a dozen or more discussions here about this very same subject. It's YOUR project. It's what YOU make it. You can make it fun and inspiring, whimsical even or you can goal orient yourself into burn out. It's up to you... You've moved to the country! I say let your hair hang down and try to relax, make it your purpose to experiment and have fun with your techniques and shots. You might be surprised at what you can do and have fun while you're doing it.
It's not about photography only, If you see it as a character flaw, you can work on it in many ways. Set up things in your life you know you will fail at and find the humor in failing, Find the lessons in failing. Embrace the failing as growth. If you aren't failing, you aren't learning.
Ah, Lisa, I think I'm right there with you and so feel much empathy - but as one of your followers, I am always so glad to see your photos. I feel that you so generously share with us a gentle view into your life and story - I am finding that is becoming one of the things I love most about this project: that I hold in my heart small pieces of the lives of 365 friends.
@marlboromaam wow totally agree with your reply. It is all about fun and doing it your way. I do feel the same as you Lisa, by every passing day I want to be better, get the right shot and get extremely frustrated when I can't get that shot or simply don't have the time. I work full time, I am a mum and I am studying - doing a degree distance learning and I get stressed big time. The only thing that takes the stress away is photography and my 365 project, so I can't let that get stressful. @tigerdreamer Karen you are so right also - failing makes us better, helps us grow, learn and develop.
I love the sharing aspect of the 365 project and I know even though I might not get one single comment for a particular photo it really doesn't matter - its my wee diary of my progress, my development and my continued learning of photography. I bet even the best photographers out there make mistakes.
Make sure YOU are enjoying it and having fun, nothing in life is perfect - would be pretty boring if it was. I love seeing your work and hope you continue to have fun with it. xx
I can be a bit of a perfectionist at times too, although this is a trait I am beginning to overcome. On 365, I try to post photos that I like for some reason, but that reason might not be that it's a great shot (most of them aren't compared with many I see) but it could be something that amuses me for some reason, a funny character or situation, an odd angle on something, or else something unexpected, like someone kitesurfing from a snowy beach, even though the photo itself was terrible. Enjoy your project and have fun with it, we'd hate to see you implode - but if you think you are about to, give me a call, I'll pop over and try for a photo, it'd be a great one for my album!! ;-)
@mummarazzii Hey Lisa - I get this. I'm a little more than 2 months in. I've had no formal training in photography - just a 6 week class in high school way back when.A few days back I had a day where I shot some ferns... hated them, went back out and shot some daffodils... hated them... tried my hand with some myrtle and yes... didn't like those either. Was so focused about posting for the day that I went into a frenzy of Photoshopping trying to make something out of nothing. It didn't help. Posted filler and went to bed. The next morning I went and took another look. It suddenly dawned on me that at the beginning of this project I would have been thrilled to post these shots and my dissatisfaction with these current efforts was a good thing -meant I was growing as a photographer. I think we all have peaks and valleys in any endeavor we make - the lows are hard, but they are inevitable - life intrudes and it should. Just accept that and keep shooting. You'll grow and the peaks will be all the sweeter. Just some advice - instead of being so overall critical of your work, find one thing that bothers you or you want to improve on - concentrate on that for a while. I started with sharper focus, then moved to depth of field, then started experimenting with natural light. Try to make small tweaks in your abilities and eventually they'll all become second nature and come together in one amazing shot. At least that's what I'm hoping for! Good luck.
@marlboromaam very wise words...thank you! You are so right. I need to take a deep breathe relax and enjoy. You are one of the reasons I love this place, you always have such wonderful and wise things to say :) @tigerdreamer well said Karen...to fail is to learn...it is something I have to learn to do without taking it so hard @lyno Thank you Lyn :) It is a privilege to have a little insight into everyone day to day lives and to make friends here on 365. I have returned the follow (sorry I thought I was already) @megsy it is hard when we all lead such busy lives and it is sad if our passion for photography becomes a chore. I enjoy following your wee diary :) @jenirainbow rofl you made me laugh...it would be a great photo, may even make the PP ;)
I totally feel you Lisa! I am SUCH a perfectionist. When I lost my creativity I stopped posting for a long, long time because of it. Only a few junk photos got put up. Just yesterday I was wondering if I should just move all my creative photos (that are somewhat up to my expectations) to an album and move the rest to an album titled "crap"... LOL I probably wouldn't really be at 380 photos anymore that way.
A friend asked me to do this project along with her this year. We live 800 miles apart so this shared passion for photography is the one way we can connect.
We took two different approaches to this project. She has a few followers and shoots faithfully a single shot everyday.She works professionally.
