Why are we fighting so hard to impress each other?

[MTVision]

That is simply not true. If it was then we always have to apply the RO3, we could never center our photos etc. Every photo would look the same if this was true.

Besides they're guidelines not rules.

The rule of thirds isn't the only compositional guideline though. There are tons of ways to compose a photo without the rule of thirds - symmetry, repetition, rule of odds, color, lighting, viewpoint, framing, leading lines, etc. Sometimes rule of thirds just doesn't work but centering does.

My take on all of this is - before I started posting here and learning photography I was so proud of my amazing photography with my amazing camera Now...that I have learned so much I want to learn even more and get even better. Honestly, I could probably make money doing portraits because people around me like my work - even though I suck. But, I want to be the best (I know that probably won't happen) and I couldn't dream of taking money for something that I know is sub-par.

Normal everyday people know little to nothing about photography and are easily impressed - which is why there are so many photographers out there who have just bought a camera and went into business.

My whole point is that most anybody can impress the public with a cute photo or gimmicky editing. I want to learn, improve and one day be impressed with myself when I look back to where I started. I want to be satisfied with my work because I know i did my best and not just because the general public liked it.


Rose - didn't someone tell you when you first became a member that this was a great place to get CC on basic stuff but not for creativity?

 

[Armymom]

People come in, they wants oohs and aaahs about their photos, they don't get them, then they get defensive and leave. I think it's because photography is soooooo much more subjective than many other areas, and that causes people to be insecure about their abilities.


I agree 100%. When it comes to me, give me some ideas and I can take them or leave them. If I choose to use the input it is my prerogative. If I am on this forum for kudos and flattery rather than honest opinions, then I'm in the wrong place.


(Sorry rex...I deleted too much of the thread and deleted your quotation acknowledgement...new to this forum thing)

 

[thereyougo!]

I'm probably going to get blasted for what I am about to say... but oh well.

I've been seeing people say on here "Just because it makes money and general people will like it, doesn't mean it's good or other photographers will like it." Soooo it doesn't matter if it's reaching a lot of people or you're making money, the important thing is that the, maybe, 40 people on here don't approve? It's like "pssh, forget all of the people making money and the people who like you're work, it's only a real work if it's validated by the people on this site, these are the ones who REALLY matter."

Again, I understand correcting technical errors such focus, exposure, weight balance etc. I have been a sketch artist for a long time now, so I understand the importance of improving on a technical level, but everything else just seems like they're setting imaginary boundaries that don't actually exist in the real world. Isn't it more important to reach people in your community rather then the people on here?

If you like your work, other people like it and it could possibly make money who gives a **** what strangers on the internet have to say?

If you are looking for validation...today is not your day. I'm not sure if you actually are accomplished at sketch...if you were this sort of dialog would be moot because you would know better. The LAST people I'd take for real was 'my community'....what do they know about photography?...Like minded peers...and masses of them....that's where the body of weight is.

And BTW...I dont try to impress anyone...I work to improve to impress ME.

Exactly. At the start it's easy to impress yourself. As you learn more, you learn to get things into perspective and challenge yourself more. Some of my early things that impressed me, no longer do so. It's all part of the learning process.

 

[cgipson1]

If you like your work, other people like it and it could possibly make money who gives a **** what strangers on the internet have to say?

That is exactly the attitude of some of the people who come here... don't like the C&C.. and LEAVE! (and guess what.. they probably don't get any better either...)!!!!! And all I can say is GOOD.. let them leave, that way we can spend more time with the people who want to learn!!! And not have all the "Vandalistic PG" drama that has been so prevalent lately!!!

And ROSE... I thought you were getting a clue.. why did you post something like this? <shaking head sadly>!

 

[GeorgieGirl]

Exactly. At the start it's easy to impress yourself. As you learn more, you learn to get things into perspective and challenge yourself more. Some of my early things that impressed me, no longer do so. It's all part of the learning process.

Have you ever shared your work?

 

[MLeeK]

If you like your work, other people like it and it could possibly make money who gives a **** what strangers on the internet have to say?

That is exactly the attitude of some of the people who come here... don't like the C&C.. and LEAVE! (and guess what.. they probably don't get any better either...)!!!!! And all I can say is GOOD.. let them leave, that way we can spend more time with the people who want to learn!!! And not have all the "Vandalistic PG" drama that has been so prevalent lately!!!

And ROSE... I thought you were getting a clue.. why did you post something like this? <shaking head sadly>!

And that's when we get to buy their equipment on craigslist for super cheap!

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

Exactly. At the start it's easy to impress yourself. As you learn more, you learn to get things into perspective and challenge yourself more. Some of my early things that impressed me, no longer do so. It's all part of the learning process.

Have you ever shared your work?

Ooh, ooh! Pick me!

Click thereyougo! ---> View Profile ---> View all threads started.

And, well, there you go!

Posted lots!

 

[blackrose89]

I'm probably going to get blasted for what I am about to say... but oh well.

Why do people put so much emphasis on impressing fellow photographers when it doesn't seem to be a requirment in the actual world? I've been spending a lot of time observing magazines, calenders, posters for clothing in lines in malls and it seems no one else in the world really cares about all of the boundaries we have set for ourselves here. I'm not talking about exposure, focus, weight balance which are technical issues. I'm talking about all of the subjective areas like. One in particular nitpick I see a lot is "distracting" background. I've been looking through a lot of resources as I mentioned earlier, and they have a lot of so-called "distracting" elements scattered all through the background.

