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Just back from the Grand Canyon and while the photo gods didn’t grace us with the magical clouds we so would have liked, it was grand none the less. Like any gathering of photographers, be it a large group or just a couple of folks like we had last week, conversation always tends to head towards the philosophical side of photography. One of the questions that were raised many times had to do with the image(s) and whether one or others liked this or that image. It raised a very important aspect of our photography I think too many take way too for granted!
When you push the shutter release, as far as I’m concerned, the ONLY person you need to please, make happy, entertain and overwhelm is yourself! Photography is not a team sport. While there is no I in photography, there’s a Y which sounds close enough for me. When we’re at the computer going through our images, who makes the decision to keep this one and delete that one? You do, right? That’s because they are YOUR images and you keep those you like and delete those you don’t. You don’t have a paneled jury saying yeah or neah, do you?
Your decision to keep an image can be based on many factors. Since they are YOUR images, you can keep whatever you like for whatever reason. Perhaps the image has a sentimental hold on you, it’s a one of a kind, it could be fun or, it simply might be a darn good photograph. Whatever the reason, they are your reasons and they are ALL valid! (I have always said that folks delete way too many photographs!) These are all images that you like and that makes them golden in my eyes.
If that’s the case, why do photographers like to show their images to others? That’s a complicated question, lots of reasons from good to bad but whatever the case the point to my rant comes down to, what did you want to accomplish with your photograph? Did you want to please yourself or yourself and the world? We all know how difficult it is to please ourselves at times with our images. It’s no easy feat, right? When I’m editing through my day’s takes, I normally don’t let anyone else in the room with me because I’m muttering out loud, good, bad, stupid, idiot, right on, excellent and many other things. If it’s that hard to please ourselves, than isn’t it reasonable to expect that it’s that difficult, if not at times, impossible to please the world? Damn right!
On a daily bases, sometimes hourly, I’m asked to make a comment on some one’s photos. Some just down right suck and yes, I say they suck (technically speaking). The majority though are in that no mans land of images where the photographer saw something but because of lack of inexperience, they just didn’t quite capture it. And that’s OK because it’s a place we’ve all been or are at in our photography, it’s part of the learning curve. Whether I or someone else says they do or don’t like your photo should only be taken with a grain of salt. I know personally, there are tons of my own photographs that I love and the world simply doesn’t and that’s OK. There are some that have received general acceptance and when that occurs, it’s a darn good feeling. When it comes to your photography, while other’s opinions might mean a lot to you, in the final analyze, their opinion won’t make or break your photograph or your photography. Your opinion will though! Take stock in what’s in your head and in your heart when it comes to your photographs. You are the best judge, you are the only judge!