I saw it as an opportunity to learn from others and follow nearly 200 photographers, doing my best to leave comments based on my first impression of the photographs. (Some days I don't make it through the pile and have to skip some)
Before I got here I didn't know what PP and FAV meant. I shot on film for joy for 20 years before I went to digital, I also didn't know the terms Bokeh, DOF, or POV. I took pretty, in-focus, colorful photos on film and when I moved to digital I shot pretty, in-focus, colorful photos.
In the first two weeks, I got lost in the challenges. I photographed a whisk in my kitchen and some booze bottles I found in the cupboard. They are horrible photos. I went from there back to doing what I love and shot a parade - from the shade- and they were horrible photos too.
So I went back to my comfort zone and shot what I like. Street photography, people, pretty things. Less horrible.
And then I got a crystal ball and shot a bunch of those, to my delight, and to the horror of anyone who follows me and had that pop up in their feed day after day!!
The I made a list of things I want try and am happily trying and failing and trying again at most of them:
HDR
Long exposure with a neutral density lens
Long exposure without a ND lens
Stop action shots
Light Painting
Light Writing
Macro (with extension tubes until I can afford a lens)
Filtered Landscape
Polarized Ocean photos (which I have to wait to go to the beach to shoot)
Using props like an Empty Frame
Selective Coloring
Mirror photos
Wax Lips and Mustaches
Panning
Silhouettes
Great lighting
Bad lighting
Portraits
Family photos (of other people)
Water refracting photos
Reflections
Drawing/photograph mix photos
A few weeks back a friend (from a previous military assignment) said a photo I posted on Facebook really spoke to her and that is when she fell in love with my photography. It is a photo of a man riding on the Metro (DC's subway system). I remember the day, but not the photo. I went back to look at the shoot and it is a perfectly nice photo. It does not speak to me.
When your children are older, these photos you take will speak to them. They will bring back the great memories of their childhood. Those are the photographs that matter.
I'm working my way through my list so I have the versatility to take better photos. So I have as many photo technique tools as possible for capturing what I love.
But I think if just one photo spoke to the heart of someone I love, that would be enough for me.
I wish I could tell you just not to worry about it, but that is a tough one as I think we all struggle with our high expectations. I agree with Leslie about keeping it simple and working on one thing at a time. Set small goals for yourself to get better at one thing, and then move to another. If you like, I can write a longer narrative about what worked for me -- let me know, because I am happy to share and give advice - or at least pointers from my own experience. If you are interested, I can recommend some very easy books with pointers that really helped me a lot : )
I've been there.. I had a week when I got so frustrated that I was tempted to walk away from 365... partly because I'd go out on a day off or a day when I have plenty of time and take a lot of photos and get a handful that I was really happy with, but it was stuck in my head that I had to TAKE one EVERY day... when I got myself to accept that I didn't have to "trash" a handful of great photos just so I could post a crappy one to have one taken EVERY day, that helped a great deal. I still take one daily, but if I hate what I take, I'll take one of those shots I loved from earlier in the week that I didn't use and upload that.
Also, the thing that helped me those most was when I said "screw it... I'm going to have fun... and I'm going to do what makes ME happy and if others appreciate that and connect with the end results - AWESOME... if no one likes it..... its STILL awesome because I love it. Make sense? does that help?
I have been in your shoes, the past 15 months. I tried so hard to keep this a diary and sometimes it was and sometimes it wasn't. I finished my year, got through it and it stopped being fun somewhere. I kept going, but finally, I have slowed down posting here. I started a blog and fb page just to show my pictures on. It's a lonelier world doing it that way, but it has detoxed me from the everyday perfection (and the PP and fav mentality). I now pop on when I am looking for advice and technique, plus I miss the people too. Good luck, I hope you can find the fun.
There is nothing wrong with wanting perfection, but I'd hate for your stop loving photography because of this project.
Another thing I learned about myself last year is when I stop taking photos for me and start worrying about my audience, photography was not fun and I hated the pics. I now focus on taking photos of things I love and who cares about the public? Easier said than done, I know.
Celebrate the photos that do not work out. When you try new techniques and styles that have a learning curve. Embrace the curve and the experiences and stop worrying that they should be perfect each and everytime. I learn so much more by posting failures and asking the what went wrong questions. Just tag them craptastic or "epic fail " and see how many others are in the same place
Remember why you started this journey, for me it was to share a past time and learn from others. It will also be great to look back at after the year is completed. Yes, you should strive to take the best shot you can, why not! My major aim was to get out into the world more, my camera and 365 help me get off my behind. Sometimes you have a trove of beauty resting within walking distance, take the time to see the beauty, smell the roses, then get your shot in :) Don't let others control who, what and why you choose to photograph.
