Be honest- Do you love your own photography?

Perception said

It’s an interesting question. There is a few photographs I’ve taken that I love, in fact I love some so much I often choose not to upload them! But I also see them as pretty images rather than my full potential in expressing my artistic vision, sound a bit pretentious but this is the goal of any artist, to reach their peak potential in delivering something different  to the world.

recently though I’ve of a different mindset, I’ve a mental glimpse of the kind of photograph I want to take, something unlike what I’ve done before, it’s a kind of image that starts to put two fingers up to models emoting and making elegant poses, it turns away from cool outfits, so in many ways it’s rejecting many qualities that others turn to to make a powerful image. So in order to get to that point I’m having to make lots of baby steps into “rubbish image territory” then seeing if it works, if it didn’t, did I overcook the awkward realistic stance the models holding? Etc.

so I’m loving that mission at the moment and also the potential I can see as I slowly head towards that final goal. I’m also finding it fun working with models to create a kind of “anti modelling” new set of ways to pose, it fails more than it succeeds but it’s fun, and sometimes it involves going a bit closer to a modelling pose than I’d like and dailing it down a notch.

A lot of this resonates with me -- I am particularly interested in pre-Hollywood-glamour, pre-Hays-Code posing. 1890s to 1930s art nudes have just totally different poses to them, a sort of more neutral, pragmatic gaze that is fascinating. 

This thread has been so interesting to me because I realise my detachment from my photography is itself abstract; there's a lot of what I am doing that I am pleased with, a lot of work I have liked, and I have ideas and thoughts about my direction that I could follow up. I clearly have to get started.

A lot of this resonates with me -- I am particularly interested in pre-Hollywood-glamour, pre-Hays-Code posing. 1890s to 1930s art nudes have just totally different poses to them, a sort of more neutral, pragmatic gaze that is fascinating. 

This thread has been so interesting to me because I realise my detachment from my photography is itself abstract; there's a lot of what I am doing that I am pleased with, a lot of work I have liked, and I have ideas and thoughts about my direction that I could follow up. I clearly have to get started.

Once you get going it all starts to fall into place and the motivation starts to build again. I am struggling with the consistency of shooting atm, for one I can hardly afford it! but ontop of that it only takes 3 or 4 minor things such as feeling super tired due to overwork, a small cold,  needing to sort out a car issue, etc and all of a sudden you realise them combined wiped out months worth of free weekends.

Ive always thought you have a nice advantage in that you could combine some photographic direction with your homemade lenses so the two complimnent each other. 

I think the essence of why I take photographs is that I so enjoy the whole process, so I just keep taking photographs.

I do very little preparation apart from charging the batteries and remembering to take a camera and lens.

I rarely have many ideas as to what I am going to do.

I turn up. Take photographs....and lots of them.

And then book more models and repeat the process.

I don't do a lot of intellectualising.

I just do it to please myself.

If the model likes any of it, then that is a bonus.

JPea said

I think the essence of why I take photographs is that I so enjoy the whole process, so I just keep taking photographs.

I do very little preparation apart from charging the batteries and remembering to take a camera and lens.

I rarely have many ideas as to what I am going to do.

I turn up. Take photographs....and lots of them.

And then book more models and repeat the process.

I don't do a lot of intellectualising.

I just do it to please myself.

If the model likes any of it, then that is a bonus.

The same here. Except just one aspect...

I usually have a couple of ideas to get a shoot started. I need to do that because I'm rubbish at thinking on my feet. (Some would say that that sentence is too long - the words 'on my feet' are unnecessary.) 

Otherwise, similarly to you I do this just for the enjoyment. And I get a helluva lot of enjoyment from it. 

ClickMore 📷

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So your mission should be to do something about it. Don't compare yourself to anyone else.

This is good advice

Yes, I do love my own photography.

I thoroughly enjoy creating a shoot from a single idea, or from the look of a model.
I do often go off on a tangent because the model has said something, suggested a pose, looked so good in a pose or outfit that I just have to explore that more.  So it's not unusual for me to do a fraction of what I'd planned, because the model, an expression, location, chemistry take me off in a different direction.

When I was shooting book covers, I enjoyed the discipline of translating the synopsis into a single image and staying on track to create that image.  The money was nice, but getting it right was the real reward.

