Why do I hate my photos?

[Murph]

When I take them, I think: "Wow, that was a good shot", and get home, and look at it, and its not bad, but not as good as I thought. Then a week or a month later, I look at it and go: "Gaak, how could I have liked THAT photograph?" I donated a large number of prints to our local Children's Advocacy Center for a fund raiser, and when I donated them, I liked about 85% of the ones I donated. Now I hate 85% of them. I was told by several of the staff that I am my own worst critic, and they like my photographs. So by any objective/subjective standard, who is right????

[Disney Chick]

I do the same thing. When I look back at my old photos, I am totally not impressed any more. Maybe that's to be expected if you're improving your photography.

[ShutteredEye]

Yeah, I was looking at some stuff I processed just a couple weeks ago, and my thoughts were, "Yuck. Completely garish colors, terrible composition, why did I even put this in the keeper folder?"

Yet, just a couple weeks ago I posted them all on here with total pride.

So yeah. I get what you're saying.

[Casper]

People tell me that they like some of my photos, but I think those photos are not worth keeping. The ones I like, ho hum.

I keep all that I want and sell the rest!

[CaptainTom]

Absolutely valid feelings.

When I shot film in the old days, I would periodically go through my "keeper" files and routinely toss at least half of them. "How could I have thought that was good enough?".
As we get better at our craft, and after we see what others have done, we are pretty much disappointed with our history.

Many times you will post a shot on this forum and it will be lauded by almost everyone. Then you come back to it in a couple of months and look at it differently and "hate" it. But the good part is that those who liked it two months ago will still like it now. So, now I keep everything and as I learn, I try to improve the PP, or just realize that it isn't a bad picture.

[tjavery]

I think that judging and critiquing your own photos is very difficult. For me, it's hard because a lot of images are linked to good memories (e.g. trips, vacations, etc.) and I cannot see past those sometimes. It's also hard because I may have put a lot of thought and work into an image, and although it's a poor photo, I cannot let go all the effort I put into it.

I also think your mood and timing greatly affects your judgement (and this is true for others that are critiquing your photos). Bad mood = everything sucks (mostly). Happy mood = it's all good

Then there's the comparison effect - if you've just been studying the best photos from a few master photographers and then go look at your own work, then you'll definitely be more likely to poo-poo all over it.

[lscottpht]

I feel the exact same way, Murph. I go back time and time again and don't like most of the images I shot. Occasionally I will go back through and find one that I had basically discarded and think, wow, I can't believe I discarded that shot, like this one http://www.pbase.com/lscottpht/image/39094051, but that doesn't happen very often. At least the one good thing is that it makes you strive to get better each time, at least it does for me.

[mjdmike]

Originally Posted by tjavery

Then there's the comparison effect - if you've just been studying the best photos from a few master photographers and then go look at your own work, then you'll definitely be more likely to poo-poo all over it.

That's funny TJ -- and so true. I'll be admiring one of my shots that I know isn't great, but probably a decent shot, and then like a fool I come here and look at a really great shot and it makes want to put all the gear up for sale on eBay...

[jfoster]

i have always been rather hard on my work and go through several "culling" processes before I am happy with what I keep. This is especially true when I have a "quickie" assignment, one that is on a very short deadline. Jim Foster

[Casper]

One thing I have tried is to have my son and wife look at my photos before I do the culling. They have very different ideas and are not afraid to say so (or to call me on my BS ). Needless to say, they have saved some good pictures.

Steve

[Elsaspet]

We are all the same Murphy. I hate mine too. Being your own worst critic will only drive you further though. :-)

[LSCSN.com]

Glad to see a lot of us are floating in the same waters :) Mine usually cycle by season. At the beginning of a particular season I think man you are horrible. Then midway through the season I'll okay maybe you are okay and then by the end of the season I stink again :)

Portrait on the other hand I don't think I've had to many "good" moments :) I pretty much just stink. The shots I had just a couple of days ago were actually the only ones that I have really liked.

I wish I had more time to study the art of portraits, and I wish I had more willing ginny pigs to practice on :)

[JohnT]

Same here, pretty much. I recently reprocessed and reprinted a family portrait at my expense because I wasn't satisfied with the first one, which the family thought looked fine. I just felt like I had to make it right even though the family thought nothing about it.

As for old photos, I like to look at them after a period of time as a measurement of how much I've improved. I'm only occasionally 100 percent satisfied with a shot.

[Murph]

Yeah, I strive to be better, but so much of my stuff SUCKS! Or at least I think it does.

[NikonShooter]

Originally Posted by Murph

When I take them, I think: "Wow, that was a good shot", and get home, and look at it, and its not bad, but not as good as I thought. Then a week or a month later, I look at it and go: "Gaak, how could I have liked THAT photograph?" I donated a large number of prints to our local Children's Advocacy Center for a fund raiser, and when I donated them, I liked about 85% of the ones I donated. Now I hate 85% of them. I was told by several of the staff that I am my own worst critic, and they like my photographs. So by any objective/subjective standard, who is right????

Well let us be the judge...I'm sure they're great!!