Photolady2014 wrote:
Morning all! So I just got through taking a 5 day class with a very well known photographer who has won many, many awards, photos in the Smithsonian and is a judge for contests like Natures Best Photography. I learned sooo much about what makes a great photo.
Half way through the 5 days I was feeling quite overwhelmed and almost in tears because to get the photo that he would consider a photo seems near impossible. I totally understand photos before and just after sunrise and sunset are the best, but is it awful that I still want to take photos mid day? On several of my trips I have still gotten photos I really like, even though they do not have the special light and there are shadows etc. I scoured my photos and submitted them for the class and so far I do not have one photo that is not a "non-photo" due to shadow or lack of a hook or a background that is not totally creamy, or a host of other bad things.
I will post some of his comments to what I thought was going to be an ok photo.
The last one was reviewed verbally, the shadows! Bridge of the nose by eye, and the light patch of fur below the right eye as you look at the photo and curve shadow back to the nose is a big distraction. He could tell I was off by 2 degrees and that caused the bad shadow. The lighter fur to the left of the nose stops the eye from traveling from the lower left to the eye. You are supposed to have something soft in the lower left that makes your eye travel from lower left to the "hook" eye. In this case it does not work due to light fur interrupts the flow to the eye and then the shadows on the right. Then, the white fur on the lips could have been lightened to make it better if the other issues had not condemned it to be a "non-photo". Oh and the green line going through the background is bad.
Who knew you were not supposed to have sky in a bird photo, or that with something like a coyote all 4 legs must have separation and no crossover and that the farthest away front leg should be going forward. That the background must be very creamy with no light and dark areas. Shadows are the worst! Like crap, I was off by 2 or 4 degrees with the shadow. Must have a hook, no lines and of course good light, no messy sticks. Example an owl in a tree is bad if the leaves are all around it.
Anyway, I feel like a bad person/photographer for still liking some of my photos that are not perfect and still wanting to just have fun taking a photo and if I see a mom and baby moose at noon in a messy field of grass with a shadow, I'm still going to take the photo!
Again, I learned a LOT and the pro is a very nice guy and very talented. I will try and do what he says, but may still take what I know will be a "non-photo" am I bad?
Comments welcome, I have had lots of criticism lately, I can handle it! Well I might cry....
Morning all! So I just got through taking a 5 day... (
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I'll share to you a story;
One fine day, God went for a walk and after little ways, found a man crying by the wayside. God asked the man why is he crying on such a fine day and the man answered "I am a builder, but one of my bridges fell during a earthquake an many people died. If only I build it stronger". God took pity and told the man, "Be happy. From this day to your last, anything you build will stand till the end of time". And with that God went on walking until God found another person crying by road. "Its such a fine day, why do you cry?" asked God. The person answered, "One of my patients died today. I'm doing my best but I cant make them all well". "Doctor" God spoke, "be happy for henceforth, anyone who seeks your cure will be well". God wiped the doctors tears and then moved on.
A few minutes goes by and then God saw someone throwing tools in the lake with tears running down the persons cheek. By the time God was beside and asked the question, the person was sitting in the grass and softly crying.
"I am an artist, but try as I might, I could not not make everyone satisfied".
Upon hearing this, God sat beside the artist and also cried.
You see, You are not him/her, so don't try to be. Nothing that you will do will be perfect in everyone's eye. Somebody will always find something wrong in it. So stop finding ways to please others with your work, unless they are paying for it. Also not all critique contains wisdom. Learn to know which does and which ones to ignore.
As an example, The "4 degree off to the right" is a stupid remark. That 4 degrees on a zoom lens can be 20 feet or more to the right. Moving that much to correct your position at a moving wildlife? You might as well not get the picture.
There are many ways to make a good photo. If you find his ways hard to follow then find other ways.
Here is an example of a basic process that works fine (most of the time)
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-575239-1.htmlDo what makes you happy and if you are not satisfied, work in your own time to improve it.
Do not be afraid to make your own path.