Do You Ever Look At Others' Work And...

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Graelwyn

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Think, 'why bother when it's all been done already?' or 'I can never be as good as that'? I guess I am a pessimist, and have always viewed things that way... for example, I write also but have not bothered to attempt a book. Why? Because all the stories have already been told...that is how I feel, anyway. Go into any bookshop and you see row upon row, shelf upon shelf of new books, from new authors. Go onto Flickr and you see pages and pages of the most incredible work, on all different subjects.

How can you keep the drive to continue and strive to improve when the goalposts seem so far away and when originality is so hard to come up with?

No harsh critique of my pessimism, please.
I am simply asking if this has ever crossed anyone else's mind and how to counterract it.
 
Graelwyn said:
Think, 'why bother when it's all been done already?' or 'I can never be as good as that'?
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All the time, and then I get a flash of inspiration and I feel a lot better. I really need those one or two "wow shots" to keep me going, and I use the term WOW loosely. For me, they are WOW for everyone else, who knows! :)

I feel I get maybe 3 or 4 shots per month I am really happy with, the rest well they can be OK but often lack quite a bit.

Biggest problem is motivating oneself to get of arse and find something shot worthy! The rest is easy :D

Gary.
 
Graelwyn said:
How can you keep the drive to continue and strive to improve when the goalposts seem so far away and when originality is so hard to come up with?
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Just because something is not original does not mean it's invalid. Concentrate on being good, first and foremost. When you're good, *then* you can try be original.
 
Photography is what you make it and you should think about what you personally want to gain from it as a hobby or professionally.

Do you want to get great sets of photos to show your friends/family? Do you want to make a career out of it? Perhaps you just want a new hobby?

Sure there are plenty of photographers out there who have similar photos...so what? Everyone has their own style, no two photographers are alike. No two photos are alike.

Just becuase something has been done a million times before doesn't mean you cant: a) try it for yourself and b) take inspiration from it.

When your learning something like photography it's not really important to find originality in your work, it's all about learning the ins and outs of your camera, your gear and how to get it all working together properly.

As far as getting a career in photography goes - you can be the most talented photographer ever and still find it hard to get a job, it is (in some cases) more about the break/opportunity you get rather than tallent/skill alone.
 
I have already been given a break in that I have been asked to work in a studio being set up by someone already established in photography... that is my aim. To work professionally, but as said, I do not see how you can compete or ever be good enough when against such competition.
 
Maybe you should look again at your pictures then Graelwyn.
Isn't there something special in them ?
I tried to write you a message yesterday about emotions and contact with your subject but failed to make it sound right, but Dogfish_Magnet sort of says it 'Because it hasn't been done by ME' or my way.
Who says you are not good enough - the person giving you your break, or you ?
 
Graelwyn said:
that is my aim. To work professionally, but as said, I do not see how you can compete or ever be good enough when against such competition.
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Good enough for who?

Professionally it would have to be the clients. Personally, much easier, you only have yourself to please ..... does it really matter if others are not as pleased with a certain shot as you are.

Life would be boring if everyone was the same and had the same tastes.
 
Ask every member this question and you would get a slightly different answer. That is because people take photographs for many different reasons - and many of those that do it "successfully" are probably wishing they were shooting something else :lol:.

It is the elusive difficulty of getting an original image and the high when you get one that makes photography the narcotic challenge that it is.

As advice to any photographer starting out I would agree with yourapocalypse and say that practice the technical side first, which often means copying existing work. Once you have the confidence in your technical abilities you will soon be creating images which have your own style.

PS How about a book about struggling with one's creative uncertainty? :D
 
I enjoy photography. I love taking photos, thinking about the composition (for far too long), getting the settings spot on, processing them in photoshop, and coming out with a photo that I'm really proud of that I want everyone to see.
Which is why I joined here.
I'm just a little kid who wants to show everyone their painting they did that they're really proud of, despite the fact its just smudges of colour :)
 
foodpoison said:
I enjoy photography. I love taking photos, thinking about the composition (for far too long), getting the settings spot on, processing them in photoshop, and coming out with a photo that I'm really proud of that I want everyone to see.
Which is why I joined here.
I'm just a little kid who wants to show everyone their painting they did that they're really proud of, despite the fact its just smudges of colour :)
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:thumbs: hurrah to that!! Well, I joined here in the hope [successfully now] of learning more but yeah, so much stuff has already been done that if you question your motives or try to analyse it all too much, what the hell is the point. Takes pictures, enjoy them, enjoy the act of doing it. If you end up making some money or even a career from it, great it, but either way, never forget WHY you started in the first place and take picture for YOU, regardless of whether its been done before or not - as dogfish said, you haven't done it before!
 
