Proposal of a support group
ginger_55
Registered Users Posts: 8,416 Major grins
for losers.
I am sure others could think of a more agreeable title. But "loser" seems to fit my needs at the moment.
I am too good for my family to care if I take photographs anymore. Nary a comment, for the most part (unless someone thinks a photo makes them look fat)
I am not good enough to "do" anything here.
Of course I photograph for myself, but if I were to look it up, I would be able to show that others, like me, do thrive on "sharing" and accolades, learning, etc.
I am no longer learning, getting better in some areas just with practice. Few accolades.....................I fault not the people here, it is group dynamics and the limits of the 24 hr day.
I am discouraged, need a support group. Thought there might be others, or I might be alone with this. It is a great group here, but the photographers have changed...................they are from "off" and are better. Or are just plain better.
As I said, too good for my family, not good enough here.
ginger (If I take time off, what would I have to do? That is not helpful, just gets my angst away from public view. But the angst would feel worse than the problem.) I live to shoot right now. This afternoon, I quit living.
I am sure others could think of a more agreeable title. But "loser" seems to fit my needs at the moment.
I am too good for my family to care if I take photographs anymore. Nary a comment, for the most part (unless someone thinks a photo makes them look fat)
I am not good enough to "do" anything here.
Of course I photograph for myself, but if I were to look it up, I would be able to show that others, like me, do thrive on "sharing" and accolades, learning, etc.
I am no longer learning, getting better in some areas just with practice. Few accolades.....................I fault not the people here, it is group dynamics and the limits of the 24 hr day.
I am discouraged, need a support group. Thought there might be others, or I might be alone with this. It is a great group here, but the photographers have changed...................they are from "off" and are better. Or are just plain better.
As I said, too good for my family, not good enough here.
ginger (If I take time off, what would I have to do? That is not helpful, just gets my angst away from public view. But the angst would feel worse than the problem.) I live to shoot right now. This afternoon, I quit living.
After all is said and done, it is the sweet tea.
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Comments
you've improved a 1000 percent in the year that i've watched your photography.
hey - you've won 2 out of 39 challenges - not many can call themselves multiple winners of the dgrin challenges!
heck - one of those shots is even at the top of the dgrin website.
don't give us that "i'm not good enough" garbage - becuase we're not buying it!
if you need to take a break, go shoot - and enjoy your beaches, dogs, dh, and egrets and ospreys.
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You are relying on others for your motivation. What you need to do is develop your own internal motivation. Set your own standards. Identify what images excite you. Start shooting what brings you a thrill, challenges you, brings you internal satisfaction when you get it right.
Accolades from others are *only* the icing on the cake. Your own motivation, style, and vision are what make up the cake of photographic satisfaction.
As long as you rely on others to supply that joy, you will never attain it, or if you do, it will only be fleeting. There are always people who will do it better than you, and there will always be people who are bored with what you do. Don't let that determine what you will shoot and post.
"Failure is feedback. And feedback is the breakfast of champions." - fortune cookie
Eric
It's better to be hated for who you are than to be loved for who you're not.
http://photosbyeric.smugmug.com
Ginger,
You are far from a loser. You are a charming southern lady with a wonderful sense of humor. Your photographs are enjoyed by many wether you realise it or not. Wether they comment or not.
I think you may find (if you ask around) that many of our families are not exactly excited about our photography. For me, my spouse enjoys looking at my "best of the weekend" stuff, and does occasionally (rarely) say "oooh, I want one of those" so I print her one and frame it. My children, Father, and friends are all pretty indifferent. Some have even taken their kids elsewhere to get Senior photos etc.
You say it later in your post and though it is cliche, it is true. You shoot for you.
I am not sure what you mean... What is it you want to do? You need to quite worrying about pleasing or impressing people on this forum. There are many great photographers here, and we all try to learn from them, but just because one person says it's to dark, too light, to this to that, does not mean you should change it. It means you should think about what they said, and decide if YOU agree, if you do, change it, if you do not, keep it the same. The important thing is that your work reflect your taste, not mine, not Harry's, or Andy's or Rutt's or anyone elses. Yours!.
