Just because I can’t create art, doesn’t mean that I can’t recognize it.

I recognize you talent, don’t I? Or Art Wolfe’s, or Lisa Holloway’s or Mark Metternich’s, or TheDman’s, or Mark1729’s etc...

Your posts are usually spot on, but not this time. As far as what I believe, I base it on my personal experience. Can most of us improve? Of course!! Even I will admit that my pictures are way better today than what they were when I first got into this hobby in late 2011. But that doesn’t make me an artist. All one needs to do is visit 500pix. Comparing yourself to real talent will put us snapshot shooters back in reality.

Now, you are a real talent, and humble. A really great combo. But please don’t try to tell us that you learned to be artistic. If it was that simple, everyone who has been shooting as long as yourself would be producing the same quality of work as you have. We both know that that is simply not the case. In fact, based on that logic, anyone who has been shooting longer than you would be producing better work. We also know, that that is not true either.

Who knows, maybe I just have a very high standard as far as what I consider great photography, but I was sincere in my request to see examples. I would love to be proven wrong. That would mean that even I had a chance, even if it is very unlikely.

You're very kind, and that's some pretty incredible company you put me with :)

However, if you could see my early stuff, you'd laugh. I learned by posting photos, taking criticism, and constantly trying to get better. In addition, I regularly look at the imagery on places like 500px or from photographers I admire and try to figure out what it is that they do that makes a particular image so compelling. It's kind of you to say that you believe I have a natural ability, but it sure doesn't feel it to me. I work on improving every day and it's mostly study and experimentation.

So, we might have to agree to disagree on this one :)

You are just a real humble person.

But if you had to be really honest, I’m sure that you would agree with me, that we don’t all produce the same quality. In fact, it is no secret, that you can see the work of some professional photographers who after 4/5/6 decades still produce mediocre work.

What do you think the difference is? Like the TheDman said, no matter how hard we would try, we could never be another Roger Federer. Do you think Nadal doesn’t train as hard as Federer?

And to make my point another way, why do we check out 500pix? Why not get admiration from the photo gallery section right here?


And how many of the pictures posted in the photo gallery would make it to the top at 500pix?

You are just a real humble person.

But if you had to be really honest, I’m sure that you would agree with me, that we don’t all produce the same quality. In fact, it is no secret, that you can see the work of some professional photographers who after 4/5/6 decades still produce mediocre work.

What do you think the difference is? Like the TheDman said, no matter how hard we would try, we could never be another Roger Federer. Do you think Nadal doesn’t train as hard as Federer?

And to make my point another way, why do we check out 500pix? Why not get admiration from the photo gallery section right here?

And how many of the pictures posted in the photo gallery would make it to the top at 500pix?

You bring up some good points, but I still can't get past the fact that I used to be as artistic as a washing machine. What I do, I've learned. I can't speak to why photographers who have been at it for years don't improve - maybe they believe themselves to be excellent and no longer have any urge / motivation to improve. Post any mediocre photo to facebook and you'll get tons of "likes" no matter how bad it is. I think this sometimes kills any motivation to get better.

In fact, that's one reason why I like 500px - you can't kid yourself about they quality of your work. If you end up towards the top, you know you did something right, If not, you know you need to improve (or get more followers LOL).

You bring up some good points, but I still can't get past the fact that I used to be as artistic as a washing machine. What I do, I've learned. I can't speak to why photographers who have been at it for years don't improve - maybe they believe themselves to be excellent and no longer have any urge / motivation to improve. Post any mediocre photo to facebook and you'll get tons of "likes" no matter how bad it is. I think this sometimes kills any motivation to get better.

In fact, that's one reason why I like 500px - you can't kid yourself about they quality of your work. If you end up towards the top, you know you did something right, If not, you know you need to improve (or get more followers LOL).