What you do with your photos?

Mike Lopez · Sep 27, 2023

Regarding Garry Winogrand's undeveloped film: he would intentionally wait for a period of time before developing his exposed film, because he did not want his recollections of his experiences at the time of exposure to influence his editing and decision-making later. That does not explain the thousands and thousands of contact sheets with which (apparently) nothing was done, nor the developed film that had not been contacted, but it would explain at least some, if not all, of the undeveloped rolls of film left behind.

Brendan Quirk · Sep 27, 2023

Just as with my guitar playing and singing, there comes a point where I feel that sharing, or performing or exhibiting, is the necessary next step. Without that, the whole process starts to feel futile (to me).

Some advice I have found for musicians seems to be applicable to visual art also. Many learners and novices in performance learn fragments, riffs, etc. The advice was to develop a repertoire, so that one may be able to perform some sort of "set". The ability to do so takes one from the realm of endless practice, to the realm of public exposure. The satisfaction is enormous!

A.D. Coleman writes of those who make art for themselves and those who wish to communicate to others. He has no problem with those who wish to remain private, and commends the great skill of some. But he also credits those who expose themselves to public scrutiny, and potential criticism. Indeed, he considers criticism of, or to "hold in crisis," art to be essential to a professional art practice.

Pieter12 · Sep 27, 2023

One can be one’s harshest critic. But one can be self-delusional as well. It can be quite helpful to have an outsider’s view who you respect. Portfolio reviews can help in that respect since galleries, curators and museums won’t look at unsolicited work anymore. Likes on Facebook or Instagram or forums galleries are pretty much useless.

fgorga · Sep 27, 2023

Pieter12 said:
One can be one’s harshest critic. But one can be self-delusional as well. It can be quite helpful to have an outsider’s view who you respect. Portfolio reviews can help in that respect since galleries, curators and museums won’t look at unsolicited work anymore. Likes on Facebook or Instagram or forums galleries are pretty much useless.

Agree 1000%!

Joining, or starting, a photo sharing group of compatible individuals is, in my view, the best way to grow artistically.

By this, I do not mean joining a traditional camera club that is usually organized around competition.

In my experience, the groups that are most valuable involve a compatible group of folks and peer review (honest but kind critique) of photographs.

MattKing · Sep 27, 2023

fgorga said:
Agree 1000%!

Joining, or starting, a photo sharing group of compatible individuals is, in my view, the best way to grow artistically.

By this, I do not mean joining a traditional camera club that is usually organized around competition.

In my experience, the groups that are most valuable involve a compatible group of folks and peer review (honest but kind critique) of photographs.

The camera club I was most involved with was "organized" around group events, including competitions, as well as how-to workshops.
It was a fun and very sociable environment.
Within the group were many who I found very compatible.
As a result of my involvement with them, I became very involved with two other, smaller groups, who are and were even more compatible and who provide me with the type of honest and kind critique you reference.
All this I say in support of the proposition that engaging with others in respect to your photography is something people should at least consider. The potential for personal satisfaction, enjoyment and growth is very real.
The only "should" I would employ is that people "should" not under-value what they could bring to, or take away from such engagement - at least not until they have tried it.

Alan Edward Klein · Sep 27, 2023

Mike Lopez said:
Regarding Garry Winogrand's undeveloped film: he would intentionally wait for a period of time before developing his exposed film, because he did not want his recollections of his experiences at the time of exposure to influence his editing and decision-making later. That does not explain the thousands and thousands of contact sheets with which (apparently) nothing was done, nor the developed film that had not been contacted, but it would explain at least some, if not all, of the undeveloped rolls of film left behind.

Maybe he was addicted to shooting pictures. He could have been addicted to sex.

Sirius Glass · Oct 4, 2023

Alan Edward Klein said:
The photo club in my 55+ community is a way of showing pictures but also socializing with neighbors and friends. Even the contests are fun as we get together to talk and enjoy refreshments. There is the competitive edge and "showing off". But that's not unlike many other activities people engage in. I always find it strange when people argue that they have no interest in other's approval of their photography. Who doesn't like an "atta boy" compliment once in a while?

No everyone requires being patted on the back. I do not. Each to their own. "Inner satisfaction" mentioned by @MattKing, is the center of my photographic work. Also I show my photographs to friends and relative when they ask, which is often.

bsdunek · Oct 4, 2023

Wife and I belong to an art association, that, among other things puts on three shows a year. I frame my prints and have them in my booth. Get lots of great comments and sometimes sell some. Very rewarding.

Pieter12 · Oct 4, 2023

Sirius Glass said:
No everyone requires being patted on the back. I do not. Each to their own. "Inner satisfaction" mentioned by @MattKing, is the center of my photographic work. Also I show my photographs to friends and relative when they ask, which is often.

