Before You Hurt Yourself...

...reaching around to pat yourself on the back, take note. Every once in a while, after more than your share of compliments, you stumble onto a page where someone is shooting pretty much the same thing you are shoot, and what they are producing not only blows your work away, but it does it consistently and at full volume. Just like Steve Vai in Crossroads, no one is immune to a little head cutting now and again, so remember that before you get complacent.

It happens and has recently, so I just look and ask how I could improve and try to work on it. If I dont get knocked down I dont get better.

Failure teaches well, if you are wise enough to learn

(that's what I keep telling myself)

wev said:

Failure teaches well, if you are wise enough to learn

(that's what I keep telling myself)

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Actually, it does. It just darn well does not feel like it at the time. But it is the only road to improvement. You do not learn anything from easy victories.

I just have fun taking pictures. Couldn't care less if I take better pictures then someone else or if someone else blows me away at full volume.
For me it's a hobby, not a competition.
(Unless it's the weekly challenge. Then I get serious):beaten::cool-new:

Blacktop said:

I just have fun taking pictures. Couldn't care less if I take better pictures then someone else or if someone else blows me away at full volume.
For me it's a hobby, not a competition.
(Unless it's the weekly challenge. Then I get serious):beaten::cool-new:

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Yeah baby, that's what I'm talking about.

RON said:

Yeah baby, that's what I'm talking about.

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Yup, and after I entered this weeks challenge, I almost got hurt patting myself. :highly_amused:

I'm just kind of wondering what brought this thread on.:indecisiveness:

I have to get good enough to get complacent first.

Blacktop said:

I just have fun taking pictures. Couldn't care less if I take better pictures then someone else or if someone else blows me away at full volume.
For me it's a hobby, not a competition.
(Unless it's the weekly challenge. Then I get serious):beaten::cool-new:

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Who said anything about "competition"?! What I'm talking about is hitting a level that you've been shooting for, only to immediately realize that there's another level after that. It's not about beating the other guy, it's about an utter lack of settling for where I am as a photographer. Sure, not everyone is pressing a shutter button wanting to do more than what they're doing. My question is, if that's the way you feel, why the hell are you wasting your time on photography forums?!

Wise words BDH.... it is always good to take stock of where you are at compared to where you want to be.

Myself I'm always looking to improve. The better i get and the more advance i become, the better i feel.

No worries here! Lol There is a always better shots than mine on any subject, so no patting of the back for me! Lol

I'm in awe of a lot of my friends creations, and I try to learn from them or get inspired by the work's of art my buddy's can create!

What I'm talking about is hitting a level that you've been shooting for, only to immediately realize that there's another level after that.

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Only a fool would ever think that they have hit the top level and can go no further. This applies to everything in life, not just photography.

It's not about beating the other guy, it's about an utter lack of settling for where I am as a photographer.

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So don't settle. I can't help it if you're feeling inferior because you saw someone else's work that blows yours out of the water.

My question is, if that's the way you feel, why the hell are you wasting your time on photography forums?!

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Because it's my time and I'll waste it how ever the hell (your words, not mine) I feel like wasting it.
I didn't realize that photography needed to be my highest priority in life to participate in these forums.

Newsflash for you. Not everyone is as serious about photography as much as you are.
Do I love photography? Yes.
Do I want to get better? Yes ,of course I do.
Do I want to be able to take shots worthy to stand alongside with professional nature shooters? Yea , it would be nice.

However if I never get to that plateau, it's not going to bother me as long as I am enjoying the journey.

I will never be there, and I will never find it. And that is best part, because searching for it and reaching for it is the fun of it for me. Ever the student, right to the grave.

BackdoorHippie said:

...reaching around to pat yourself on the back, take note. Every once in a while, after more than your share of compliments, you stumble onto a page where someone is shooting pretty much the same thing you are shoot, and what they are producing not only blows your work away, but it does it consistently and at full volume. Just like Steve Vai in Crossroads, no one is immune to a little head cutting now and again, so remember that before you get complacent.

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I believe as we grow, we tend to see things through new eyes. And even if we don't appear to be growing, there comes a point when we look at the same scene and see it in a whole new light. Just this past weekend my pastor commented about reading a Bible verse that suddenly took on a new meaning. It's the same way with photography. A novice might compare one of your photos with that of the other person and find they are equally pleasing, but someone with more knowledge may be able to discern that one image captures his/her attention over the other. As you grow in your abilities, you will hit plateaus then climb small hills. Every once in a while you may even arrive at a mountain like you did this time. Take it all in stride and enjoy the view. Your work is stellar, but you are not done growing in your ability--and I highly doubt you ever will because you will continually see with new eyes.

I follow 2 disciplines, Both equally daunting. A day does not pass that i do not question my own work and look for ways to do better. I value this forum because it shows me where better lies in the field of photography. And i agree wholeheartedly with Hark that time does bring new perspectives that can show way to real improvement, but constant application of what we learn is absolutely essential to reach our individual goals. It can be so much fun that we do not notice that it is actually hard work. I am pleased to note how many of my fellow Nikonites strive for improvement and so happy to be amongst you all.

I'm never happy with my work, there is never a shot I couldn't have shot or processed better. I'm my worst competition and I love beating myself up. Probably because my dad did great things with 1/100th of what I have. It is always good to aspire to a higher master.