fotoman150

One guy on UHH said I was not born with an eye or talent for photography and it can’t be learned. You either have it or you don’t. Unbelievable.

G Brown Loc: Sunny Bognor Regis West Sussex UK

Perhaps you are trying to do, rather than researching How to do. Monochrome is a genre of Photography with both a history and a modern following. As you say some people 'can do this' very well. Perhaps you need to re-look at tutorials and 'actually follow them' rather than trying to remember 'how'. Certain subjects lend themselves to Black and White - The Mill towns in the UK or perhaps Inner City US. Talk to Graham on UHH he can get a cafe shot to work. Investigate why you are not satisfied.
High Key and Low Key again is a technique not simply a case of merely altering the F stop. The right lens and the right light - not necessarily a bright back light. Read up and practice till you feel confident (again).

One of the problems with Photography is that it often is a solitary pursuit. You can be confident in 50 - 60% of situations and then BANG.....nothing works because you are into a whole different situation. So you move on and look for something safe to Photograph.

Whist I agree that creating your own style is important....it is not an excuse to stop 'researching and trying different things'. The internet has a wide range of tutorials -written and video, that can re-introduce you to the techniques (and Kit) to do 'anything'.

I can show my friends and family really crap images and they say 'that's nice'. But they don't really understand what makes a great image.....plus they are polite. Some on UHH complain that they get a whole list of negative feedback - is it always undeserved? Negative feedback is a positive area of research and re learning.

Working on your own is difficult - especially when you have no 'reason' to stretch yourself. No critical editor, no critical workload, no set agenda etc.

A wedding Photographer for example not only has to work to a set group of images BUT also add 'something unique'. The fashion of wedding images constantly changes, so new techniques need to be mastered rather than 'tried'. The demands are increasing as 'joe public' now owns a camera!!! So easy for a hobbyist to stick with 'what they know'.

Have I said anything NICE yet?

fotoman150

Well I have a feeling that even if I mastered black and white I wouldn’t like MY black and white. I much prefer color anyway. I’m not sure why some people go ga ga over Ansel Adams. To me his landscapes look flat and blah. Black and white is so boring especially when it comes to flowers. Flowers should never be black and white.

I also like a lot of street photography. But when I do it mine looks like snapshots of people doing nothing.

I think it’s mental.

fotoman150

A man after my own heart.

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

Uh Oh! You did it now! You're going to be tarred and feathered for daring to besmirch Adams. I'm not even going to get close to you, the blow back would char me to a smoking cinder.

G Brown Loc: Sunny Bognor Regis West Sussex UK

OK you are not a fan. There are many people I 'do not get'...Corbiay and his skipping man stepping over a puddle for example. Small Black silhouette of a man and big white building etc....we all have a list....point I was making is that to 'satisfy yourself' you must look at photographs in order to learn what you want to emulate.....then produce 'some' for your own satisfaction. If you remain 'static' just doing the same old thing...satisfaction
reduces....Its a hobby.....how many have you had(got)...what makes you try something new? Photography can be a challenge or something to whilst away the time when the wife is shopping (sorry ladies....)

You said you were not happy with your results, Then that is a starting point! not an end point. Look for images that you can 'copy'. Look at the situation (the Geography of place and time) seek out a similar venue. Look at placement, focus, main and ancillary subjects...analyze the 'good image' and then look for the opportunity 'in the place you are'. SOMETHING in that good image resonated with you.....what is it? Find it. Photograph it. Don't walk away.....You might not understand it...! But it tweeked your imagination....it captured a 'story'. You may take weeks or months finding it (that is the satisfaction factor)....it takes WORK! Hell some people take images like collecting stamps..... others take a few FANTASTIC images ....who do you want to be?

It is your hobby....!

I take Landscapes - I like to understand WHY the land looks like it does (I took a degree in Geography and Environmental Science at aged 40) I get excited about light and land form. I love the marks of history in our countryside. To 'see' what others drive past...Photography gives me insight into renaissance artistry.

I like gardening...I love the old books showing specimen plants....I try to photograph what the Victorians drew. The technical 'set up' to make 'the subject' IT not just a pretty picture.

I love 'looking at pictures' (and art) and replicating it....Boring isn't it! But the technique intrigues me.

I think of BIF like I think of stamp collecting.....Yuck! but I can understand the appeal. To replicate - to produce something new that mirrors the past.

Where does your excitement lie...? what is it that fires you up?

Appreciate that you cannot be 'all things to all men'....stick with what Fires your imagination. That which 'means something to your soul'.

