Satisfaction with your work

[Wes]

How many of you are ever truly satisfied with your work? I'm speaking strictly of photography. I have all these friends and family members that always tell me how much they love some of the images that I've capture, but when I look at them I think, "wow - there are so many things that I see wrong." I think that I'm seeing the things that I don't like, while they're only focusing on the things that they do like. I always feel like I have something to learn.

A friend sent this to me. It's a quote by Martha Graham and it really struck a chord in me.

"There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. If you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and be lost. The world will not have it.

It is not your business to determine how good it is; nor how valuable it is; nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open.

You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep open and aware directly to the urges that motivate *you*.
Keep the channel open . . .

No artist is pleased . . .
There is no satisfaction whatever at any time.
There is only a queer, divine dissatisfaction; a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others."



Martha Graham

[Jenny Z]

Sometimes I surprise myself, but most often I see little things I wish I could have changed... I'm a bit of a perfectionist :P

[Rson]

Yeah, I am very critical and I am never satisfied a lot of the times.

[groovyone]

Originally Posted by Rson

Yeah, I am very critical and I am never satisfied a lot of the times.

Same here. Especially critical now that I was trying to find some to enter in a contest. I tend to see what I did wrong or could have done better instead of what I did right. I guess I am learning that way...

[my3peas]

Wow Wes. That's an awesome quote. I think, at least for myself, as artists, we're constantly striving to perfect, to grow, to see beyond what we've already done. Sure I am pleased with my work, but I know that I can always do better, do different, be unique. And that is what my journey is about.

I agree with you, I'm on path to always learn more and I don't think I'll ever be settled or content as it always seems as though there is so much more to grasp.

Thanks for sharing this quote!

[JohnT]

I hear you, bro. When I'm critiquing one of my images, I try to focus on what I got right, accentuate that in post, and at the same time notice what needs improvement for the next time I'm shooting. In other words, accentuate the positive, and minimize the negative without ignoring it.

Photography is a journey, and I don't believe anyone ever "arrives."

[snidow]

At first I am happy with an image then when I go back to it I see all the flaws. I try to see it as not my own so I can better understand what's right and wrong. Then try to determine the best way for me to improve in camera the problem areas.

[barP]

i think it's sort of like hitting a baseball. you can always feel the quality of the connection throught the bat, and there's no doubt when you hit the sweet spot. that doesn't always mean, however, that it's automatically a home run. when you decide where to hit the ball, connect cleanly and effortlessly, then watch it drop where you intended...then i think you can be satisfied with that hit. you know, however, that one homer doesn't guarantee another, so you go right back to batting practice after the game.

on the other hand, if you feel like you're hitting the ball correctly, but you keep dropping it into the center fielder's glove, then clearly something isn't right. trust your instincts, but be objective!

wp.

[afrikaner07]

I can absolutely relate, in more than just my photographs. but boy, when I do find that photo I like, man am I proud of it.

[alamoshutterbug]

I think Joe McNally summed it up best in his google talk when he was answering questions from the Google people. One man stood up and basically said what you said, that he often found himself unhappy with his work. Joe chuckles and starts in to say that the guy was being too hard on himself and that generally photographers were just that. But the best part is when he describes how HE, you know, Joe McNally, world renowned pro photog, feels sometimes in the morning, looking in the mirror: He sighs, slaps his hand with an "L" made with his fingers onto his forehead and says, "Gah, I am such a LOSER!"

Sure made me feel better...

[Roadrnr]

That is a really good quote. 9.9 times out of 10 I'm not pleased with my work. There are a few times that I see one of my images and think..."YEAH! I finally got it right!"

Usually, the bad parts of the picture are much more visible than the good things.

[Rene_Michaels]

I'm definitely my own worse critic and I can always see something I could have done different. Sometimes it's a technical problem like getting the right exposure, and sometimes it's artistic like not correcting a bad pose or a poor composition. BUT, on the flip side you have to remember that photography is highly subjective.

If you look through the gallery pages of the photography masters cup http://www.thecolorawards.com/gallery.htm, you'll love some of the photos and you'll scratch your head on others and wonder why some judge apparently liked them enough to grant them awards.

It's all the the eye of the beholder!

Keep the faith,

Rene

[Dobick]

Nice quote Wes...

On the ranking system of
"good"-"great"-"incredible"-"wow"-"one of a kind"

I have maybe five that I think are incredible, another dozen great shots, and a whole bunch of good ones. Not one of my shots really rate a "Wow", and I am so far from reaching "one-of-a-kind" that it is nearly laughable.

I will however keep striving to reach that one of a kind shot

you know the one. That one shot that all artistic elements line up. The vision and statement and tag line that is running through your head when you lined up to take the shot is immediately conveyed to those who view it, and most of the people who appreciate artistry recognize all of the amazing elements involved, and those that don't are still blown away by it.

I'm chasing that shot every time I press the shutter.

[groovyone]

I find the one, maybe two one-of-a-kind shots of mine are happy accidents.

[HotHolly]

I tend to like (not love) about 1 image I shoot over the course of the year. I still see things wrong, but its talking to me. Im a perfectionist. My work is never as good as I want it to be. lol.

lol. The mark of a great artist - he has 1 ear. The mark of a sane artist - he still has both.