Hey guys and gals, LifeIn35mm here!

I will take advice to a certain point, but if I see a picture that I want I will take it. I will not let others tell me what to take a picture of and will only let them tell me how to take the picture to an extent. Like how you can't tell a poet what to write, or how you can't tell a painter what to paint. To be an artist you have to make your own stuff and can't just do what others tell you to do. I do try to strive to make them unique though, so Ill keep your advice in mind when shooting. Again if others do have constructive criticisms I would enjoy hearing it.

Indeed, the person you really need to please, is yourself. Unless you are a pro on assignment.

At the same time, if you show your photos to the public, expect that some will not "get it".

Pictures are worth a thousand words. If nobody is getting it, perhaps you are speaking the wrong language for your audience.

Welcome to APUG! Like you, I also like urban/rural decay (amongst many other themes). I agree with what John said above -- shoot a lot. And if you can, print a lot. After a while you'll discover what your strongest images are, at least to yourself. And if you are willing to listen to critique (and take it with a grain of salt) you might discover which images speak to a more general audience. They probably won't all be the same, not that that matters.

The other advice about looking at the work of others who do similar types of photography is good too. It will hopefully inspire you, make you look at your own work with a more critical eye, and hopefully won't overwhelm you (sometimes I think "why bother" when so many others have done the same, and usually better. But then I realize it's just for me and I keep going.)

Anyway, good luck and keep shooting!

Nice images. You're getting some interesting juxtapositions and compositions as you photograph what interests you.

Which leads to one question- why do these subjects interest you? I'm not asking to get an answer from you, just throwing out a question to ask yourself.

A simple thing to pay attention to- the edges of the frame. People tend to not talk about the edges, but that's where you make or break a photo. Anyone can put Half Dome or a rusted truck in a frame; its how you decide what to show and not show along the edges that will be huge in defining the image.

And look at other photographers. Find an image that you like and study it. Why did they stand where they did? Why not three feet to the left, or kneeling? What would you have seen in the same place? Follow the lines, the structure, the tension between 'content' and 'form.'

And whatever you do, do NOT be out shooting and try to copy what someone else did in shooting a similar scene. Also, do NOT try to NOT copy what someone else did. Find the photo you want for the place and time you are in; let your study of other photographs drop away when actually shooting.

Two photographers I'll suggest you look at- Paul Strand and Eugene Atget. First, because they were both masters. And second, because they didn't shoot what you are shooting, so you'll learn more about photography- what can Atget's photo of the Pavillon Français, Trianon, teach you about shooting an abandoned gas station?

Hello and welcome to APUG. Nice photos, thanks for sharing.

Welcome!

"a high school film class"

I started at such too... (been there only a day or two...)


As far as I know there is no such class anymore in Germany.

Keep it up and welcome to APUGland!

Ill continue to upload my pictures to this thread.

hello and welcome from NJ

What do you guys think? Thanks.

Welcome! I've barely been here, and everyone has been extremely friendly and helpful thus far.

I really enjoy your work, keep it up.

Cheers,
TheNewMayor

Dan Daniel said:

Nice images. You're getting some interesting juxtapositions and compositions as you photograph what interests you.

A simple thing to pay attention to- the edges of the frame. People tend to not talk about the edges, but that's where you make or break a photo. Anyone can put Half Dome or a rusted truck in a frame; its how you decide what to show and not show along the edges that will be huge in defining the image.

Click to expand...

Welcome!

I really like some of your work. I also agree with others that constructive criticism helps us all to improve.

Many say that photography is all about 'seeing' and 'pre-visualising' the end-result and generally, I agree.

However, the human brain is great at 'filtering out' things it doesn't want to 'see'; film does not! One of the most important things I learned (and sometimes still forget) is just because something looks good to your eye, doesn't mean it will look good on film.

So, when I've been out shooting, I will sometimes process the negs and then leave them in sleeves for a few weeks before I print them; this way I lose some of the emotional attachment to the images and it helps me to see what's really there, and not what I "thought" I saw.

HTH

A few more pictures.