This has really depressed me, I'm a boring photographer

stu_the_flat

stu_the_flat

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Stuart
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Evidently the most interesting thing I can do as a photographer is sell my camera.

I have been doing my 52 photos of the year since the new year, Its still only two pages long! Now I won't complain about lack of comments because I find it very difficult to comment on other peoples photographs.

So I thought I would watch "my stats" from photobucket and see if people like my photos by the number of hits.

Well that happened this week, I got a hit rate of 750! the next highest hit is 51 from my first photo in the 52, And yup it the hits are of people looking at my camera on the classifieds!

So am I that crap? should I just chuck it and give up?

Stuart
 
Photography shouldn't be about impressive others!

That said I'd redirect your frustration and not worry about stats
 
If you shoot just for the pleasure and admiration of others then perhaps you're missing the mark and you should go and find something else to do with your time.

If you shoot because you like to and it gives you pleasure then who gives a flying squirel what anyone else thinks and who looks.

Most of the stuff I take doesn't float boats for lots of folks but I don't really care as it's not for them.
 
decent by who's description though Stuart?

I started a 52 and gave up three weeks in because I was going to end up producing 52 dull images just to satisfy a timetable. Yet I'm shooting and being paid for it so I know how to work to a brief and I know how to shoot under pressure.

So don't worry, it's not you!!

My flickr is barely ever touched but I use it just for uploading to here! lol

So it's as much about where you put your pics and for whom and as long as you enjoy taking them then don't stress. ;)
 
Exactly, don't worry about your stats, enjoy your photography and keep taking pics, practice counts. Though your shots looked superb to me... Your night pics stood out especially the last one at the station...
 
stu_the_flat said:
I do enjoy photography I just get frustrated that I am unable to produce any decent images.
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What is wrong with them ?

Have you compared your current photo's with some from a while ago ?

Have you you improved?

I can see my work improving slowly but surely, it inspires me :-)
 
I am unable to produce any decent images
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Taking a quick look through the 52 thread, that's not exactly true. In fact it's a load of old melons chap.

It's the age old photographers curse, we just can't see our own work the way others do. Or the way we see theirs. We all sufer that crisis of confidnce at some point. Or at many points even but knowing that it's just perception and that your work has value and appriciation will get you though it. :thumbs:
 
I never visit the personal projects section. I'm guessing it is mainly viewed by others doing their own projects so more comments from you would probably get you more coming back.

I had a quick flick through the first page or so of your 52 thread. There are some very good images there and also quite a few that just need more thought about the composition to make them good too. I didn't see any real lemons so do keep going :)
 
Hay Hay Hay,
Please dont get all het up on stats.

There is only one factor to bare in mind with any photo you take and that is that you like it.
There are Many togs that make there living, or at least supplement there income from photography and im sure we all wish we could do likewise.

For the most of us its simply an enjoyable pursuit that we hope we can be happy with and improve upon.

Take your shots for you and if anyone else likes them too its a bonus.

Just Enjoy.
 
stu_the_flat said:
So am I that crap? should I just chuck it and give up?
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No.

There are some crackers in there and a good variety. Like me, you seem to be in to everything.

There are loads of people doing 52s and 365s. The concept puts me off from reading. The idea of committing to post something every day/week regardless of whether it is worth looking at doesn't encourage me to trawl through the threads. Yours is the first I've opened this year.

Andrew
 
I have not seen your photo's mate but maybe you should re-evalute what you think is a good photo, sometimes we can get blind sided to what is good and what is rubbish.

I know plenty of people who turn the brightness way up on tv's till black becomes grey and white is blown,and they think that it looks ok, normal.

My girlfriend has a point and shoot and quite frequently fills a memory card, she is not into photography but will produce some great photo's.

The best photographers are the ones that are always snapping.
 
Cheers guys. Thank you for the words of support.

I can see your point, I really enjoy photography. I suppose I was thinking "why do we take photographs?" I had thought "so others can see the visions you see." Never thought of it as, "Because you want you and it makes you happy!" :D

Stuart
 
stu_the_flat said:
Cheers guys. Thank you for the words of support.

I can see your point, I really enjoy photography. I suppose I was thinking "why do we take photographs?" I had thought "so others can see the visions you see." Never thought of it as, "Because you want you and it makes you happy!" :D

Stuart
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Youo can please some of the people some of the time but you cant please all of the people all of the time. ;)
 
stu_the_flat said:
Cheers guys. Thank you for the words of support.

I can see your point, I really enjoy photography. I suppose I was thinking "why do we take photographs?" I had thought "so others can see the visions you see." Never thought of it as, "Because you want you and it makes you happy!" :D

Stuart
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I rarely show anyone my photo's, the pleasure is in knowing that I took it and enjoyed doing so. I also get a great deal of pleasure from constantly trying to improve my image quality.
 
