How to become a good photograper

[Leif]

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 ...

[john crossley]

Anyone can be a good photographer as long as they throw away the bad pictures

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

[Lello]

That's where I've been going wrong

[Snowyowl]

Originally Posted by Lello

That's where I've been going wrong

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

[sassan]

Originally Posted by Snowyowl

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

Nothing wrong with showing...

Originally Posted by Leif

"Anyone can be a good photographer as long as they throw away the bad pictures!" I wonder if he was being unduly modest?

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,
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.

[Saphire]

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..

[SharonW]

Originally Posted by Saphire

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 ! Every now and then I'll have a cull and wonder at myself for having kept such rubbish.

[yelvertoft]

Originally Posted by Leif

"Anyone can be a good photographer as long as they throw away the bad pictures!"

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

[Adey Baker]

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

[carman]

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