how do you know if you're any good?

[ferider]

Originally Posted by back alley

there are days ... i think i should just sell it all and find a new way to spend money and time.

On these days I usually ask one of my dogs. They love my photos - and everything is well again

Cheers,

Roland.

[MickH]

Originally Posted by NB23

Not necessarily. But when someone says "Nicely seen", you bet it's cheezy and they just want to be your friend so you can reply something cheezy to them, too.

That's a really good response. I like the way you put it.

[jan normandale]

Nothin's good anymore anyway, so don't worry about it. Have a coffee, keep shooting.
It's only photography.

Imagine if it was building bridges.. now that's serious.

[jan normandale]

Originally Posted by nikonhswebmaster

The one thing I hate about you is your complete lack of conviction.

I was going to comment on that one, glad you did it for me ;D j/k

[charjohncarter]

I read a study once (ten years ago) that had concluded that people that think they are competent are the least competent. AND the ones that were actually competent, never thought that they had done their task as well as the could/should. So, I guess, (and having employed many people in my life), I agree with this study. You can relate that to your photography; if you like.

[FallisPhoto]

Originally Posted by tripod

You can' t please everyone, so be sure to at least please yourself. Do what you do, the way you do it, to the best of your ability, and keep striving to learn and improve. If others like your pics, that's gravy.

By the number of competitions you win?

[merlin]

Pretty subjective subject but as others have alluded, I like to think that if you're mostly dissatisfied and ruthless there's a good chance you're stuff will be occasionally good rather than always boring.

[antiquark]

Yeah, I'd agree with some of the other posters, if you're happy with your own pictures, and you like looking at them, then that's all that matters.

[usagisakana]

Originally Posted by bmattock

How do you know if you're not any good?

by being continually displeased with your work.

[dazedgonebye]

If you think you're good, you're good.
Just do yourself a favor and don't go showing your work to any ignorant savages that might disagree.

[grahmjordan]

"How do you know if you're any good?"

If you have any passion in you for what is you do, any desire that can not be quenched, so much invested that you deeply care - then I would allow myself the embrace the thought of knowing "I'm good." Now To Be Known is something quite different.

Unfortunately, we can and have created a measuring stick for everything and we carry it in our pocket everywhere we go. We not only use this tangible, narrow, generalizing, incognizant stick for our own work/expressions but we wave it around measuring every one's work around us too. Looking at some of the deeper currents and things in life I doubt you will find, as much as we want to, a means for measuring let alone a value for rating and doing so only hurts the experience.

Try, try your ass off, pause to care, and don't stop there.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by back alley

...there are days i think that i'm pretty good and days when i think i should just sell it all and find a new way to spend money and time...

I noticed that you do not get very close to your street subjects unless you "know" them and this may contribute to your feeling that your pictures aren't consistently good enough.

Even though your rf cameras are small they still have to be operated with two hands and you do end up looking more serious than your typical tourist as a result of using these tools all the time.

Perhaps a smaller automatic high-end p&s film camera, one that you could hide hanging under a jacket when not being used and operate with one hand only, might help you to get closer to your subjects and photograph them more quickly.

When I use my Minilux on the streets I find that I can easily get much closer and snap off much quicker shots of people. After a series of silent snaps I just let the Minilux fall out of my hand and it elegantly swings down under my jacket out of sight.

Do you own one of these high-quality compact film cameras yet, such as a Leica Minilux/CM, Contax T2/T3 or Nikon 23Ti/35Ti? These tiny 135mm film cameras with their fantastic small lenses can do wonders for your psyche on those particular days when you're not feeling so bold.

[kalokeri]

Originally Posted by back alley

there are ... days when i think i should just sell it all and find a new way to spend money and time.

If running around and taking picture is a passion there is no need to give it up. If you think you should have done it better, try again (and again). As long as you don´t have to make your living with photography it´s all up to you in first place.

Dreaming about being the admired photog ? Forget it, just look a flickr and realise how many pictures you like have no comment at all. Some people have found their special way of seeing the world, got the attention of others - you will know some of them. I have no problem to admit that I like their work far more than my own, but they are also an inspiration.

Don´t give up.

Thomas

[pesphoto]

I used to care a lot less about what poeple thought before i discovered the internet and forums and such and started posting my images all over. Actually enjoyed just doing it for myself. Once again...too much time online.....

[NB23]

Originally Posted by nikonhswebmaster

No - that is not always good measure, some of the greatest artists have been constantly displeased, and worse.

Yeah but do not forget that the greatest artists we're displeased because they knew they could do better and they knew they we're good.
Usually, when you're good, you know it.

[Trawlerman]

I've gotten to the stage where I shoot for myself alone.

Of course I appreciate constructive comments and always try to take them on board. I do as much reading up as I can and always try to learn as much about the fundementals of an area. Overall though, as long as i'm happy with the shots that's all that matters.


The biggest area that I work in photographically speaking is in photographing ships. In my local area there are a few of us who do this and whilst we don't compete with each other I always like to see what others are doing. Personally I like to produce something a little different to what others are doing and perhaps add my signature look to these images.

