Vivian Cherry

I often refer to myself as..."just a hack street-photographer".
To be painfully honest, it is usually in an effort to be humble. I do not really think i am a hack, but with a gun to my head.....Average.
When i look at this part of APUG, i constantly AM humbled.
You know what.?.....i really am just a F'ing hack street-photographer.
I have gotten better in the last few years (thank god).....but most of my frames lack the vision that i see in many of the picture takers that are featured here.
Speaking of which, Vivian is now added to my list.
http://viviancherry.com/

Why do you worry about how your work compares to others?
You aren't competing with them for business, or sales to collectors.
It is great to be interested in what others do and to find inspiration from it too.
But the real test is whether you are working on what brings satisfaction to you.

I certainly understand the point(s) you are making.
Then again -
Biking
Archery
Baseball
Woodworking
Painting
Metal work
.....virtually any hobby.
We all tend to compare ourselves to others. It's just kind of natural. Especially if others in the same hobby have Books/Articles focused on them.

Almost anything taken in the 40's and 50's looks good to us in the 2000's. I do agree however that she has a gift.

if course you look at others work - for comparison, inspiration, to learn, etc.

having lived in nyc it is a" target-rich" environment and it does take some skill to capture them but practice makes improvement. a good photographer can do it and it is a more satisfying environment, photographically-speaking!

a great photographer can take the opportunities to levels the "good" photographer aspires to! a great photographer can make pictures in a barrel.

jvo