I also think you place a lot of focus on the challenges. This is great if it motivates you to shoot. If it gives you a reason to work at improving, thats fantastic. If you think that winning it is an honor, you are right. If you think you need to win it to validate your work, you are off track. I have seen your work steadily improve in the year or so we have been here. Take a minute and go way back to your first posts here and then compare the images in your recent posts and you will be amazed at the difference. I know I am. Your are still improving all the time, as are most of us. The difference is that now your skills have reached a point that the improvment is not as dramatic so it is harder to see, it is still there.
I understand what you are saying. We all feel a bit of disappointment when a thread with our pictures seems to go unnoticed. I also understand the feeling of community and even family that this forum has for many of us. Of course that could feel that you are again being ignored by your family. I can only speak for myself, but I never mean to ignore you and I look forward to your pictures, but there are a lot of posts everyday, and it is hard to respond to them all.
You are still getting better, and your encouragment can and often does help the people behind you in this learning experience. Even if you can not help a person with an answer, I have seen you bump the thread to help them get an answer.
Remember, at this point you have the skills to take competant photographs, and practice is going to be your biggest teacher, but when you need help with something, you may need to specifically ask, as I assume you know things unless you say otherwise.
If there are others that feel strongly the way that you do, I hope you are all there for each other, but trust me, we all support you now.
Time off from the forum, or time off from shooting? I would hate to see you do less of either.
I dont even want to think about what you are saying here.
Common Ginger, keep your chin up. This is all suppose to be fun. We are here for you.
Your photos are beautiful. You have a gifted eye for lighting and composition. In fact, the first photo I saw on this site was your shot of a fence on a beach. I was blown away by that shot and still think about it. That photo was the reason I stayed here and didn't just move on to the next photo site I had googled.
Why take pictures? Do it because you love to do it. You cannot rely on others to validate what you know in your heart to be something you love! If others appreciate what you do, great. If not, no loss.
I find the entire concept of this web site an intriguing catch-22. We all post pictures hoping for constructive criticism from those we admire. When we get what we ask for, there is always a twinge of angst when flaws are pointed out or suggestions are made! We just need thicker skins and to keep on shooting and posting.
mitch
http://clearwaterphotography.smugmug.com/
I've only been a member of dgrin for only something short of a month, so unlike Andy, I have not had the pleasure of viewing your work over a long period of time. You do alot of what I wish I could do, and what you do is beautiful. I'm with Andy here, don't let anyone, including that voice in your head tell you that you and your work isn't good enough to share with the rest of us. I let a college instructor tell me that what I was producing as far as the assignments he gave was some of the worst stuff he had ever seen. And after I failed his course I almost gave up and beleived him. I almost let one opinion change my dreams. I took the same course over at a different school with a different instructor, entered a college photo contest and made it from a group of 30,000 entries to the finalist selection of 1500.
And you. 2 out of 39 challenges? That's awesome! Everyone needs a break every now and then. So take one. But please come back again? It would make me terribly sad if you didn't. :cry
:sweet
Jessica
Being one of the newer folks here, I totally agree with seaelven. Having only had a camera for a couple of months, I am constantly learning and striving to be a better photographer. You are one of the people I count on here to give me new ideas just by the photographs you post. I mean c'mon...look at this..
That to me is not a photograph taken by someone who is not "good enough". That shows me that you have some serious skills and you have things you to teach me about what you like to shoot. I think you underestimate your effect on the people who frequent DGrin. I for one hope you don't take time off.
My smugmug stuff
WHAT KIND OF CAMERA DO YOU HAVE? Canon 20D? I have a fuji s5000 3Mpix... I can't even change the lens. :cry
HOW MANY CHALLENGES HAVE YOU WON? 2? I have won a total of ZERO! SQUAT! NADA!
HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE THERE "BILL" UP TOP OF THE DG WEB PAGE. Once again, no go for johno.
Do you need to know who looks to learn from you? There are some of us who look to learn from every level here at DG. Andy, is worth listening to here.