Wow... I was so interested to see this thread because I have only been doing this for 1 week and I have already experienced some ups and downs. I think the interesting part about doing this project is that it does follow the "ups and downs" of life. Some days you will grab your camera get something you love and it will just happen naturally. Other days you will struggle... none of your concepts wills come out right. Sometimes out of frustration you will take a shot that you never expected would work and actually like it.
The days where you struggle are making the great days possible. Of the photos I took last week I am really happy with 2, ambivilent about 3, proud of myself for struggling with 1, and I absolutely HATE 1. That's means I have 2 more photos I love than the week before I started this when the number would have been ZERO.
I've been a perfectionist all my life! I started here in late January, and am now becoming frustrated with the limitations of my point and shoot. I find I have to keep reminding myself that I'm a beginner, and still at the bottom of a long learning curve. So I'm experimenting, trying out different techniques, learning to use Photoshop, and realizing the things I find interesting to photograph aren't always going to be what people are interested in looking at. :)
Lisa, thanks for posting this discussion. I have felt the same way. I take lots of pictures but after I view them I feel they are not good enough to post. Sometimes I miss a day because the photos did not turn out the way I wanted. I always have to depend on Photoshop edits to make my pictures more presentable for sharing. I find that viewing other people's photos has helped me look at a scene and take many different angles. I started in January and I am still working on POV and DOF...
I viewed your albums and enjoyed viewing such a variety of photos. Let's hang in there..
@gark That would be great, definitely interested in some advice/pointers :) thank you for sharing.
Thank you for all your responses, it is reassuring that I am not the only one to feel like this.
I will continue and try and relax and have fun with it all.
It is great we can all really encourage each other through the lower times :)
@swguevin I love your phrase "am happily trying and failing and trying again at most of them". . .that is the most spectacular encouragement I can think of because you sound solid and sure in your advice. Wise words, indeed!
I know all about the fun getting sucked out this project! I started in August of 2010 and still haven't made it to 365! When I'm frustrated or whatever the reason I leave and when I'm in the groove I come right back.
I'm kind of a bad example to follow but just know you aren't the only one!
I'm just under three weeks from finishing and counting down. I decided I'd use the project to learn as much as I could - so doing the challenges, not all of them, I don't have time, but trying to push myself in those ways - and I agree with what Sheila @swguevin says, trying different things and stretching myself, learning new techniques is worth doing. And looking at other people's photographs and learning from them as much as I can. If you like something and try to copy it you'll learn.
And I agree with what Paula says @brumbe - it's a learning curve, embrace it - this way at least I'm getting satisfaction from challenging myself and learning new skills even if it's not always fun (I still hate selfies).
The way the algorithm works for the PP means that people who have fewer photographs and fewer followers / fewer people that they follow need fewer favs to get there. I've made the top 20 twice, both times for droplet covered cobweb shots - one of which was SOOC, go figure.
I've been here the same amount of time as you and I can definitely see where you're coming from. I've noticed that my photography has got a lot better due to viewing other people's photos and pushing myself to improve and push the creative boundaries. These last few days I've been bored by it though. I've posted because I feel I have to not because I want to and I haven't really commented the last few days either. But I'm quite certain that it's a blip and that once I relax a bit it will get better. We can't all be perfect but I must say that I enjoy viewing your photos. A lot of your earlier photos were of the family which were gorgeous. I've noticed that you've moved onto other things and are stretching yourself a bit more but do it for you not for what you think other people want to see. I'm trying to do this also.
I am well into my second year and the only piece of advice I can give you is this - when you get frustrated with your work, look back at the shots you took in the beginning. If todays pics are better than yesterdays, you're improving! I cringe when I look back at some of my early stuff! There are going to be ups and downs - go with them, it's all part of the project.
You guys are awesome!! Thank you all for your kind words, advice, understanding and honesty!
I am glad I started this thread, it has really helped me to relax today and enjoy a bit more.
I will bookmark this thread and each time I hit that virtual creative brick wall I will read through it!!
And on a nothing positive note I have found more amazingly talented people to follow :) x
This is an interesting thread and well worth reading. I've found myself stressing over this project at times and other times, enjoying the fun and sense of peace I get from even trying to shoot a photograph. It's making me enjoy my world around me. I too decided to focus on one thing a month to improve - lighting, learning basics in photoshop and now...I'm deciding what's next. There's definitely a lot to work on and I like some of Shelia's ideas! I too will look forward to Garks' suggestions when he gets time.
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I love the sharing aspect of the 365 project and I know even though I might not get one single comment for a particular photo it really doesn't matter - its my wee diary of my progress, my development and my continued learning of photography. I bet even the best photographers out there make mistakes.
