Why are we fighting so hard to impress each other?

[thereyougo!]

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>!

I think that some of the reactions here demonstrate that sometimes it is all of us that need a thicker skin sometimes. I know that some unnamed posters that come on here asking for C&C saying that they want it to harsh for them to learn, really believe that their work is good and want a pat on the back. When they don't get it there is a backlash. We've got to be careful that we don't get so cynical that we shoot ourselves in the foot. We ALL have to be prepared to learn something, no matter how old, young, experienced, inexperienced, professional or amateur we are.

I think we ALL post photos that we secretly want people to be impressed by. We all have egos. Simply having an ego doesn't make you egoistical. It's human nature for us to want people to like what we do. How we learn from criticism is the defining moment.

 

[Diver_matt]

I had a long response but I'll just say, I'm with you blackrose. Some on here call themselves photographers and their photos meet all the "rules". Then when one doesn't meet the rules, they claim it's art. I won't feed anyone's ego on here by posting my horrible photos. I'll just learn from reading the threads thanks to all the quality C&C that some provide.

 

[thereyougo!]

I had a long response but I'll just say, I'm with you blackrose. Some on here call themselves photographers and their photos meet all the "rules". Then when one doesn't meet the rules, they claim it's art. I won't feed anyone's ego on here by posting my horrible photos. I'll just learn from reading the threads thanks to all the quality C&C that some provide.

how do you feed other people's egos by showing your photos? So you're willing for other people to go through the 'horrible' harsh criticism so you can learn without risking criticism of your own? The moment I made progress ost with my photography was when I had harsh criticism on another forum. I was initially defensive then tried some of the suggestions and read and read and then tried things out. I still have some way to go in my own photography, but the watershed moment was when I took it on the chin.

As far as rules/guidelines is concerned, yes there are some rules or guidelines. There are places in a picture or photograph that our eyes are naturally drawn to. It's how our brains work. For example our eyes are naturally drawn to the brightest part of the scene so we need to make sure that we expose the subject correctly. It's been established that our eyes naturally look to the upper right third of a picture, so the structure of photos often works that way. There are exceptions to some guidelines and rules, but you do need to understand the rules in order to break them. It's all about balance. If a shot looks unbalanced, it's less pleasing. Photography is a form of communication and the guidelines are important in helping you communicating your subject or message. If your audience has to search the image for the subject then you have failed to effectively communicate your subject.

 

[SCraig]

I forgot to add something to my post earlier (#57) that I think is important:

4. There is absolutely nothing wrong with seeking perfection in a photograph as long as the person doing the seeking is wise enough to understand that they are chasing an unobtainable goal. The knowledge gained during the chase is invaluable but the goal can never be obtained. It is not even possible to define "Perfect" in the context of a photograph because the subject is too ambiguous.

 

[Sonoma]

Blah, blah blah, blah blah!

Give it a rest already.

 

[cgipson1]

I had a long response but I'll just say, I'm with you blackrose. Some on here call themselves photographers and their photos meet all the "rules". Then when one doesn't meet the rules, they claim it's art. I won't feed anyone's ego on here by posting my horrible photos. I'll just learn from reading the threads thanks to all the quality C&C that some provide.

I have news for you! Even though you try to apply what you see here.. to your own photos, there is stuff you will miss. Another person looking at them will see stuff you that you don't.. because you are "used" to seeing it, and don't even pay attention to it. Not saying you can't improve just by reading.. but you can improve a lot more (and faster) by posting your work. Kind of a cop out to let others take the flak.. with you benefiting, but not willing to join in.. don't you think?

 

[cgipson1]

Blah, blah blah, blah blah!

Give it a rest already.

You don't have to read it.. if you don't like it!

 

[The_Traveler]

I had a long response but I'll just say, I'm with you blackrose. Some on here call themselves photographers and their photos meet all the "rules". Then when one doesn't meet the rules, they claim it's art.

That's not their problem, it's yours because you are missing some basic bits of knowledge.

The "Guidelines" reflect what experienced people know about how viewers see pictures. Viewers get hints from picture composition and form that have nothing to do with the content but merely the placement or structure of the key elements.

So the beginning photographer should use these basic guidelines until they know more about how people see things. If you can't explain why you like something in a certain place and position, you don't know enough to go outside the guidelines.

When you are more experienced, you can use and challenge the viewers' expectations in order to add to the interest of an image.

That is the 'art' that doesn't necessarily fit the guidelines.

Here is an example of a picture that doesn't follow the 'guidelines'. Rather than one subject or center of interest that are on the thirds, this picture has two - the couple embracing and the woman walking seemingly oblivious. It was framed exactly that way to make the viewer look back and forth to show that there are essentially two different worlds going on in that one small space.

Whether you like it or not, that was an intentional breach of the 'guidelines' for a purpose - and that's what is called making art.

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

She's sooo gonna run into that bike!

 

[Robin Usagani]

Yeah Lew. I am not impressed. Should have shot that 2-3 seconds later

She's sooo gonna run into that bike!

 

[The_Traveler]

Sorry, she glanced up, turned across the street and was gone.
This was the best of 10 or so shots.

but that is off the point, which was that it was intentionally framed and shot this way.
Guidelines aren't what make good shoots, necessarily.

 

[mishele]

LOL

 

[GnipGnop]

My favourite part of your art is the watermark.

 

[2WheelPhoto]

Another winning thread

 

[Diver_matt]

I may miss some things by merely reading on here. True. But I could sit on here for the next 5 years and that will still be the case. If I can learn a few things here and there by reading (and I have), great!! Is that a cop out? Not at all. I don't tell a guy that knows the name of every mma submission that he's copping out by not fighting. He's a fan of the sport (or hobby) and that's enough for him. I'm a fan of photography & that's enough for me. If my photos please me and the untrained eyes that view them, I'm happy. Isn't that what it's all about? Meeting our own satisfaction? If someone else's idea of satisfaction is admiration of those on here, have at it. I fully understand it & it certainly will make them a better photographer. Its just not one of my needs in this hobby. Thereyougo: to answer your first question, there's a handful on here that make me think of high school. You know, the guys that talked crap about someone else thinking it would make him look better. Don't misinterpret that to mean all. There's plenty of quality comments too. That's why I keep reading.