Apparently I suck - DPChallenge Forums

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

08/12/2011 04:02:29 PM · #1

One of the guys I work with pulled me aside recently and we were chatting business. He then informed me that he'd seen some of my photos and they "were not good", and that I stood absolutely no chance of being a professional in the field. He told me he was an expert as he had taken 8 years of photography classes between high school and college. I was a little agitated only that you can't pound on someone (in my opinion) unless you also have photos up--he has left that field and gone into DJ work. Sort of the, can you do better type deal. I was also frustrated in his response to my photography as, while I don't think I'm about to set out a shingle this minute, I think a good number of my shots are better than "professionals" in my area. . .so what are we using as a judgement? Am I as good as the guy shooting the National Geo cover? No. Am I as good as some of the masters on this site, No. Am I better than a decent number of people with actual photo businesses, yeah--not even counting the 15 dollar for a cd hacks on craigslist. At least in my opinion. LOL. Maybe I just secretly suck :p Whatever.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

08/12/2011 04:06:06 PM · #2

As in all cases like this, I suggest you consider the source before accepting the validity of the claim.

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED VR

08/12/2011 04:10:19 PM · #3

Blow it off. I think your own estimate of your skill is accurate. 8 years of classes makes him a better photog? Yeah, right. Classes can be useful but don't necessarily mean much on their own. Some of the most accomplished people in many fields are self taught.

TheDruid

Nikon D3X

08/12/2011 04:53:41 PM · #4

Ask him to show you what is wrong and what he would do to make it better.

08/12/2011 05:08:24 PM · #5

Originally posted by TheDruid:

Ask him to show you what is wrong and what he would do to make it better.

That would either be highly entertaining or devastating. LOL.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

08/12/2011 07:32:02 PM · #6

Originally posted by crowis:

That would either be highly entertaining or devastating. LOL.

He may be better. But whether or not does not matter, it was just a mean spirited thing to say. Perhaps the point was to make him feel better about his own work?

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

08/12/2011 07:42:54 PM · #7

REPARTEE: A clever thing you think of to say after you've left the party,

"I'm just devestated that my work doesn't resonate with your highly-developed artistic sensibilities -- fortunately practically everyone else who has seen or bought my pictures really likes them."

08/12/2011 08:19:27 PM · #8

Originally posted by GeneralE:

Nice. LOL.

JuliBoc

Apple iPhone 6s+

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

08/12/2011 08:30:02 PM · #9

Look at the rate with which you are crossing off your goals for this year. You are a shooting star. (pun intended)

Cory

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

08/12/2011 09:50:08 PM · #10

Originally posted by GeneralE:

You know, there's actually a non-Biercian phrase for that.... l'esprit d'escalier

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 28-300mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR

08/13/2011 11:14:41 AM · #11

Originally posted by JuliBoc:

Look at the rate with which you are crossing off your goals for this year. You are a shooting star. (pun intended)

I have been working hard to try to get my hands around this art form. It is a lot more complicated than I thought it was when I started out, but I love it. I never feel more alive than when I have a shot ready to go--and I would be willing to do photography just for that (whether I sucked or not).

@Cory and General: That's funny. Try: Treppenwitz

NikonJeb

Nikon D850

08/13/2011 11:24:52 AM · #12

Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:

He may be better. But whether or not does not matter, it was just a mean spirited thing to say.

+1

Besides.....you're not shooting for this idiot, anyway. you're achieving your goals, you're becoming more familiar with your equipment, and if you're pleased, and learning, from your result's, you're doing fine.

I'd be curious to see how many people here who are pretty damn decent photogs have little or no formal training whatsoever.....just what they've found here. I'm not half-bad, yet I didn't know squat 'til I found this place.

Shoot, edit, learn, have fun......and screw the mean-spirited, self-appointed critic.

Cory

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

08/13/2011 11:39:02 AM · #13

Originally posted by crowis:

In response to this, I usually tell them that if they really do think they're worth a damn to come give it a go here.. If they go all

gyaban on us, then I'll bow down and tell them that I do indeed suck. But.. Well... several invites later, and I haven't seen it happen yet.

Sony Sonnar FE 2.8 35mm ZA

08/13/2011 11:58:10 AM · #14

Originally posted by Cory:

If they go all gyaban on us, then I'll bow down and tell them that I do indeed suck.