I've been seeing people say on here "Just because it makes money and general people will like it, doesn't mean it's good or other photographers will like it." Soooo it doesn't matter if it's reaching a lot of people or you're making money, the important thing is that the, maybe, 40 people on here don't approve? It's like "pssh, forget all of the people making money and the people who like you're work, it's only a real work if it's validated by the people on this site, these are the ones who REALLY matter."

Again, I understand correcting technical errors such focus, exposure, weight balance etc. I have been a sketch artist for a long time now, so I understand the importance of improving on a technical level, but everything else just seems like they're setting imaginary boundaries that don't actually exist in the real world. Isn't it more important to reach people in your community rather then the people on here?

If you like your work, other people like it and it could possibly make money who gives a **** what strangers on the internet have to say?

Some people really got what I was saying. Very few, but some. I was not bashing improving. As I said originally in this thread wasn't even aimed at me. I wasn't speaking of the people on here just aimlessly snap their camera. I said foundations are very important in the very first post and how you shoudn't dimiss these criticisms, people just chose to not pay attention to that part. It's much more fun to nit pick and get stuck on little details of my statement rather then really paying attention, looking at the post as a whole and coming up with an argument that adds something. Some got it. Scraig, Rexobobcat, Mtvision. I'm not saying they agreed, but at least there is some validity in their argument rather then childlike defensiveness that most of the reponses were. I'm saying, after we have a foundation, how much should we have for the subjective part? If we have a foundation, and are able to make a success of ourselves, should you really rely on others to tell us what is acceptable and what is not?

Again, as I said before although people chose to ignore it, the foundations ARE important. I'll use my sketching for example. I listen to criticisms on the technical, like if the porportions are off, if the nose looks crooked etc. But I'm not about to let people tell what can and can't draw, what background I can add, what can be contained in my drawing etc.

 

[MTVision]

That is exactly the attitude of some of the people who come here... don't like the C&C.. and LEAVE! (and guess what.. they probably don't get any better either...)!!!!! And all I can say is GOOD.. let them leave, that way we can spend more time with the people who want to learn!!! And not have all the "Vandalistic PG" drama that has been so prevalent lately!!!

And ROSE... I thought you were getting a clue.. why did you post something like this? <shaking head sadly>!

Maybe she just posted this to start a discussion....

 

[blackrose89]

That is exactly the attitude of some of the people who come here... don't like the C&C.. and LEAVE! (and guess what.. they probably don't get any better either...)!!!!! And all I can say is GOOD.. let them leave, that way we can spend more time with the people who want to learn!!! And not have all the "Vandalistic PG" drama that has been so prevalent lately!!!

And ROSE... I thought you were getting a clue.. why did you post something like this? <shaking head sadly>!

Maybe she just posted this to start a discussion....

Yeah. Pretty much.

 

[cgipson1]

That is exactly the attitude of some of the people who come here... don't like the C&C.. and LEAVE! (and guess what.. they probably don't get any better either...)!!!!! And all I can say is GOOD.. let them leave, that way we can spend more time with the people who want to learn!!! And not have all the "Vandalistic PG" drama that has been so prevalent lately!!!

And ROSE... I thought you were getting a clue.. why did you post something like this? <shaking head sadly>!

Maybe she just posted this to start a discussion....

Yea.. I know.. I am just teasing her.. (we are sort of friends.. but don't tell anyone! ) lol!

 

[cgipson1]

That is exactly the attitude of some of the people who come here... don't like the C&C.. and LEAVE! (and guess what.. they probably don't get any better either...)!!!!! And all I can say is GOOD.. let them leave, that way we can spend more time with the people who want to learn!!! And not have all the "Vandalistic PG" drama that has been so prevalent lately!!!

And ROSE... I thought you were getting a clue.. why did you post something like this? <shaking head sadly>!

Maybe she just posted this to start a discussion....

Yeah. Pretty much.

Uh oh.. you took me serious? (Now I am in da doghouse! WOOF!)

 

[cgipson1]

If you like your work, other people like it and it could possibly make money who gives a **** what strangers on the internet have to say?

That is exactly the attitude of some of the people who come here... don't like the C&C.. and LEAVE! (and guess what.. they probably don't get any better either...)!!!!! And all I can say is GOOD.. let them leave, that way we can spend more time with the people who want to learn!!! And not have all the "Vandalistic PG" drama that has been so prevalent lately!!!

And ROSE... I thought you were getting a clue.. why did you post something like this? <shaking head sadly>!

And that's when we get to buy their equipment on craigslist for super cheap!

I LIKE the way you think! lol!

 

[MTVision]

Yea.. I know.. I am just teasing her.. (we are sort of friends.. but don't tell anyone! ) lol!

I kind of figured. Yours was just one of the last posts - I didn't want to search for the posts where people said it seemed like she liked to stir up drama or whatever.

There's nothing wrong with starting a discussion - no reason to say someone likes drama because they are interested in hearing what other people have to say about something.

 

[cgipson1]

Yea.. I know.. I am just teasing her.. (we are sort of friends.. but don't tell anyone! ) lol!

I kind of figured. Yours was just one of the last posts -

Yea... that's me!! Open mouth, insert Hoof! lol!