With the exception of photojournalism then every studio portrait pose, landscape, animal shot etc. has probably been done before by people with more technical ability, imagination and better equipment than you or me.

What you can’t copy and is original is that subtle lighting on a landscape, or expression on a Childs face. Your shots may not be technically perfect or taken on the most expensive equipment but they will be unique.

Learn the basics first but don’t be constrained by rules, and above all enjoy what you do.
 
If you take this very sad attitude into the studio environment you've a crack at - it'll not be long at all before some lighting gear is up for sale! :eek:

As others have said, learn the techie bit by choosing some images you like (just off here, doesn't have to be a classic by a known photographic superstar), break it down and try to recreate it. This is especially useful to anyone with a studio to work in as it's all your own work creating the lighting, etc. so you can't blame the sun, clouds, etc. it's all YOU

You will of course create loads of crap, and you can either learn from it or go sulk that you're not good enough

When you can take great stock shots that sell, it's time to try introducing a little bit more 'you' and finding out what that 'you' is, but you need to lighten up

Try a few of these every morning...

:):):):):)

DD
 
For me it's just a hobby, something I can do outside of work that involves the family (i.e. taking the boys, and the camera, to the park on a Sunday morning).

Originally I just wanted to blur out the background (which my compact obviously couldn't do), but now it's progressed and I'm really enjoying it. And I'm happy with many of my shots, regardless of what others think.

Like anything the true Pro's are in a completely different league.
 
For me it's a hobby, and I regularly look at the pictures posted on here, and think that none of mine even get close. Then I stop and think and realise that it really doesn't matter. I post a few of them up anyway hoping to learn how to improve but at the end of the day, I'm not taking these pictures for anyone else but me and if others like them, all the better.
 
Dogfish_magnet said:
Because its hasn't been done by ME.
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I'm with that one. If I see a picture I really admire, first thing I do is wonder how they did it (likely gear, settings etc) then think could I replicate it, and if I can, then think how can I make it better or maybe put a different spin on it.
 
I feel the same way. As mentioned before, I havent done those shots and I would like to create something proud of that others like.

But when you see amazing photos like the site I posted in this thread http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?p=715400#post715400

You do think "How will I ever get to do those kind of shots?"

but I think its just about finding a project to do and running with it.

I am new to photography and I have an idea for a project, which when I get finished I am going to take to a local gallery or rent out a local bar and invite all my friends and family and show them the pictures and have some drinks.

Also I am going to be entering some competitions, as that to me is a good gauge on how good you can get, and then work my way up the rankings from learning from each one.
 
Instead of looking at the work of others and saying "I can't compete with that" you should be thinking "how can I recreate that?" and once you have managed to figure that out you can start thinking "how can I better that?"

The beauty of the likes of Flickr is that in most cases the EXIF data is there for all to see, so if you can recreate an approximation of the image in a similar way you have some basic camera settings to work from.

Another thing to remember about the likes of Flickr, for every tog that you think is "better" than you there are 10,000 that are much, much worse :lol::lol:
 
Some peoples work on here should give you something to aspire too, something to better. As difficult as it appears when you first start out, it is something that you can achieve with trial and error and practice,practice,practice.

Some of the macro stuff is amazing, i`m not really into macro, but I look at stuff in there and think "i`ll get off my butt and try that", fail and go and have another go......:D

Photography comes from within, its what you see in the frame and the composition that you like the best, just because it may be different to everybody elses doen`t make it wrong or bad, photography is what YOU photograph and how YOU see it.

For example, I take wildlife shots with plenty of the creatures natural habitat in the frame, that is how I like wildlife shots,not everybody does. There is nothing wrong with super close ups,indeed some of them are amazing, but we are all different and all see things and like things in a different way. Don`t be despondent and downbeat, keep at it and take shots that YOU like......:thumbs:


*I will take a better bird photo than CT,it may be a while off, but i`ll keep trying*.......:D
 
When I first joined this forum, I was in awe of the other members. I have since learned a lot, now know that I know stuff all but also know that I am better than most here, yet I still get very few votes in the competition - why ? (in the portraits month, I knew exactly who deserved to be first, second and third - I think that between us, we got less than the winner..!)
Most people here are totally rubbish compared to me - IN MY EYES. I take the pictures I like, and am good at it. I am not technically good in loads of ways, not very creative, not very imaginative, but FOR ME, my pictures are good.
I wish I could take some self portraits of me nude, as you did, Graelwyn - sadly, I don't have the skill, body or courage - now, who does that sound like ?
 