Make sure YOU are enjoying it and having fun, nothing in life is perfect - would be pretty boring if it was. I love seeing your work and hope you continue to have fun with it. xx
@tigerdreamer well said Karen...to fail is to learn...it is something I have to learn to do without taking it so hard
@lyno Thank you Lyn :) It is a privilege to have a little insight into everyone day to day lives and to make friends here on 365. I have returned the follow (sorry I thought I was already)
@megsy it is hard when we all lead such busy lives and it is sad if our passion for photography becomes a chore. I enjoy following your wee diary :)
@jenirainbow rofl you made me laugh...it would be a great photo, may even make the PP ;)
Sorry if this has been done before!
We took two different approaches to this project. She has a few followers and shoots faithfully a single shot everyday.She works professionally.
I saw it as an opportunity to learn from others and follow nearly 200 photographers, doing my best to leave comments based on my first impression of the photographs. (Some days I don't make it through the pile and have to skip some)
Before I got here I didn't know what PP and FAV meant. I shot on film for joy for 20 years before I went to digital, I also didn't know the terms Bokeh, DOF, or POV. I took pretty, in-focus, colorful photos on film and when I moved to digital I shot pretty, in-focus, colorful photos.
In the first two weeks, I got lost in the challenges. I photographed a whisk in my kitchen and some booze bottles I found in the cupboard. They are horrible photos. I went from there back to doing what I love and shot a parade - from the shade- and they were horrible photos too.
So I went back to my comfort zone and shot what I like. Street photography, people, pretty things. Less horrible.
And then I got a crystal ball and shot a bunch of those, to my delight, and to the horror of anyone who follows me and had that pop up in their feed day after day!!
The I made a list of things I want try and am happily trying and failing and trying again at most of them:
HDR
Long exposure with a neutral density lens
Long exposure without a ND lens
Stop action shots
Light Painting
Light Writing
Macro (with extension tubes until I can afford a lens)
Filtered Landscape
Polarized Ocean photos (which I have to wait to go to the beach to shoot)
Using props like an Empty Frame
Selective Coloring
Mirror photos
Wax Lips and Mustaches
Panning
Silhouettes
Great lighting
Bad lighting
Portraits
Family photos (of other people)
Water refracting photos
Reflections
Drawing/photograph mix photos
A few weeks back a friend (from a previous military assignment) said a photo I posted on Facebook really spoke to her and that is when she fell in love with my photography. It is a photo of a man riding on the Metro (DC's subway system). I remember the day, but not the photo. I went back to look at the shoot and it is a perfectly nice photo. It does not speak to me.
When your children are older, these photos you take will speak to them. They will bring back the great memories of their childhood. Those are the photographs that matter.
I'm working my way through my list so I have the versatility to take better photos. So I have as many photo technique tools as possible for capturing what I love.
But I think if just one photo spoke to the heart of someone I love, that would be enough for me.
Also, the thing that helped me those most was when I said "screw it... I'm going to have fun... and I'm going to do what makes ME happy and if others appreciate that and connect with the end results - AWESOME... if no one likes it..... its STILL awesome because I love it. Make sense? does that help?
There is nothing wrong with wanting perfection, but I'd hate for your stop loving photography because of this project.
Another thing I learned about myself last year is when I stop taking photos for me and start worrying about my audience, photography was not fun and I hated the pics. I now focus on taking photos of things I love and who cares about the public? Easier said than done, I know.
The days where you struggle are making the great days possible. Of the photos I took last week I am really happy with 2, ambivilent about 3, proud of myself for struggling with 1, and I absolutely HATE 1. That's means I have 2 more photos I love than the week before I started this when the number would have been ZERO.
I viewed your albums and enjoyed viewing such a variety of photos. Let's hang in there..
Thank you for all your responses, it is reassuring that I am not the only one to feel like this.
I will continue and try and relax and have fun with it all.
It is great we can all really encourage each other through the lower times :)
I'm kind of a bad example to follow but just know you aren't the only one!
And I agree with what Paula says @brumbe - it's a learning curve, embrace it - this way at least I'm getting satisfaction from challenging myself and learning new skills even if it's not always fun (I still hate selfies).
The way the algorithm works for the PP means that people who have fewer photographs and fewer followers / fewer people that they follow need fewer favs to get there. I've made the top 20 twice, both times for droplet covered cobweb shots - one of which was SOOC, go figure.
I am glad I started this thread, it has really helped me to relax today and enjoy a bit more.
I will bookmark this thread and each time I hit that virtual creative brick wall I will read through it!!
And on a nothing positive note I have found more amazingly talented people to follow :) x