olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Yes well, this is not about who is looking at what and making a call on it but about the person who creates the work and his self-appreciation.

Tomcat5133 Loc: Gladwyne PA

[quote=User ID]"Why do good photographers
think they are good?"

Can't answer that one. And suspect that
most who attempt to answer will be way
off the mark. Just my suspicion acoarst ...

But I wanted to reply just to say that it's
a GREAT question. Perhaps best kept in
mind, zen-like, and with no belief in, nor
attempt at, a definitive, nor even useful,
answer. Thank you verrrry much, Tomcat.[/quote

Thank you I appreciate your support for positive helpful
and informative. At some point I thought of giving up
On Ugly because their were mean and snarky comments
And some politics taking away the fun and information
members exchange.

phlash46 Loc: Westchester County, New York

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

After 7 pages WHY

Darkroom317 Loc: Mishawaka, IN

One thing I have noticed on online forums and social media groups is a lack of critical feedback. A lot of the comments I see are "great image or I really like this." This is if people comment at all. Facebook and Instagram have made people obsess over likes and often this is all one receives. The amount you get is associated with how good the image is. I think this culture has contributed to the attitude the OP is referencing.

That all being said I have found providing truly critical feedback in online groups to be problematic. People in such groups usually aren't looking for it nor are they expecting it. Therefore, it is perceived as unwarranted and rude. This is unfortunate because only positive shallow feedback doesn't do much to help improve or clarify what they are trying to communicate in their work. It inflates egos and creates a lot of thin skin instead.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Define "good" and "bad" Photography or Art or Music. I know what they are or mean to me but art is in the eye or ear of the beholder. I've been interested in a wide range of graphic and audio arts for a long time and have a pretty good idea of what is what but I would not expect everyone to agree. Sure I've seen some %#&* on the UHH but I've also seen some original if not artistic photographs as well.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

I agree. I'll try to teach or suggest places for improvement and often they react like they are photo gods or something and are already all knowing.

Roostertail

Good or bad is not important to me. I just enjoy taking photos that attract buyers to my employers Real Estate listings. Most listings sell in 30 days or less. At the age of 80 I have to learn all this photography stuff in a hurry. Reading ugly hedgehog gives me a few good tidbits each day. Thanks a bunch! That my employer on the TV.

cactuspic Loc: Dallas, TX

The implications of this question could fill a bookcase. While the majority of us seem to agree with the concept that there are great, good, middling, poor, and terrible photographers, I suspect there would would be violent disagreements among as to where certain photographs and photographers stand on that spectrum.

We have so many approaches: documentary, metaphoric, fantastical, conceptual to name a few. Subject choice and treatment, lighting choice, artistic intent, medium choice, and taste all play a factor as does the zeitgeist.

In one of his books, one of the great photographers at Life magazine, Andreas Feininger wrote of an experience he had attending a gallery opening of a fellow photographer. One of the images was a placid seascape that Feininger initially dismissed as visually boring, conveying nothing of the beauty or power of the ocean. On further reflection, he realized that the intent of the photographer was to convey the experience of boredom and ennui that he experienced. As the photographer was able to communicate his emotions, Feininger thought it was a good photograph.

Two days ago, I saw an exhibit of Elliot Porter’s birds. By contemporary standards, Most of the images were not that spectacular. But when you look at what he had to do to even capture the image with a large format camera, using three large battery powered strobes and a remote trigger(they had one of his rigs setup on about a ten foot square platform) you realize what a fantastic photographer he was. That impression gets amplified when you see how he had to overcome the limitations of early color processing and printing by the tedious process of pulling color separations for a dye transfer process.

But to more succinctly mention the major reason why I think many poorer photographers don’t properly judge their images is that they fall in love with their subject or what they were trying to do. The don’t see the picture as a stand alone entity. It is a hook upon which they hang their prior experience when they pressed the shutter. It is not an objective look at the effectiveness in conveying that experience.

jaycoffman Loc: San Diego

The answer varies almost as many times as there are photographers. First, beauty is in the eye of the beholder so that may explain some. Second, and it's been mentioned before, what is bad? I think that many photographers who take technically flawed pictures don't critically analyze the outcome but, rather, hope to present an image that they saw and think is worth sharing. (How many of us sat through mandatory slide presentations by our fathers of the family vacation where every shot was over/under exposed or out of focus or had terrible composition? Yet our fathers were more interested in sharing a really good time they had.

In all I'm not fond of the concept of bad photos but I choose to consider my photos as part of continuous learning--some better than others.

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

Play the good or bad game but, a good photo for a newspaper won't win a judging price but could win a Pulitzer prize. If you're happy with it, so.

Najataagihe

Why do bad photographers think they are good?

Because they have a different set of standards than you and your opinions don't count.


It is all in the eye of the beholder.

MrBob Loc: lookout Mtn. NE Alabama

I think that is the rub here... There are a LOT of excellent photographers who post on this site; If you constantly compare with their work you will feel like crap all day whereas with others you might say " Hey, I can do that ". Ego is a bitch and with pride are 2 of the hardest things to get under control. I think stepping back and looking at your work objectively and putting ownership aside if you can, will allow you to more objectively compare your work to some others you really admire.... Learn from those who have gone through the learning process before with all its trials and tribulations; these folks have paid their dues. Anthony Robbins once said the key to success is emulation; technically do what has proven successful in the past and add that bit of creativity to make it your own. There are no shortcuts.....

Jakebrake Loc: Broomfield, Colorado

My sentiments exactly~