Why Do you do it? https://youtu.be/Ri0SiM33tNY I have spent the last couple months shooting in adverse weather conditions. I spent my down time doing a lot of self evaluation during...

duane klipping Loc: Bristow iowa

https://youtu.be/Ri0SiM33tNY

I have spent the last couple months shooting in adverse weather conditions. I spent my down time doing a lot of self evaluation during those times also and started becoming self critical and questioning my reasons for my photography. I got to the point of giving up as nothing looked good enough in my mind anymore.

Pixel peeping at 100% and seeing things that I did not like. Who does this as a viewer looking at a print? I scolded myself for being that critical.

I was printed almost 2 dozen times last year in a magazine and was on the cover of one issue and came to realized my work is good enough to be printed and I was doing something right and should not question it and not change it too much. I would be messing with my style.

Maybe it was the Winter blues that got to me but I seem to be in better frame of mind now and back on the path of my success the past couple of years.

Nick Page says it best in the video link above. Why do you do photography? What are you stories and how do you deal with self critical analysis?

joehel2 Loc: Cherry Hill, NJ

I also find that I am drawn to less developed, less populated locales with wintry weather vistas. My primary goal is always the same, to see beautiful places; if I wasn’t worried about this post becoming an argument on existence, I would say, to see the beauty of God’s creation. My next goal is to point my expensive camera at this place and release the shutter, probably more times than I should have. Yes, I am trying to capture a sharing worthy photo but regardless if my photos meet all the pixel peeking standards, I still have had a most successful outing by bringing home the wonder of the things that I have seen.

traderjohn Loc: New York City

duane klipping wrote:

Url https://youtu.be/Ri0SiM33tNY /url br br I h... (show quote)

OK so now you are back on track. What are the names of some of the periodicals?
I don't spend a lot of time worrying about my past mistakes or getting all worked up. I learn from them and understand what I did wrong and move on.

ez22 Loc: The World

We do it because we want to express how we see the world. We watch ourselves grow with our art or not... We'll probably still do it. We don't need to toot our own horns, but we should enjoy other people's reaction to what we do. It's best to stay humble about ourselves. No matter how good we are, there are/will always be people who are better. I don't much care how many times someone has been published. It's insignificant. I've seen nice things published, as well as crap.

duane klipping Loc: Bristow iowa

joehel2 wrote:

I also find that I am drawn to less developed, les... (show quote)

Very good explanation in my opinion and very good outlook on photography and life.

Hbuk66 Loc: Oswego, NY

Because I can.

ez22 Loc: The World

joehel2 wrote:

I also find that I am drawn to less developed, les... (show quote)

👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

duane klipping Loc: Bristow iowa

traderjohn wrote:

OK so now you are back on track. What are the names of some of the periodicals?
I don't spend a lot of time worrying about my past mistakes or getting all worked up. I learn from them and understand what I did wrong and move on.

I hope I am back on track and time will tell. The magazine is Our Iowa and has paid for my travel expenses the past three years so I can develop further as a photographer and as a person, appreciating the some things in life.

I don't worry about past mistakes so much as my concern was becoming so self critical I was destroying my creativity and style in the process.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

I love photography. I should be paying more attention to what I do but that is the way I am.
Enjoy your photographic revival.

duane klipping Loc: Bristow iowa

ez22 wrote:

We do it because we want to express how we see the world. We watch ourselves grow with our art or not... We'll probably still do it. We don't need to toot our own horns, but we should enjoy other people's reaction to what we do. It's best to stay humble about ourselves. No matter how good we are, there are/will always be people who are better. I don't much care how many times someone has been published. It's insignificant. I've seen nice things published, as well as crap.

I agree with most of what you say but being published is a great boost to know one is on the right track. Would I continue to do this if I was not? Absolutely. As far as published images being crap. All in the eye of the beholder and I may not like some images but would never call them out for their success.

duane klipping Loc: Bristow iowa

That is all you need is to love it first and foremost.

duane klipping Loc: Bristow iowa

Hbuk66 wrote:

Because I can.

Yes we all can but what is the reason that compells you to do so?

Kuzano

duane klipping wrote:

Url https://youtu.be/Ri0SiM33tNY /url br br I h... (show quote)

Two things that are self deprecating and lead to failure in your achievements.

Proof reading your own work for one. And for two, evaluating your own artistic endeavors. There are audiences of people who do that for you.

Your job is to create a body of work. It is the more profitable to turn the job of evaluation and criticism over to others.

It is even more disastrous to self evaluate when conditions (environmental) are not conducive to producing a strong flow of work.

You, are your own worst enemy in the post you put forth. Self criticism is deadly to your well being. Show your work for critique only. Both good and the bad.

duane klipping Loc: Bristow iowa

Kuzano wrote:

Two things that are self deprecating and lead to f... (show quote)

Very sage advice and not something I gave much thought of in the past. I just produced what I felt good about never asking for or doing self critique before. I know critical analysis can be good if given in an objective and professional manner.

gtilford Loc: Woodstock, Ontario, Canada

Photography is very simple in my mind........I am given the gift to capture a nano second in the life of this planet. By that I mean whether it be animal, bird, nature or landscape it is ever evolving and changing I was just lucky enough to be allowed a moment to capture that change.
My photography is for me if others get enjoyment from it that is a bonus, everytime I take a photo I am once again learning what did I do right or wrong. How can I improve next time. I do not care if you are professional or amature it is photography you will always be learning because we are humans and our mind constantly changes to how we see a subject.
The last thought is my photos are my journey of my time enjoying the time I am allowed to spend here..........nothing more nothing less.