"The Next Step" as a Photographer

[Ai Print]

None of the encouraging comments you receive from the talented artists at workshops and portfolio reviews constitute critical acclaim. (Of course, you can market them as such.) Nevertheless, such comments can give you a warm, fuzzy feeling for a job well done, and can be very valuable in focusing and improving your work.

OMG....what is the deal sir?

If you really want to grow as a photographer, you get off your rear and find the right kind of mentors like I did in David Alan Harvey for example. Because unless the work is utterly knocking him on his rear, praise is not what you get, people have left his workshops in tears from the honesty he gives, I have SEEN that happen.

I get the feeling you just want to brawl on the internet so honestly, unless you put up some links to who you are, show some images, anything that establishes you beyond a person with "berries", I gotta be done bud!

 

[Colin Corneau]

I would suggest you just continue taking pictures and in the fullness of time your ambition may be achieved.

This is terrific advice and pretty much what I'd say, conscisely, as well.

Do what you love. You've got your day job to take care of money. Which means you are free to pursue your passion - chase it relentlessly and apply the same work ethic towards it as you would if you were relying on it for income...work hard and do your very best to produce work you are proud of.

Have faith that the rest will come, and you'll recognize it.

 

[Prest_400]

This is terrific advice and pretty much what I'd say, conscisely, as well.

Do what you love. You've got your day job to take care of money. Which means you are free to pursue your passion - chase it relentlessly and apply the same work ethic towards it as you would if you were relying on it for income...work hard and do your very best to produce work you are proud of.

Have faith that the rest will come, and you'll recognize it.

Agree on numerous views here.

I recently evolved quite a bit and consider myself having reached a point of being decent at photography. Still there are lots of areas and techniques to be explored.

I have this friend that is amazed at my work and pushes me to look for recognition, exhibitions and galleries. I do not feel prepared, and infact, photography is simply for my own enjoyment. It is nice to receive good feedback, but I do not post even online because I find it distracting because it adds noise to my concept. Still have to put together a cohesive portfolio and series, in need of a good review.

 

[faberryman]

OMG....what is the deal sir?

I get the feeling you just want to brawl on the internet so honestly, unless you put up some links to who you are, show some images, anything that establishes you beyond a person with "berries", I gotta be done bud!

Ad hominem attacks do not lend weight to your opinions. To the contrary.

 

[Ai Print]

Ad hominem attacks do not lend weight to your opinions. To the contrary.

Since my last post, I received two PM's from people giving insight as to why I should put you on ignore. I won't go that far as it is a kludgy result at best but I will avoid any further involvement with you so this is a wrap sir, time to move on.

Good luck to the OP in his quest to expand his horizons!

 

[faberryman]

Good luck to the OP in his quest to expand his horizons!

Agreed.

 

[blockend]

I found books to be the ideal outlet. At various times I've favoured a thematic approach, at others random shooting, sometimes documentary, other times street or landscape. Juxtaposing these retrospectively in a way that comes together as an object is very satisfying.

 

[Two23]

Hello,

It felt that the more dead weight from my life that I threw overboard, the faster the ship went. I have and will continue to dedicate myself to photography regardless of where it takes me because the love I have for this medium takes a back seat to almost nothing outside of my family.

"A good photographer must love life more than photography."

--Joel Strasser, 1988

 

[LAG]

Excuse me tron_

I find it difficult to decide where I want to go as a photographer from here...

Eat the elephant one bite at a time

how does one know they are ready to move on and by what metric is that measured by? Also what would a natural path from here be for me, if there is a such thing as one?

It's not knowing, it's feeling, that's the meter (... and the path).

 

[Arklatexian]

There is, in some ways sadly, no universal roadmap to photography. There are no milestones that we are all guaranteed to check off a list while working through photography. And photography is not readily shoehorned into singular definitions that apply to all peoples when you begin to closely examine the subject.

For some it is a career, for others it is a hobby. For some it is a passion and lifestyle that really doesn't fit well when defined as either career or hobby.

I would suggest that you sit back and reflect on what photography truly is to you and how it fits within your life. What drives your desire to be involved? What do you gain energy from? What interests and excites you?

What have you done, and what are some things that you haven't done yet?

Think about new tools and techniques, or even places, that you haven't experienced yet, and ask yourself if any of them resonate with your mind.

Does a challenge interest you? Is there something that you can push the boundaries of what you've been able to do that you feel inspired by? Is there some method of subject that the idea of refining your body of work even more excites you? Or something new that you haven't done before? New subject matter, new locations, new styles or a look and feel that you've not gone after before?

Many years ago, I asked a successful professional photographer friend "do you think I could make a living doing micro and macro photography?" He answered: if you are interested enough and like doing that work enough, you will find a way to make a living at it. Over the years I have found that he was correct no matter what endeavor you take up.........Regards!

 

[jtk]

Abandon all of your preconceptions, sell or give away all of your equipment, get a top tier iPhone, use it seriously, and master its photo capability. Or wallow in the opinions of other people.

 

[wyofilm]

First - Decide what you want to do. Professional? Decide what market then find work or find a mentor. Personal? Then satisfy your own desires be it blogs, shows, or what have you.

I looked at your website. You have a nice eye for composition and subject matter in black and white. Clearly, you feel at home shooting street scenes in BandW. But not much beyond that. The few color photos you had on your site weren't of the nearly of the same level as your b/w ... to my eye. I only say this because this is where you might want to start. Start branching out into other subject matter and shooting in new ways. Doing so will lead to personal growth as a photographer and give you a greater chance at monetary success, if that is a goal. The market must be very tight for street photography ...

Good luck.

 

[jtk]

Until you show a portfolio to strangers face-to-face. and seriously consider how they respond, you have no hope.

 

[slackercrurster]

If your website is the link in the OP, it is poor. I could not see any of your photos. Get a site that is easy to use and load.

You made a good list of things to do in your OP, just keep at it.

 

[jtk]

If your website is the link in the OP, it is poor. I could not see any of your photos. Get a site that is easy to use and load.

You made a good list of things to do in your OP, just keep at it.

The OP"s link has no problems... photos pop up instantly....easy to use. PC and Android.