Working with an inexperienced model, who starts off nervous and ends up producing great images is very rewarding.

I've met some great people and had so much fun.

The images are more of a record of a great shoot, than anything else.

Gerry99111

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My biggest obstacles to overcome in months [not years] are caused by a lack of suitable models, finite funds and time available .

The first obstacle is becoming more of a thing. The term, model is so wide and vague these days, that the fact that you are in front of a camera, for whatever reason is enough to label yourself one. This makes finding models who understand the job requirements are becoming more scarce.

tandi I do understand what you are saying.

My take is that if I truly didn't care, I would just do my photography and keep it to myself and the models I would shoot with, or have a website only and then there would be no discourse regarding my work on my website. This is a networking platform to connect with creatives and we truly must want some ( and certainly not all) to at least like it enough to get some potential models, photographers etc coming your way. Therefore I try ( emphasis on try) to at least present my portfolios in a way to attract some business, whether tfp or paid 🙏🏽

Having not taken a image for nearly two years, I have had time to reflect by doing through my digital archives and I have found both good and bad, fortunately more the former. Although I wonder sometimes 'why did I take those images. The enforced break has made me more determined to pick up my camera again. Now off to start my physio.

AlanJay said

...When I was shooting book covers, I enjoyed the discipline of translating the synopsis into a single image and staying on track to create that image.  The money was nice, but getting it right was the real reward...

Understood. 

Many moons ago - back in the days of film - I used to do a lot of stuff for publication. Unlike you I didn't have to work to a precise brief but, even so, when I saw one of my speculative submissions in print I had pleasure, satisfaction and pride (OK - call it smugness!) that I'd interpreted and analysed what that particular editor wanted and had supplied material of a suitable standard. (I know - that really does sound 'orribly cocky and/or smug of me. :) )  

WayneS

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but I have to say that I am constantly blown away by the work that others share on here and find it not only humbling but inspiring…I love the creativity people show and am just a smidge jealous at times and wish I had the vision and ability to meet the same standard.

In terms of being a tad jealous of other's work, do you implement any of the things that you love about them into your process?

Unfocussed Mike

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I do, on reflection, like some of my photos. But it's my photography I don't feel I like -- if you see the distinction. Not enough cohesion, not enough direction, not enough purpose. I don't know why I do it anymore. But my biggest problem is that I don't know why I do anything anymore.

I hear your feelings. Do you feel your photography reflects on a wider issue with your life? I know it has impacted on mine.

JPea

You bring up a good point about viewing your work on a desktop.

When I view any image on a desktop, magazine, book, I see the picture much better than as a phone sized image. This must be having an impact on our outlook on ours and other's work.

Afrofilmviewer

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If that photographer is "the best photographer ever" it's not always not fun to follow up as "the rest". Can just feel shitty in comparison. Like following up a stand up who is on fire, makes you wonder "how do i build on that?"

The person who has the amazing images may be thinking someone else is better than them and struggling with that.

I'm seeing that many here feel they are not great, but I would say, that we are all here to share and hopefully learn or give inspiration.

I must say that I only love a handful of photographers here and they hardly come on the platform. They're probably just doing their s:#t somewhere else 😄

MaristarOxley said

Unfocussed Mike

Quote:

I do, on reflection, like some of my photos. But it's my photography I don't feel I like -- if you see the distinction. Not enough cohesion, not enough direction, not enough purpose. I don't know why I do it anymore. But my biggest problem is that I don't know why I do anything anymore.

I hear your feelings. Do you feel your photography reflects on a wider issue with your life? I know it has impacted on mine.

I think perhaps the biggest problem is that photography used to be a huge and significant part of my life -- it really helped me find a big and diverse social life when I was doing local music photography. Post-covid-lockdowns that has changed a lot and I think it has left me feeling ambivalent about all of it.

But this has been a useful thread because it has made me stare at my photos and my photography projects and ask myself: why, exactly, am I not enjoying this, when I am quite good at it? 

(On my desk as well as one of the eatly prototypes of the simple DIY lenses Perception mentioned are two prototype focussing mechanisms for the next one, that I have designed and 3D printed. And I have absolutely no real idea why that project has stalled either). 

I clearly need to set myself some goals to get started again, perhaps on photography I can do by myself over the winter.