Confessing a total failure on my part

The_Traveler · Sep 6, 2013

So far I have had 5 people ask if I would be their mentor and to all I replied that the only way I thought I could help was to look at their pictures and tell them, at some length, how the pictures struck me, what I saw as weaknesses and strengths.

So everyone sent me pictures - once.

After the first back and forth, not a single person asked me again.

There are two possibilities. Once, I could be the world's most effective teacher or 2) I could be the most ineffective.
Knowing my misanthropic tendencies, I vote for #2.

So, if anyone inquires from now on, I'll tell them to save their time - and my ego.:blushing:

hopdaddy · Sep 6, 2013

I'm sure you helped them .It may take them a few Days ,or weeks, for them to realize it .But they will !

mishele · Sep 6, 2013

Will you mentor me, you sexpot?

Auburnfan04 · Sep 6, 2013

I for one am looking for someone to giver that honesty. Constructive criticism is the best way to grow I think. I posted a couple of pics in a thread and only one guy responded. It was a first time for me taking pictures for someone like that.

I want to learn how to improve. So for those who don't appreciate that honesty, I say they don't deserve it.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

KenC · Sep 6, 2013

Not your failing. This sort of thing is surprisingly difficult to do. Most people don't really take to being on either end of such a transaction. I started a critique exchange by e-mail with someone I know whose work I respect. I always sent detailed comments fairly quickly, while he had little to say about most of my images and made this into a joke on occasion, editing some images in an unconstructive way. The whole thing ended when he stopped sending me images.

I would try this again, but would not be surprised if it didn't really work out.

oldhippy · Sep 6, 2013

Lew you are a great photographer, You may one of I best I've seen in years. Most will never have the gift you can share. Don't quit. We all need mentors. Ed

Tailgunner · Sep 6, 2013

oldhippy said:
We all need mentors. Ed

Yup, someone like my self could benefit from 3-4 mentors :blushing:

manaheim · Sep 6, 2013

traveler+sexpot=confusion

The_Traveler · Sep 7, 2013

Thanks.
Although I wasn't trolling for either compliments or sympathy, I appreciate those that were offered. (especially the lubricious words of Mishele who has promised but not yet delivered.)

shefjr · Sep 7, 2013

The_Traveler said:
So far I have had 5 people ask if I would be their mentor and to all I replied that the only way I thought I could help was to look at their pictures and tell them, at some length, how the pictures struck me, what I saw as weaknesses and strengths.

Lew, maybe these people want to work on their weaknesses and strengths before they come back to you and ask for more help. I can only assume that to be the case. Although, sometimes I think people might want to hear the truth until they hear it. In either case, if it were me I would want the truth and I would be honored to have you as my mentor. With that said, I'm already a pro now that I have my new D800 and two of the three lenses from the holy trinity! LOL:mrgreen:
(For those who don't get the "LOL:mrgreen:", implies sarcasm)

The_Traveler · Sep 7, 2013

I'm going the other way.
Sold of all my Nikon stuff except for D700 body and gone to Olympus OMD

Designer · Sep 7, 2013

Lew; please keep in mind that one half of the student-teacher relationship is the student. IOW: it is incumbent upon the student(s) to hold up their end of the bargain and do some learning.

The_Traveler · Sep 7, 2013

Please don't get me wrong.
I am not blaming the students.
I didn't know what was expected when I said I would do it - and others have more successful realtionships than I - and I've come to the conclusion that my usual manner just doesn't work in the desired mentor relationship.
(that might explain why my children live so far away.)