A Common Struggle

Every photographer wants to improve their skills.  Every photographer wants to be able to create shots like (insert your favorite photographer (s) name here).  We look at their shots and we immediately compare our work to their work.  Inevitably, we will become frustrated and disappointed, wondering how they can do it and we can’t.  I know I do this all the time. 

Now I don’t know about you, but I am extremely hesitant to show my work much less print it and put it on display.  Why? Because I have someone else’s work in mind and to me, mine just doesn’t measure up.  But, I like the shot…..

So where is all this coming from?  I got up this morning and while looking through Google + I ran across a post from a photographer I follow.  His name is RC Concepcion.  RC is one of the Photoshop guys at Kelby Media Group.  RC wrote a blog post that really hit home with me, and I’m sure many other photographers.  I’ll include the link so you can read his message yourself. 

Here’s the bottom line.  Look at photographers you admire and try to figure out WHY you enjoy their work.  Use that knowledge to help your own creativity evolve.  Will you ever be fully satisfied with your own work, probably not. We are our own harshest critic.  Even when people tell us how good a shot is our first reaction is to tell them what we SHOULD have done.  What we should do is say “thank you”.  You see, when a person says they like your image, they do…. really.  It evokes some type of emotion in them. 

When you look at your own work, decide which images you like best.  Which ones make you happy? 

Please yourself. 

Print them and hang them up.  I have recently done that.  I have started hanging images up in our home and instead of being critical every time I walk past them, I look at them and think about the fun I had taking and editing the shot. 

Don’t take my word for it, here’s the link to RC’s post.  He is a talented photographer, and has some great images……. (I wish my work looked like his…) There I go again……

Here’s the link to RC's post:  http://bit.ly/N9vdv0