I much prefer honest criticism to a polite “nice.” At least I can learn and maybe better understand how others might see or interpret my photos. A good critique can improve your work.

Alan Edward Klein · Oct 4, 2023

Who doesn't enjoy a compliment?

Sirius Glass · Oct 5, 2023

Pieter12 said:
I much prefer honest criticism to a polite “nice.” At least I can learn and maybe better understand how others might see or interpret my photos. A good critique can improve your work.

I prefer direct honest comments.

Sirius Glass · Oct 5, 2023

Alan Edward Klein said:
Who doesn't enjoy a compliment?

Enjoy, yes. Need, no. I am confident in my work and in myself.

Alan Edward Klein · Oct 5, 2023

Sirius Glass said:
Enjoy, yes. Need, no. I am confident in my work and in myself.

So why hide your photos if you enjoy a compliment?

Sirius Glass · Oct 5, 2023

Alan Edward Klein said:
So why hide your photos if you enjoy a compliment?

I had photographs ripped off from this website and that ended up costing my money.

snusmumriken · Oct 5, 2023

Sirius Glass said:
I had photographs ripped off from this website and that ended up costing my money.

Please tell us how this happened. Sounds like something we should all be wary about. How did it cost you money? Do you mean you shelled out money to assert your copyright? Or that someone else made money that should have come to you?

Sirius Glass · Oct 5, 2023

snusmumriken said:
Please tell us how this happened. Sounds like something we should all be wary about. How did it cost you money? Do you mean you shelled out money to assert your copyright? Or that someone else made money that should have come to you?

I immediately last several sales on mounted framed prints. At the time I posted the details and as a result I will rarely post photos as examples anywhere on the internet.

Pieter12 · Oct 5, 2023

Sirius Glass said:
I immediately last several sales on mounted framed prints. At the time I posted the details and as a result I will rarely post photos as examples anywhere on the internet.

Did you lose the sales because the buyers saw the image on the internet or because the buyers just downloaded what you had posted? Or someone identified the buyers and offered the photos for less? One way or another, it seems like the buyers were either complicit or not very serious.

snusmumriken · Oct 5, 2023

Sirius Glass said:
I immediately last several sales on mounted framed prints. At the time I posted the details and as a result I will rarely post photos as examples anywhere on the internet.

OK, I looked through some of your earlier posts on the subject. So as I understand it, you felt you would have more sales of prints if people were not able to copy your photos off the internet. But the other side of the coin is that if you don't post on the Internet, fewer people will be aware of your work.

logan2z · Oct 5, 2023

snusmumriken said:
OK, I looked through some of your earlier posts on the subject. So as I understand it, you felt you would have more sales of prints if people were not able to copy your photos off the internet. But the other side of the coin is that if you don't post on the Internet, fewer people will be aware of your work.

Perhaps I should dig up the old posts, but I'm curious how a relatively low-fi image downloaded from a web site could cannibalize sales of a fine art print. As @Pieter12 said above, I have to believe that the potential buyers weren't really very serious about buying a print if they were satisfied with what they got from downloading an image from the web site.

snusmumriken · Oct 5, 2023

logan2z said:
Perhaps I should dig up the old posts, but I'm curious how a relatively low-fi image downloaded from a web site could cannibalize sales of a fine art print. As @Pieter12 said above, I have to believe that the potential buyers weren't really very serious about buying a print if they were satisfied with what they got from downloading an image from the web site.

I remember this being a much-discussed issue on APUG and Photo.net when on-line photos were first a ‘thing’. I don’t know how professional photographers feel nowadays, but as an amateur with no expectation of financial reward for my obsession, I could only be flattered if someone wanted to capture a low-res version of one of my photos!

warden · Oct 5, 2023

logan2z said:
I'm curious how a relatively low-fi image downloaded from a web site could cannibalize sales of a fine art print.

I don't think it can. Perhaps a realistic concern would be a low-fi image shared here could be stolen for a low-fi on-line advertisement, and I have read of that happening. But even with that scenario the risk is vanishingly small.

Pieter12 · Oct 5, 2023

warden said:
I don't think it can. Perhaps a realistic concern would be a low-fi image shared here could be stolen for a low-fi on-line advertisement, and I have read of that happening. But even with that scenario the risk is vanishingly small.

It is more likely it would be sampled and absorbed by an AI engine.

warden · Oct 5, 2023

Pieter12 said:
It is more likely it would be sampled and absorbed by an AI engine.

Yes, there's about a 90% chance of that I suppose. So many reasons to not share joy.

Pieter12 · Oct 5, 2023

warden said:
Yes, there's about a 90% chance of that I suppose. So many reasons to not share joy.

Not that you would recognize your contribution to an AI creation.

VinceInMT · Oct 5, 2023

Pieter12 said:
It is more likely it would be sampled and absorbed by an AI engine.

We are all being assimilated. Resistance is futile.

What you do with your photos?

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