Good enough?

[SwissJon]

You were probably expecting a photo.. Sorry to dissappoint on this occasion. On this occasion I'd like your brutally honest critic on my abilities as a landscape photographer please.

A few of you have seen my photos in other threads in this section, and there's quite a few on my Flickr page. I've been told today about a local art exhibition in June that displays local work. Now the person who told me was a very dear friend, and they're obviously biased, but they suggested I exhibit some of my work there among the work of other artists and photographers.

Now I've never thought about this before, I've just been playing with my camera because it pleases me to do so, I like my photos, and I'm very pleased if others do, but EXHIBIT?? Really? I don't know if I'm good enough for that. In fact, I really don't know if my work is any good at all.. I don't really show it to anyone outside my friends and family, and you all.. And from what I've seen, you're all really nice people that say nice things because it encourages them to persue their hobby, and my friends and family are bias.

So I'd really like you guys to be honest with me, not just nice.. Is this a good idea or am I being led like a bull to slaughter, just because one of my friends said they thought my work was good? I'd rather you lot said "Wait a while, you're not redy yet, than turn up on the day and be embarrased because my photos make me look like the amateur I really am.

You can see my Flickr album here http://www.flickr.com/photos/swissjon

[sourav]

Hey SwissJon,
Your pics are great, and reviews even better
Go ahead. And do put that pic, with the tree in 1/3rd and the sun shining from behind the clouds pic. I really loved that one
Cheers and all the best.

this is the one i am talking about http://www.flickr.com/photos/swissjon/5455811500/

[EOBeav]

Jon, like many of us, you're going about this the right way. You have some intrinsic artistic ability, and you're learning how to bring that out via landscape photography. You're asking the right questions and getting some basic concepts under your belt. We're all going down this journey. I would say if somebody--even a friend--has asked you to present your work in a show, then make a print and go for it. You have several on your Flickr stream that would be worth printing. Take good quality pictures in favorable light and you can't go wrong. To me, the challenge of landscape photography isn't necessarily being 'good enough,' it's finding that balance between artistic integrity and individual self-expression. I want my images to stand out but still look good.

I also have some local friends and family who ooh and ahh over my prints, even though I know there are thousands (millions?) on the web far superior to mine. I took the plunge and made a print of one of my snowy river shots and gave it to my parents as a Christmas present. It's hanging on their living room wall in a prominent place now. I plan on doing more of that this year.

[dvtldav]

Jon, I have only been on this forum for about a month and I would say you are definitely good enough to have some prints in an exhibit. From your critiques you seem to understand what makes a good landscape photo so all you have to do is put that to work for you. As you said in one of your critiques, reverse engineer it. Do this before you take the shot and you should have the composition, then all you have to do is get the focus and exposure which you are very capable of.
I am a woodworker and have entered projects in contests and when I saw some of the other entries I thought what was I thinking entering this contest because this stuff is good but then I saw some items and said my stuff is a lot better than that. So you might not be the best in the exhibit but I am betting you will be far from the worst and if not, so what you will never know if you don't try. "It is better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all." or something like that.

Go for it And good luck.

Dave

[Krusty79]

Jon,

Is this exhibit for local amateurs like you trying to make a name for themselves or is this more geared towards professionals who want to sell their prints? If it's the former, I'd say go right ahead. If it's the latter, you might want to see if you could see what was displayed last year to see how yours compare.

Is there anyone on the exhibit staff who would be willing to look at your Flickr account?

[junglebear]

Hi Jon,
Some of my thoughts:

You have a number of very nice landscape shots, which would not look out of place blown up on my wall.
But I would say that we need to consider what kind of exhibition this is. Is it a low level commercial 'market' type event, or an artistic exhibition, or something else? Will you be displaying the images to sell or simply to be viewed?

Also, what do you want to gain out of your photography, are you in it for commercial success or is it just a hobby? If you are looking to make your photography a 'business', then I would consider this very carefully, as you said it may be too soon. However, if this is just a hobby and you aren't particularly interested in making anything out of it, then why not? You have nothing to lose!

Also, if you do decide to enter the exhibition, think about which images to use. In some cases it's important to have a set of images that hang together stylistically. In my opinion, your best landscape shots are in black and white, but my favourite is the recent tree trunk forest shot. But that one might look out of place in a set of 5 more black and white images.

Anyway, good luck, whatever you decide, and let us know how it goes!

[whit10]

Swissjon As a very new photographer i find your pictures to be ones i look forward to seeing. Are they good enough? The only way you will really know is if you try.If you fail(which i do not think would happen) you will gain more knowledge than you could from any other source. When the years ahead become fewer than the years behind your regrets are almost always what you didn't do.

[toddbartush]

Jon,

I enjoy your photography and I look forward to your critiques. I am fairly new at this but also find myself wondering if I'm "good enough" to turn this hobby into something more. It's hard to determine whether your own photos are simply pretty pictures or works of art (I think all of us probably shoot a fair amount of both). I would say to research the exhibit a little and see what kinds of work they generally display, and choose your entries accordingly. And please report back to us!

-Todd

[SwissJon]

Thank you all for your kind words, I thought I'd just interject with a response to some of the questions raised..

First, I'm not looking to make a living from photography.. Or at least not at the moment.. I'd dearly love to turn this passion into a living but I have a good job that I'm secure in, my 10 year plan is to perhaps look this then, but not this year or even next, for the moment it's a hobby.

The exhibition is strictly amateurs.. Last year they sold prints, but really it was something for locals to wander around and smile as they enjoy the works of art on the walls, the turn over of sales was too small to make it worthwhile for a professional to stick their head round the corner, it's just somewhere for people to go to allow people to share their passion.

What am I looking to get from it? I have absolutely no idea.. It does appeal to me to have people who I've never met think my work is good enough to part with money and put it on their walls, but really I haven't put too much thought into this, someone just put the idea into my head and it rattled around in there and made me wonder.

And I'm obviously going to be taking photos between now and June, and will spend some time deciding which ones would hang together..

Thanks again for your comments.. Keep em coming There's a huge difference between being able to look at your work and know theoretically what you could have done better, and look at my own, as I am perhaps my own harshest critic, so it's reassuring to know that people who's work I've seen and liked, and respected think some of mine is of a suitable level to show in public.

[Preeb]

Jon, I don't see how you could doubt that you have some contest worthy images. That one you titled Tree Stump coveys a wonderful mood of mystery, and the castle one also was striking. You have some excellent work there.