I also like to work alone and then discuss my output with others at a later stage. I've found that whilst out shooting with the local Flickr group or it's members they cramp my style and I feel pressured to come up with the goods.

[John Rountree]

Frankl.y, I think you have to trust yourself. You have to trust yourself to set goals that are high enough to be good. You have to trust yourself to honestly critique your own work. You have to trust yourself when you have a postiive or negative reaction to to your own work. Now, it is exceedingly nice to have your own feelings corroberated by someone else. But, in the end, it is your personal experssion and you must be happy with it. As others have pointed out, even photographers with large reputations for good work can not appeal to everyone. But the biggest reason to trust yourself is because if you are are really making art, it just might be that you are ahead of everyone's curve. It may take a little time for your critics to reach the same level where you are operating. Usually, if something is really new it takes time for people to really understand and appreciate what they are seeing. So, you must be honest with yourself and trust your own instincts and feelings.

[Jason808]

John I agree - though I do a combination of that and feedback from others. Really, my best critic is my wife. She's pretty honest with me because she wants me to succeed photographically. If she likes it, she says why. If doesn't like it or it does nothing for her, she says so too.

Man, is that loaded with double entendre...

[Steve Bellayr]

how do you know if you're any good?
After you are dead a couple of decades your negatives are found and there is a retrospective of your work at a renowned museum with a high gloss book issued. (Which means if you shot all your work in digital you better hope that flickr is still up.) The living are only well paid.

[M. Valdemar]

Just watch "American Idol" early in the season.

You'll see dozens and dozens of people who fervently believe they are "good".

It's absolutely painfully obvious to anyone watching (go on, you don't have to claim you've never seen it), who is good and who is bad.

The people who believe they are good are bitterly angry when rejected. They still feel they are good and everyone else is wrong. They are "misunderstood", or have some self-proclaimed "special talent" or "vision" that they are aware of, but everyone else is not.

You can extrapolate that to about 99.99% of those who have expensive camera equipment. websites, Flickr pages, galleries, participate in online forums, etc., and believe that they are talented.

They are "making themselves happy", but feel their talent is unrecognized by the ignorant masses.

Frankl.y, I think you have to trust yourself. You have to trust yourself to set goals that are high enough to be good. You have to trust yourself to honestly critique your own work. You have to trust yourself when you have a postiive or negative reaction to to your own work. Now, it is exceedingly nice to have your own feelings corroberated by someone else. But, in the end, it is your personal experssion and you must be happy with it. As others have pointed out, even photographers with large reputations for good work can not appeal to everyone. But the biggest reason to trust yourself is because if you are are really making art, it just might be that you are ahead of everyone's curve. It may take a little time for your critics to reach the same level where you are operating. Usually, if something is really new it takes time for people to really understand and appreciate what they are seeing. So, you must be honest with yourself and trust your own instincts and feelings.

[FrankS]

[quote=M. Valdemar;826957]Just watch "American Idol" early in the season.
You'll see dozens and dozens of people who fervently believe they are "good".
It's absolutely painfully obvious to anyone watching (go on, you don't have to claim you've never seen it), who is good and who is bad.
The people who believe they are good are bitterly angry when rejected. They still feel they are good and everyone else is wrong. They are "misunderstood", or have some self-proclaimed "special talent" or "vision" that they are aware of, but everyone else is not.
You can extrapolate that to about 99.99% of those who have expensive camera equipment. websites, Flickr pages, galleries, participate in online forums, etc., and believe that they are talented.
They are "making themselves happy", but feel their talent is unrecognized by the ignorant masses.


So, just what are you trying to tell me?

[jan normandale]

Originally Posted by FrankS

So, just what are you trying to tell me?

Frank, read carefully. He's telling you to watch more American Idol... sheesh does it have to be spelled out for you? j/k

[hlockwood]

Originally Posted by back alley

how do you know if you're any good? photographically speaking...

I know I'm not good enough because I almost always see, from the print or screen, that the shot could have been better. Composition is the typical problem. But I keep trying.

Maybe if I had an M8 I'd get more keepers.

Harry

[Pherdinand]

well,many of us don't know if we are any good, and still, we are brave enough to think we can make big bucks of our art
hint,hint.

[photophorous]

The only way to "know" you are good is to define the criteria for what is good and then meet that criteria. There is no definition that we can all agree on, so from that standpoint the answer to your question is, "you will never know." But if you decide what being "good" means to you, then you have a chance. Otherwise it's just a popularity contest, and judging by the musicians who make it to the top 40, popularity doesn't necessarily equal talent.

At this point in my photographic journey, I feel like I am still a student. I may make a photo once in a while that I really like, but even then I can always point out errors. I put a lot of photos on flickr because I use it as a kind of visual blog to keep my friends and family involved in what's going on with my life. Sometimes that is serious photography and other times it's just documentation. I take the few comments I get as encouragement to continue, so in that since I love getting them. As long as I feel like I'm improving, I'm happy. I'll worry about being good later.

Paul