Colour has so many computations. Autumnal reds and golds, Sunflowers in almost HDR, misty mornings at low tide in estuarial backwaters.....each takes planning. enjoy the doing as much as the capturing. Make your images unique - only because you were there...the effort that you took....the sense of 'being there'. The story that that image has and only you can interpret.

do you get my drift.....do what you enjoy - be open to learning new things and don't get bogged down by having to 'fit in' with what others 'like'. Have an open mind - so that you can create a 'snapshot' just to 'prove a point'....then get back to doing what you enjoy.

Have fun

molsen3831

Sometimes i feel the same way. Important to remember...photography is ART. Whether it is "good" or"beautiful" or "s#####" is entirely subjective. My goal is to convey a certain feeling,or tell a story, or depict a beutiful scene that i loved...Maybe not always "technically" great.....but so what? If it makes you happy to do it and look at it then it's good. Dont compare....can't do that with art!!!! Many times i keep photos simply because of the memories or the feelings they evoke. My dad was a photographer back in the50s and 60s....zero technology...always had a darkroom. Many photos he thought were crappy, i loved. So like i said...it's subjective. Beauty is in
the eye of the beholder(so to to speak). Just enjoy your images and the process of creating.

hammond

Well, some people think every shot they take is a work of art and it's kind of awkward when they show you their pictures as though it's an Ansel Adams catalog and you're like, hmm... should I be polite or give them my honest opinion.

Kinda like when someone with an ugly baby shows you their 'adorable' pics and all you can do is say "awww... sooo cute!".

Even professional magazine shoots only choose one 'cover shot' ... and a handful out of hundreds of pictures are actually printed. The rest are, for all intents and purposes, tossed. When it comes to photography, I think it's fair to measure your skills based on the best 1% of your results: no one really cares about the rest. So if you're at least getting SOME pics that you're proud of, then you're doing fine.

traderjohn Loc: New York City

No. Results will let you know if "you are the best" verbiage means squat.

PhotoNat Loc: Santa Maria, CA

Hi. I wanted to write because I can so relate to what you are saying. I am also my own worst critic.

I just got a new Canon Rebel SL2 in January, moving up from my Canon Power Shot XS520. It has been a REAL learning curve for me, and for some reason I am having a very hard time getting photos that are sharp, and not blurry. It has been discouraging to me, as I had gotten some pretty good photos with my Power Shot. I have been feeling like "will I ever get the hang of this camera". I have even been having a hard time going to my Community Ed photography class, because I'm embarrassed by my blurry photos. I have had a few photos (even with the new camera) that some of my friends have complimented me on, even a friend who is a professional level photographer. So if we can learn from errors we have made, and give ourself credit for what we have done correctly, (believe me I know, easier said than done) I think our confidence will grow. When I first started to edit photos through Photo Shop Elememts 14, I was very intimidated, and didn't think I could ever learn it! I'm definitely NOT an expert, but can now do much more than I could, so it showed me I can learn. We can do this, as we give ourselves patience and grace to try new things, make mistakes, and grow from them. I bet it took the people we compare our photos to longer than we think to learn and get where they are.

I also much prefer color to black and white. I have turned a couple photos from color to black and white, just to see how they would look, but I know that will take than practice to get them just right.

Anyway, sorry for the long email, just wanted to let you know you are not alone, and encourage you to continue to give yourself patience to learn, and grace when you err. I have heard this before and think it's very true;
the things we learn best, are not always the quickest and easiest lessons. I"m also reminding myself of this as I write, and am going to do a screenshot of this, print it out, and put it in my camera backpack.
Best wishes for your photo journey, and continued success.
PhotoNat

anotherview Loc: California

Relax. Not every subject effectively converts from color to black-and-white. The latter output depends on tonality, contrast, shape, and texture to bring an appealing look.

This is a big subject. You may wish to read up on it.

Low Budget Dave

The UHH has a really good section where you can post your photos for critique.

https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-117-1.html

You may find that the areas you think are problems are really not, or that the techniques you think are working are the real problem.

In any case, you might get a better idea how to look at your own photos critically by having other people help.

Xanadu Loc: Clay County FL

If you thought all or most of your photos were perfect or near perfect, there might be a problem. I think we all strive for improvement. The intensity of that effort depends on the subject and the individual.
My advice? Carry on!

Toment Loc: FL, IL

See “Photographer’s Learning Curve” by CHG CANON in an earlier post re gear 😀😀😀😀

lmTrying Loc: WV Northern Panhandle

I am soooo happy that you asked this question. I have learned so much from you and those who have responded. I will be printing this entire thread to have to go back to.

Check my signature line. Many of your points have been floating around my brain the past month, they just had not formed as yet.
A hearty thanx to you and all.