I must admit I don't get the whole 52/365s at all. I'm sure it is inspirational to some people but I would rather take one brilliant photograph in a year than 52 or 365 just to make the point.

It also seems there are two breeds of photographers. Those who do it for their own enjoyment and those who do it to create something to give pleasure to others.
 
In my eyes Stu, photography is an art, a good artist makes art for himself and is content with it simply because its his own creation. Don't be fussed about hits and likes and such, just like all good art, it is hated my some and loved by others.

Just because people haven't hit your pics too often doesn't mean they are rubbish photographs... after all, the world wide web is a HUGEEEEE place, which makes it much harder to find individual people. Just be glad that you have a passion and be content with the produce of your passion, there are a lot of miserable people out there who have no passions at all, so count yourself lucky chap :)
 
When you take a portrait, it is to make someone happy that they look so good.
Money !!!!!!!!!!
When you take photos of subject matter for your self and you like them, thats the 'BUZZ'.

I haven't and never will post an image that I have been paid for although they are usually OK for the client, I have no interest in them as soon as they are finished.

I can sit in my garden with my dogs & or grandkids and love every one I take, I dont care what people think of them, I just love taking snaps for me and the family.

If you like what you are doing then just do it for yourself.

http://photoshopelementsight.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=7963
 
I think how you view photos depends on why you take them.

My main thing for photography is just to capture an individual moment - and for that the photos dont need to be great, all they need to do is please me, which is why I don't have a single "set up" shot I've taken purely for myself. It's just for me personally about capturing something in the best possible way. One of my favourite pictures is one I've never shared, as it's too special for ME.

However, I do enjoy knowing someone else will enjoy my photographs - the load I took at a vintage rally were largely for 1 bloke I knew would love to look at them, and that gives me as much pleasure as anything.

So long as you enjoy taking them, nothing else matters (unless you're in business, in which case your client matters of course).
 
I looked at your 52 and you have some good photos there. I think people would notice the thread more and comment if you were following the theme for the week.Those that are doing that usually look at the others and how they have interpreted the theme. You could always join in for the rest of the year.However if you are enjoying what you are doing dont worry about getting comments.
Sue
 
AndyB said:
I must admit I don't get the whole 52/365s at all. I'm sure it is inspirational to some people but I would rather take one brilliant photograph in a year than 52 or 365 just to make the point.
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I don't want to take one thousand photos that break my hard drive, I just want one that breaks my heart...

As one advert once pointed out!

I've taken photos that I love, but to others they just move on. I have a people in my life I hold dear to my heart, but have to listen as others tell me why they don't like them.

In short we do the things we do because we love them, how we capture images or memories is special to us as individuals. You keep going because the only one that has to smile is you. :clap:
 
18-270 said:
I don't want to take one thousand photos that break my hard drive, I just want one that breaks my heart...

As one advert once pointed out!
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Don't suppose you know what advert that was from? I gave it a google with no success.
 
Internet syndrome?

before it came along, who saw the photographs and liked them?

it's easy to fall into the trap and think because the whole world can see the pics, the whole world must like them?

I have around 7000 pics on my drive, I can say around a handful stagger me, I think "wow" did I take that....can I re-create that day in day out.....nahh,

your pics are great....yes really, but with too many billion on the planet all vying for attention, we can't always tell you.

keep it up, I wish I was brave enough to try a 52 project.....inspire me

Paul
 
As far as I remember it was a slogan for the Olympus pen,

have been thinking about this, allot of people ask me why I love the Voigtlander lens I always say its because they offer the highest image quality for the money, but secretly its because I like the feel of the manual focus!

I do realise that TP is a community and that I'm not really part of it because I don't comment on enough peoples photographs. I will wok on that.

I really don't think I could follow the themes of the 52. some weeks I have just been snapping was was on the way to work!

Stuart
 
Hey ............. enjoy ............. I opened up my own web site last year, not to sell anything, but to let folks see what you can do ......... looking back at the site recently, some of the shots are passable, some good and some v.good according to visitors comments ............ so I delete the old ones which I thought were good at the time and add new ones as I improve ............ I stick em out there for fun ............... have just had 43,000 + hits though .......... which does make you think someone out there likes em ........... and gives you the boost to carry on with your hobby.:thumbs:
 
My aim is to photgraph my daughter as she grows up and the odd landscape etc etc and to experiment a bit with my new camera. I am not aiming to impress others (Not yet!! lol) just to enjoy my camera and what i can get from it.
 
