Perfectionism (Page 2): DJW, I think all photographers think to themselves, gee I can make it better or I should have shot it this way. I know there are times I just have to walk away...

George H Loc: Brooklyn, New York

djw60 wrote:

Sometimes I think that being a perfectionist, like I am, really sucks when you are a photographer and it comes time to edit! .......Just sayin :(

DJW,
I think all photographers think to themselves, gee I can make it better or I should have shot it this way. I know there are times I just have to walk away, the photos looks fine, we just think we can do better.

George

architect Loc: Chattanooga

In Architecture, the design is never finished (to perfection), someone comes and takes it away.

Falcon Loc: Abilene, Texas

djw60 wrote:

Sometimes I think that being a perfectionist, like I am, really sucks when you are a photographer and it comes time to edit! .......Just sayin :(

Aim for perfection, but accept excellence. Remember, it is highly likely that the only one who can see the flaws in your work is you. If you don't point them out, no one else will notice.

Photoman74 Loc: Conroe Tx

If we were perfect photographers we would not need to edit - if we edit we're not perfect. One would take 1 photo in a life time, but I bet it would be great.

djw60 wrote:

Sometimes I think that being a perfectionist, like I am, really sucks when you are a photographer and it comes time to edit! .......Just sayin :(

:-D

Nikon13 Loc: North Carolina

"And in fact, I think the more we start to worship perfection the more soul leaks out of art." Kathy Mattea

Wickspics Loc: Detroits Northwest Side. Cody High School.

Have not looked at one my photos without thinking it could have been better; lower angle, more sky, deeper colors, on & on.

Wickspics Loc: Detroits Northwest Side. Cody High School.

photosbywick wrote:

Have not looked at one my photos without thinking it could have been better; lower angle, more sky, deeper colors, on & on.

When I get to one of those locations where I know there are some awesome photos, fear of screwing up brings me to taking a lot of photos, so in PP I can get a few near perfection. Off in my own world my wife calls it, great times behind my Canon. Try to remember it's not the photo so much as how the photo makes you feel when you look at it.

Wickspics Loc: Detroits Northwest Side. Cody High School.

photosbywick wrote:

Have not looked at one my photos without thinking it could have been better; lower angle, more sky, deeper colors, on & on.

When I get to one of those locations where I know there are some awesome photos, fear of screwing up brings me to taking a lot of photos, so in PP I can get a few near perfection. Off in my own world my wife calls it, great times behind my Canon. Try to remember it's not the photo so much as how the photo makes you feel when you look at it.

While walking the Grand Marais Beach many years ago, seen these two and made this of them, unk. subjects.

Photoman74 Loc: Conroe Tx

Good work - work good - but work.

Frank T Loc: New York, NY

All artists are a little bit loopy. Accept it. I myself love the work I do for about 10 days and then think it's terrible. This doesn't happen once in a while, it's like always. The good news is that being a photographer you're best off being a really good editor. I would suppose that even the best pros have lots of photos that never see the light of day.

prestonphoto Loc: Bath, NY

J. R. WEEMS wrote:

djw ~ don't know about the being a perfectionist part, but I am my own worse enemy for sure. I am not much on editing, as my pp skills leave so much to be desired so I have to try and get it right in camera. :) Sure is fun trying though. :)

Like you, my own worst enemy also!! Sometimes take 100 pictures of the same object and STILL not be happy with it!! Why I'm bald!!! hahaha

billybob40

Me being a perfectionist and artist, we never get it right.

Roger Hicks Loc: Aquitaine

Paradoxically, publication can teach you when to stop trying to 'improve' your pictures. More than once, an editor has picked a picture that I thought unremarkable, and run it full page. A good criterion is, "Would I be surprised to see this picture in print?" If it's not obviously bad, the answer may well be 'probably not'.

But anyone who CAN'T see how his/her pictures could be better, probably isn't all that good anyway. We all take the occasional 'perfect' picture, but mostly, it's "If only I'd..."

Cheers,

R.

steve_stoneblossom Loc: Rhode Island, USA

prestonphoto wrote:

J. R. WEEMS wrote:

djw ~ don't know about the being a perfectionist part, but I am my own worse enemy for sure. I am not much on editing, as my pp skills leave so much to be desired so I have to try and get it right in camera. :) Sure is fun trying though. :)

Like you, my own worst enemy also!! Sometimes take 100 pictures of the same object and STILL not be happy with it!! Why I'm bald!!! hahaha

... and then edit all of them, still seeking perfection!

Nevada Chuck

I share your passion for Dali, but I think he might take exception to being referred to as a "painter". He probably thinks a painter is the guy he hires when he wants to change the color of his house, whereas what he does usually goes by the descriptor "artist".

Just yankin' your chain. :lol: