Your standards or theirs?

[Niresangwa]

Originally Posted by sk66

Hmm, ok. Are we talking about "imperfections" that prevent an image from meeting your standards as "good work" or "technical imperfections"? For me those also can be very different things....

you tell me, you posed the question

I think when you start rating the importance of an image technically (exposure, composition, lighting, white balance blah blah snore) you run into problems as it excludes the reason for the image existing in the first place.

Some of my favorite images perfectly convey an emotion, am ambiance, an immersion that existed at that moment. Isn't that why (or an example of why) a photographer does what he does and why they're hired by clients?... but if I were to present one of those here for critique it would be ravenously devoured and dissected. Heck, I could write an essay on why some of them suck technically without even having my peers tell me...

I think I was trying to relay my take on this, which is how can you rationally answer your question when the criteria for solving the problem are often times so subjective to oneself, never mind throwing in a paying client into the mix and their much stronger subjective criteria.

Nice topic by the way.

[Jim Bryant]

After dealing with editors for over 30 years I have high standards. I'm a perfectionist . I don't send anything that doesn't meet my high standards. In this business, you're remembered by the last photograph you've taken and submitted.

I think we are talking about something other than the "quality" of work here.

Sounds more like a confidence issue with your work than it being any better or worse than others.

The fear of yourself is clouding your mind. Māra seems to be tempting you.

~Eric

[sk66]

Originally Posted by maxharvard

I think we are talking about something other than the "quality" of work here.

Sounds more like a confidence issue with your work than it being any better or worse than others.

The fear of yourself is clouding your mind. Māra seems to be tempting you.

~Eric

Nah, it's more of a epiphany I had...

I don't lack confidence in my work nor in my judgement of my work...I don't really care if someone else likes it as long as I do....but that's an "artist's approach".

We are talking "quality of work" based upon "standards" of which our own opinions of our own work are very subjective.... (I realize there really is no "standard" which makes this all even more difficult to resolve)
My need for my work to meet my standards (which are idealic) is something that has prevented me from going very far as a "professional". Add to that my standards have continued to become higher as the quality of work I can create has improved and my "appreciation" of the art has matured....I have very few photos from early on which have "stood the test of time" for me.

It is easy to compare my work to others....but if I see my "crap" comparable to someones "good work" it doesn't make my "crap" good, it makes their "good" work "crap". But their "crap" is getting them paid and they are building a name for themselves and succeeding as a "professional"...So I'm guessing their judgment of "quality" to be more appropriate.

Part of the point of bringing this up was as something of a "warning"....If you wait for everything to be "perfect/ready", you will always be waiting...

[ravncat]

Both - Though, I think, when dealing with the self, it's more useful to ask "am I making progress" than "are my photographs good"

this applies to them, but certainly - you have control over what they see alot

[ZannieGirl49]

Originally Posted by sk66

Part of the point of bringing this up was as something of a "warning"....If you wait for everything to be "perfect/ready", you will always be waiting...

I totally agree with this statement. I still have a hard time comparing my images with those of the photographers I admire. Many of whom are not household names, some are here on DPS and some are friends of friends. Once I started looking at the people in my area whose work is being purchased, I had a realization much like your statement above. Some people's work was amazing and some was what I thought to be awful. I realized that I could wait and wait and wait until I got good enough that I felt that I was great or perfect (which would most likely be never); or I could just put my best out there with the understanding that I'll continually be learning and striving to get to the next level. Whatever that level may be.

[milosh]

This is a very interesting subject, and a very difficult topic for me to read and completely understand (because of semantics). As an amateur, I have no real clients. My clients are probably my audience on Flickr and judges of the various local competitions. I also consider myself never good enough, and often find stuff that (IMO) is lower quality than mine getting a very positive feedback, or a prize of some sort.

Bottom line, I think you should always have your high standards (something constantly evolving and something to always pursuit) but you should also have a realistic view of market standards in your area and let go of your standards for the sake of business and profit. You'll can always find some audience who will know to appreciate your best work. Sorry if I'm off topic here.

[scootermcq]

Having done a few weddings, I am forced to take photos that I would not take any other time. Some of the images you work with to try to make passable, but they are below my standards. If it is an outdoor wedding, in direct sunlight, no shade at 1pm on the sunniest day ever seen north of the equator, you are going to have some harsh shadows. I have done one or two where I would have needed a stobe the size of a helecopter search light to knock down the sun. You warn the bride, but you have to shoot the ceremony. Sometimes all you can do is use all the tricks & tools you have, but the image will still be below "your standards"

[daft_biker]

Mine. I don't need to sell my pictures and I like not having to. A while back the Natural History Museum in London wanted one of my beastie pics for a book but I didn't like the shot they wanted so I said no.

Sometimes picture editors don't seem to have a clue and just try to complement you even if it's a shot only a mother could love (so to speak).

As an amateur I can set my expectations as high as I like....there's one shot I've been after for about 3 years now and I don't care if it takes another 3 years of trying. I've seen how the pros do it and I want to do it my way

[sk66]

Originally Posted by milosh

This is a very interesting subject, and a very difficult topic for me to read and completely understand (because of semantics). As an amateur, I have no real clients. My clients are probably my audience on Flickr and judges of the various local competitions. I also consider myself never good enough, and often find stuff that (IMO) is lower quality than mine getting a very positive feedback, or a prize of some sort.

Bottom line, I think you should always have your high standards (something constantly evolving and something to always pursuit) but you should also have a realistic view of market standards in your area and let go of your standards for the sake of business and profit. You'll can always find some audience who will know to appreciate your best work. Sorry if I'm off topic here.

Not "off topic" at all...I'd say you're right on target.