Koolpc said:
My aim is to photgraph my daughter as she grows up and the odd landscape etc etc and to experiment a bit with my new camera. I am not aiming to impress others (Not yet!! lol) just to enjoy my camera and what i can get from it.
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well - you impressed us al right ! :naughty: . with the camera buying decisions ! :woot: :coat:
 
I've spent so much time trying to impress (and mostly failing) myself and others that I've simply forgotten to take pictures for the memories. As a result I can count on one hand the pictures I have of my own daughter from the last 6 years. I've finally worked out that photography isn't meant to be a competition and as such my SLR gear has gone so that I lose the complication and concentrate on enjoying again.
 
Hi Stuart,

If photography interests you and you enjoy it then keep at it. If others happen to like your stuff too then that should just be a bonus :D unless of course you are doing it for a living but I assume you are doing it as a hobby?

And for the record I just looked through your thread and you have taken some great photos there. I particularly like the night shot of the BBC building. The colours and the reflection in the water is great!

Keep at it mate if you enjoy it! I'm only just starting out but it's because it's something I want to do, not for anyone else. Although if people happen to like my photos then that's great :thumbs:
 
Just had a quick look through your 52 and I remember quite a few of your shots. The only reason I didn't comment was I had started my own and as so many others had I tried to stick to a set amount for commenting. I got half way through and got a little behind so stopped. You have had some great ideas, try to get together with other members as I do when ever possible.
 
who said this wonderful though (oh ! I think will smith did) -

“Too many people spend money they haven't earned, to buy things they don't want, to impress people they don't like.”


says it all I think.
this here is not exactly the case, but I think you guys get the drive ! :)
 
Originally Posted by stu_the_flat
Evidently the most interesting thing I can do as a photographer is sell my camera.
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I know where you are coming from here but let me put my 2p in here...

I used to get really frustrated that I had spent countless money on gear and the end result was that all my images were just sat on the PC doing nothing.

It wasnt until someone took me to one side and told me exactly what alot of folk here have said, "Take the image because it moves you or you find the subject interesting"

I Like modern country music "George Strait, Alan Jackson, Faith Hill" and the amount of people that take the micky out of me is unreal but do I care... "NO!"

I travel to Nashville once a year because I like it, when I was there last year, I took this photo through a shop window.

boots7.jpg


I have lost count of the amount of people that have told me that it does nothing for them but the only thing that counts is that "I Like it", WHY? Because it represents a subject and place that I like and enjoy.

Just like everyone else has said, go out, snap away at things you enjoy, print a few out, hang them on your wall and reminisce on the time you were there taking the image. Lets face it, the images that end up as your keepers are the ones that YOU like and that's all that counts.

It doesn't matter how good/bad your camera stuff is, the best camera you own is the one you have with you at the time you hit the Shutter button.
 
52 and 365 threads and projects are a waste of time and for exactly this reason. I Leays think that they put unneccessary pressure on people to post an image for the day or week. It's becomes a chore and stifles creativity. Unless you consistently deliver fantastic images for these forced projects you are inevitably going to look back on them and see mediocre photographs. I'm not saying this is exactly what's happening here but it might be close. Let yourself go, loose the project and remove the level of self expectation. You'll find you'll enjoy photography again and take the shots based on feeling and emotion as opposed to filling a photographic blog for the sake of it. I don't know if this all sounds harsh or not but it's what I think and I'm offering you the advice. Just be yourself and enjoy the camera. It's the only way you'll find your own style and soon you'll see the difference.
 
Spot on, though there are some exceptions.............:)
 
It's a pain in the arse typing on an iPhone but this thread is worth it. It put in some phantom words in my last response lol.

Fracster you're right. There are exceptions but you only become exceptional when you're at ease with yourself.
 
had a look at your 52,the images are great and i like your choise of subjects.i dont feel im qualified to say this but i can see the photo of the girl sitting in the train station doing well on a stock photo site
 
KayJay said:
52 and 365 threads and projects are a waste of time and for exactly this reason. I Leays think that they put unneccessary pressure on people to post an image for the day or week. It's becomes a chore and stifles creativity. Unless you consistently deliver fantastic images for these forced projects you are inevitably going to look back on them and see mediocre photographs. I'm not saying this is exactly what's happening here but it might be close. Let yourself go, loose the project and remove the level of self expectation. You'll find you'll enjoy photography again and take the shots based on feeling and emotion as opposed to filling a photographic blog for the sake of it. I don't know if this all sounds harsh or not but it's what I think and I'm offering you the advice. Just be yourself and enjoy the camera. It's the only way you'll find your own style and soon you'll see the difference.
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spot on.. and the reason I packed in my 365 this week.. the 52 went a few weeks earlier.. such a relief :)
 
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