You have made major steps in your love for photography and have shared much with this wonderful community. I wonder how you see this community changing? No room for the little guy? I am the little guy. I have never had the quality of photography found here at DG, but everyone had been so encouraging, even fish. :fish
Listen, I like Andy's stuff, but I am not even close to his level. If I were to have shown up at Yosemite, I would have been laughed out of the park. "Hey, who's the guy with the little point and shoot camera." I would have to have said I was someone else. So I listen to Andy and look to grow to his level someday... (I feel great when he responds to one of my posts). Until then you and I are golfing buddies. We play the same game. We're in the same boat. I encourage you and you do the same to me. How many people do you need in your support group?
Over all, I think it might be good for you to take some time with you and your camera. How long have you had it? Do you know how to use all the functions? I am sure there is a lot to learn.
If you need a vacation from DG then take it. Shoot 1000 pictures before you come back. I think you will be miserable until you find your way back. If you have lost something you had here, you need to go find it.
Other than that... Shut it and keep on doing what you love. Of course I say all of this in total love.
Don't make me come out to SC and have a chat with you... I am trying to save up to buy a new camera.
Read John 10:10
peace.
johno~
~Mother Teresa
Canon 1D Mark II / Canon 50D / Canon 30D / Canon G9
Canon 50mm 1.4
Canon 24-105 f/4 L IS / Canon 70-200 f/2.8 L
blog
johno's gallery
Your photography is beautiful! Do it first of all for your own satisfaction! If that means taking a few days off, fine! I sometimes have a week or more without shooting a single shot. I too sometimes need something special for motivation. This coming Friday I'm going on a guided tour for photographers in the Old City of Jerusalem, the Arab market and some of the churches. If it weren't for the guided tour I don't think I would have done it on my own. Sometimes we need someone or something to push us a little. And then I get back all excited about one of the shots and everyone says "it's too dark", "it's too light" or "too bad you didn't do it another way". But I still love that shot! It's THEY who don't understand! Remember that!
Over the last few months dgrin has grown immensely. I haven't checked the numbers but I feel the traffic. I get on every morning and because of the 8-12 hour time difference with the US I am overwhelmed with all the new posts. Impossible to read them all, remark and comment. I often simply 'Mark forums read' just to catch up. But when I do notice one of your threads in the 100+ every morning, I certainly read it! I apologize to you and everyone else I am rarely able to comment in depth.
Ginger, take a few days off, come back, 'Mark forums read', and get back to business! You have so much to offer us here on dgrin in your photography and your thoughts!
Nir Alon
images of my thoughts
Getting up after 4, or less, hrs of sleep, to work to finish what has been said to ge a good photo...................that hurt. I don't know what hurt most: that I have not had over 4 hrs sleep in days, my husband being very angry, turning all the house lights off, and everything else he could think of to get me off of the computer, we had a memorial day concert to go to.
I made the concert, at the moment I had planned. I blew in like Merry Poppins, but without her style. Bill was still angry, I was still hurt, nothing to do with the group. I had bought the concert tickets............that concert is MY love, not his. With hyper adrenalin I managed to get my photo as well as I could hope, post it, leave and get there on time.
I was not concerned then about making the finals, but the disappointment about not shooting egrets...............
The financial problems right now. It all adds up. So when I got home, I became interested in the finals.......
So, we are not existing in a vacumn, I am sorry if some of mine spilled out today.
I appreciate all of what you are saying. I would like to point out my take on winning the challenges, me winning them. That was yesterday. We were not only a bunch of beginners for a large part, we were a beginning group. As I have read, many good photographers have left other forums to come here. That is cool, I not only admire their work, I enjoy them, personally. But I don't kid myself that I could, or would, win today. (Oh, and if I were Andy, I would buy back the Rebel as that is the camera that won the first places)
Yes, I have improved. I think my bird shots are the best around, sorry Harry. Just for me, they are the best, as they are landscape bird shots. I couldn't get close to the birds, used what I had, and I love them. That is usually at Magnolia with the primarily egrets, few herons, one gator and, as far as I know, one night heron. A few ducks. I am alright with myself there. I have a style I like, not to everyone's taste, but it is to mine.