Oi - Sangria is for tourists - made from all the left-overs with a dash of brandy to make it taste strong...
I'll have a Duque de Alba please - the only time I have ever been served a drink by 3 waiters - one to hold the (steamed) glass, one to pour the brandy, and the other to wipe the rim of the bottle. All 3 then stood and watched me drink it, then shook my hand.
You don't get that in a weatherspoons, eh ??
( I get what you are saying HUN !!)
 
Most important thing to remember is enjoy what your doing, if you dont, then dont bother, if you do then what does it matter if theres others better or worse then you?

Not everyone will like everything you shoot though so beer that in mind,
 
I am always looking at other peoples work, its a total inspiration, i never deliberately try to copy somebody elses shots, but i am certain some of the shots i have are very similar to others shots though.

All of my shots are taken for me, nobody else, i have never sold a picture, i have never tried. This is purely a hobby for me, something to get me out in the great outdoors, help me get a better appreciation of the world we live in. I get such a buzz when i gt a shot that makes me go WOW, the Osprey shots i got a few weeks ago did that, they may not be anybody elses cup of tea, but its really irrelevent, if i was selling them it would be a different matter i suppose.

Just take pictures for you, relax and let yourself enjoy it :)

Sorry i waffled and have no idea if i got my point across or not now ! lol
 
Ive set a target in my head, to hold a private show of a project I have planned. If I can achieve that and get whats in my head into my camera ill be more than happy and know that I can achieve anythings.
 
/smart alec - There isn't a song that hasn't been written and there isn't a photograph that hasn't been taken.

What you have to do I think is find a way to put your mark on the work you do, make it that bit different to other peoples.
 
IanC_UK said:
I am always looking at other peoples work, its a total inspiration, i never deliberately try to copy somebody elses shots, but i am certain some of the shots i have are very similar to others shots though.

All of my shots are taken for me, nobody else, i have never sold a picture, i have never tried. This is purely a hobby for me, something to get me out in the great outdoors, help me get a better appreciation of the world we live in. I get such a buzz when i gt a shot that makes me go WOW, the Osprey shots i got a few weeks ago did that, they may not be anybody elses cup of tea, but its really irrelevent, if i was selling them it would be a different matter i suppose.

Just take pictures for you, relax and let yourself enjoy it :)

Sorry i waffled and have no idea if i got my point across or not now ! lol
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perfect sense mate..

shoot for yourself

as others have said enjoy it if you dont it will show in your pictures...


md:thumbs:
 
steveinspain said:
I am not technically good in loads of ways, not very creative, not very imaginative, but FOR ME, my pictures are good.
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This is why you lose m8 - you've hit the nail on the head yourself

And, this is 'Art', so just because you THINK you are brill doesn't mean others will think so - and, frankly, if the majority don't think you are any good then however sad it is - you're likely to be not very good!

But you are right in one aspect, shoot for your own pleasure and if you like them, so what

:thumbs:

DD
 
Janice said:
Good god... did she???
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What's the 'God' bit for ???

We've all seen your nude self-portraits, weren't they in the daily Sun and Sport a few months back?

Under the title...

"Females tog goes mad... shoots self in buff"

:lol::lol::lol:

DD
 
Is originality the aim?

Of course there are new stories and new pictures. You just haven't found them yet.

more than a thousand years ago people thought all the stories had been told. So what about Calvino? or Burrows? or hundreds of others who did something different and changed literature?

more than a thousand years ago people thought that all pictures had been painted? So what about the introduction of perspective? impressionism? futurists? picasso?

Being original comes from an understanding of what a subject is and what it is not (yet).

what is the point of any creative endeavour? If you can awaken an emotional response or an internal reflection or develop awareness of yourself, is that not worth achieving?

Are you frightened of not being good enough, of being empty? Sometimes you have to let go.
 
You cant ever put a cap on imagination...theres no such thing....it will go on as long as we do.

l get bogged down sometimes when l take a great shot...one l think is special...tag it on flickr...then see what others have done under the same tag, and realise it wasn't special at all.

But its still different, and mine.
 
Lol many Maddy

These threads are how not to gain respect from anybody on here, also how to get banned in only a few days.
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/search.php?searchid=818222

I just feel this thread was a bit provoctive, Personally i don't see many shots that are identical, maybe same processing ect but never the same factors, lighting ect never. Unless you can show two identicle shots. ..
 
No two shots are ever identical. You get many shots of the same subject, taken with the same camera....but they are not the same. Some people will prefer one, some the other. lts so subjective.
 
It's not the getting there that matters, it's enjoying the journey. For some of us who are not doing this professionally that's the answer.

So long as we are enjoying doing what we do the output of our efforts is not as relevant as the enjoyment of the pursuit.
 
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