How to become a good photograper
 

I heard something interesting today on R4. Some years back a respected photographer was asked "How do you become a good photographer". The rather surprising answer was "Anyone can be a good photographer as long as they throw away the bad pictures!" I wonder if he was being unduly modest? Anyway, I'm off to throw away some more pictures ... it might work ... :D

Totally agree. Only show the pictures which you are more than happy with.

That's where I've been going wrong:)

You and me both. I tend to show the good, the bad and the ugly.:eek:

Nothing wrong with showing...


The key is what went wrong. Speaking for myself there are times that I don't know which one is the one I need to throw. Once known to me rest is easy. Because of my growing short term memory, I tend to kept the bad one just to remember what was said and what went wrong,:rolleyes:
I think main issue is to go for comparison to what is believe to be good, others thought and critiques, and more importantly when a sour but frank opinion is expressed, be the fair judge and keen student at the same time.

Again the Key is "Which one is the bad one". What comes next doesn't mater though throwing away is a good option.

Out of all the photos I take, there has only ever been a few times when I could say. Wow! that brilliant, I must print it but thats a rare occasion.
Most of mine I look at them and think they just look like snapshots, even though I may have carefully set things up.
So which ones do I delete, I don't know so most times I just delete any that are obviously wrong and keep the rest..

That's me too - you should see some of the rubbish on my hard drive :eek: ! Every now and then I'll have a cull and wonder at myself for having kept such rubbish.

That's good advice. But after I've done this, why is there nothing left?

You don't have to delete the rubbish - just make sure that no-one else sees it!

Keep pictures you think are good yourself. Listen to criticism but don't take it to personally.:)

It really depends on why you take pictures and what you do with them. Because I take so many of the same subject I regularly cull the stuff I think I've managed an improvement on with a later shot. I've just got a new laptop and have gone through all my old CDs and my PC hard drive and downloaded on to it copies of just the ones I really like plus the 'one offs' where I've managed a photo of sorts of a bird i rarely see etc.

Being able to cull the dross is an essential requirement for improvement. Most of us are not to good at this.:)

The key is to learn why they are dross and try to do better the next time. I keep a lot of dross because they are memories especially if the shots are of family and pets. Its only the absolute dross I bin. I also try to learn from other peoples shots ie if they are good why and how did they do it, if not so good why and what could be done to improve them?

I actually disagree with the original quote, since as you say, you have to learn from mistakes. Looking back, I wonder why it took me so long to learn what now seems obvious. I also wonder why it is taking me so long to learn new skills. I guess it's a sad fact that the only way to learn is to do, and figure out what went wrong, or what went right.

I guess it's a sad fact that the only way to learn is to do, and figure out what went wrong, or what went right.[/quote]

I dont think that's sad - I find it motivates me to do more!
As to what is 'good' - it depends on what the photo is for. Memories are important, even if aesthetically the images are weak, so a 'good' memory can make a 'good' photo. There are all sorts of perceived rules about 'good' technique and composition, colour theory etc. But, perception is everything in aesthetics! If it looks good to you then it is good! Learn what looks good to you and why, then try and do it again.:)

Photography is an art form. Artists rarely create for others, they create for themselves. That is: they do what pleases them. If you are pleased with your photos (creations) then you are a good photographer.

The nice thing about this forum is that you do not have to be 'good' to start, but improvement comes with taking notice of the advice given.

Also a bit wary about over zealous culling; I am now able to rescue quite a few shots as PP skills improve that were admittedly badly exposed but I liked composition or knew I could not retake.

I think some people are missing the point. You don’t actually have to bin / delete / cull anything; you just have to be selective in what you publish. That is, only show your best pictures. This will not make you a better photographer but it will improve your reputation, therefore people who view your pictures will believe you are a good photographer.

been reading all about throwing away photos, total agree with all thats said, i use to tend to keep photos, i think ok, then to b told no its not ekkkkkkk where do i go from here, been taking photos since november, iam the worlds critict on my photos, now, throw more away then i keep

can anybody tell where the crititces page is please

The ability to look at a photo you've taken yourself and be honest is a quality in itself.
Most of the time people couldn't give a flying whatsit on how difficult a shot was. The final result is all that matters, full stop.
...which is a reason why I feel forums like this are good.....like minded folks who know what might have been involved to get the shot are more likely able to relate to the 'story' behind a shot.

My predicament is somewhat same as some of the other member.But mine goes a step further,actually I never like any of my picture till someboby say so to me.Inspite of that I still think ,there is till the room for improvement.
Generally I start with a one subject and keep on hitting it.Innerly I do wonder how do other gets it right at the 1st click.
Now I got the secert of the tread. Whoever has said it , has said it well . It is engaved in my memory

Here:
http://www.worldphotographyforum.com...splay.php?f=22

Duncan