This is my first experience at really putting myself out there in any endeavor, other than many failed work experiences, probably hearing related. Monday finalist days are difficult for me, but it is difficult to quit shooting the assignments. I did not go out of my way to SHOOT them, it was the workup this AM that killed me, along with other sleepless nights. I shoot so much, so many different subjects................if it is in my path I shoot it, so I end up with challenge entries.
I get my really important photos looked at. I forced myself not to take many photos today. I cried at the beauty of the memorial day concert, my own thoughts on our changing nation that still is............. so my photos from today are not as good as some. I really wanted the egrets. MDH is spending the next 3 nights in Savannah, his pay has been cut drastically, he was not in the mood to go out and shoot egrets. I had my choice, to go alone, or not. My body was hurting, I came home. I am OK as long as I am shooting. So that is why I continue. And I know of no other group like this so I don't leave.
I did test a landscape/bird shot at FM. Put in in both threads. It was commented on here, but not much. There I did get the most comments in the landscape thread. I don't know that my bird shots are all bird shots and don't know where they belong. The landscape is taking over from the birds when I have the environment.
The FM thing showed me that I could get comments, really good ones. And it was interesting that there were more in the landscape thread commented on.
I soon forgot that though, FM, can't pursue it, I can't be everywhere at once, am already over extended with my time. (I won't mention money) Also, I do not particularly like what I consider a cold/distant feeling at FM. Not that it doesn't also have its purpose and advantages, better for some than others.
Going to stop now. Thanks for commenting. I know you all care, that is one of the best things about dGrin.
ginger
There were some damn good shots up there that didn't make it either. Congratulations to all who entered.
Just to say that I have tested FM before, this is the first time I did get
many comments, so that reinforced my thoughts that I was pretty good in one area.
I do enjoy other pursuits, though, I can't always be at Magnolia. That is only one aspect of my photography.
It is discouraging that I used to always make the finals, now I don't. That is discouraging to me. I know i concentrate on birds,now, and I went to the beach this week, maybe I am trying to do too much. But I just ended up with challenge shots, I didn't "take" them.
My only advice is to find more forums to display your work to get more comments and advice. You are no "loser" and certainly seem to get into a slump...not you work..just your feelings about it! Work is easily overlooked on this site with so many new posts. I really enjoy betterphoto.com also and have my own momphotographers group that is really encouraging and full of advice. Also, there is a site called meetups.com where you could find a group of photographers in your area to meet up with and discuss etc... Just explore the web for more of a niche regarding what you like to take pictures of...heck find a smugmug community
I think this forum is great, don't get me wrong...but I get most of my technical and personal support and advice with other groups.
Photographer and Mom of Four!
_____________________________________
http://tinafolsomphotography.com
I just press the button and the camera goes CLICK. :dunno
Canon: gripped 20d and 30d, 10-22 3.5-4.5, 17-55 IS, 50mm f1.8, 70-200L IS, 85mm f1.8, 420ex
sigma: 10-20 4-5.6 (for sale), 24-70 2.8 (for sale), 120-300 2.8
I thought I was going to be a product photographer, turns out I don't like it that much. I actively denied I would ever do weddings. Turns out it is the one avenue I love the most.
So being open to explore and test out the waters to see where your strengths really lie, and not just where you think they lie is important I think.
"Failure is feedback. And feedback is the breakfast of champions." - fortune cookie
Chase
PS: Shay, I didnt really realize how that gallery looked to someone who did not see my presentation, and is devoutly committed to that particular religion. Most people who viewed it were my friends or family who saw my presentation that I made and the context in which it was in. I have since taken it down.
I just press the button and the camera goes CLICK. :dunno
Canon: gripped 20d and 30d, 10-22 3.5-4.5, 17-55 IS, 50mm f1.8, 70-200L IS, 85mm f1.8, 420ex
sigma: 10-20 4-5.6 (for sale), 24-70 2.8 (for sale), 120-300 2.8