Oh, heck, his screen name is now being used as a verb.

jagar

Samsung Galaxy S9/S9+

08/13/2011 12:12:47 PM · #15

Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:

Originally posted by Cory:
If they go all gyaban on us, then I'll bow down and tell them that I do indeed suck.

Oh, heck, his screen name is now being used as a verb.

LOL.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

08/13/2011 12:37:13 PM · #16

Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:

Originally posted by Cory:
If they go all gyaban on us, then I'll bow down and tell them that I do indeed suck.

Oh, heck, his screen name is now being used as a verb.

I think that's an adjective/adverb; "go" is the action in the sentence ... :-(

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

08/13/2011 02:25:23 PM · #17

Originally posted by GeneralE:

Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:

Originally posted by Cory:
If they go all gyaban on us, then I'll bow down and tell them that I do indeed suck.

Oh, heck, his screen name is now being used as a verb.

I think that's an adjective/adverb; "go" is the action in the sentence ... :-(

It's an adjective. "I watched the plane go supersonic." Supersonic is an adjective.

R.

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

08/13/2011 02:33:23 PM · #18

Now you're all going english teacher on me.

Dr.Confuser

Nikon D800

08/13/2011 02:46:50 PM · #19

Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:

Now you're all going english teacher on me.

"english teacher" an adjective, really?

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

08/13/2011 02:58:18 PM · #20

Originally posted by Dr.Confuser:

Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:
Now you're all going english teacher on me.

"english teacher" an adjective, really?

An "adjectival compound" anyway :-)

R.

posthumous

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

08/13/2011 03:13:24 PM · #21

Grog told him it was a verb. Grog everything verb.

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

08/15/2011 02:23:57 PM · #22

Originally posted by NikonJeb:

Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:
He may be better. But whether or not does not matter, it was just a mean spirited thing to say.

+1

Besides.....you're not shooting for this idiot, anyway. you're achieving your goals, you're becoming more familiar with your equipment, and if you're pleased, and learning, from your result's, you're doing fine.

I'd be curious to see how many people here who are pretty damn decent photogs have little or no formal training whatsoever.....just what they've found here. I'm not half-bad, yet I didn't know squat 'til I found this place.

Shoot, edit, learn, have fun......and screw the mean-spirited, self-appointed critic.

I try to remember I am still in the learning stage, and that having my average raise from a 4.9 to almost a 5.2 as well as greatly exceeding my prior shots is in itself a victory. But, the self doubt monster creeps up when I don't continue to explode upwards in ability. Part of it is equipment issues, as there are shots I would do if I had the proper lighting and lensing (macro for instance), that just fail technically. I am also still trying to learn CS5 (pretty much on my own. . .lol). It will get there. I also try to remember that scoring at an average level on DPC is in itself an accomplishment due to the artistic and skilled nature of the competitors.

Cory

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

08/15/2011 02:57:07 PM · #23

Originally posted by crowis:

Originally posted by NikonJeb:

Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:
He may be better. But whether or not does not matter, it was just a mean spirited thing to say.

+1

Besides.....you're not shooting for this idiot, anyway. you're achieving your goals, you're becoming more familiar with your equipment, and if you're pleased, and learning, from your result's, you're doing fine.

I'd be curious to see how many people here who are pretty damn decent photogs have little or no formal training whatsoever.....just what they've found here. I'm not half-bad, yet I didn't know squat 'til I found this place.

Shoot, edit, learn, have fun......and screw the mean-spirited, self-appointed critic.

I try to remember I am still in the learning stage, and that having my average raise from a 4.9 to almost a 5.2 as well as greatly exceeding my prior shots is in itself a victory. But, the self doubt monster creeps up when I don't continue to explode upwards in ability. Part of it is equipment issues, as there are shots I would do if I had the proper lighting and lensing (macro for instance), that just fail technically. I am also still trying to learn CS5 (pretty much on my own. . .lol). It will get there. I also try to remember that scoring at an average level on DPC is in itself an accomplishment due to the artistic and skilled nature of the competitors.

Don't worry... I get upset with myself when I score at anything less than a 6.5 .... It's a sickness, and it only gets worse with time I'm afraid. Used to be anything with a 6 in front made me excited, now I feel meh about it unless it's a 7+, and I'm usually quite upset when something goes into the 5's...