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| Is this a "good" photograph? |
Why can't I seem to come up with a good answer to this seemingly simple question?
It seems that more than ever, when I'm out and about with friends or family with a camera, I'm always asked one simple question: "Did you get any good pictures?"
Unfortunately, this question bugs the heck out of me, because I don't quite really know how to answer it. I think many of the people that ask me this know that I'm a pretty good photographer. My work has been displayed across Ohio, and I've made a nice supplementary income licensing images via Istock. Why the heck are people asking me if I got any good pictures? Yes, it's true that sometimes I come back with images that just didn't work, BUT, when I'm out photographing, I don't click the shutter unless I think what I'm seeing will make a good picture..
I'm not looking to make good pictures- I'm looking to make great photographs. I desire to create something that will capture one's glance for more than a second or so- I'm looking to produce the best photographs I've ever created. There is a deliberate process that I go through to make these image. I'm not just blindly pointing the camera "hoping" that I get a "good" photograph. And herein lies why this question just simply bugs the heck out of me.
How should I answer this question, I suppose, would be the more appropriate question. I have come to understand that anyone asking me if I took any good photographs is opening up an opportunity for casual conversation. I've not been able to recognize this, and instead, I'll give sort of smart ass quip like "always" or a response that will certainly end the conservation- something like: "I'm not really sure until I get back and view the images on the computer.
But as a photographer who is trying to capture the world and share my experiences through photography, I simply need to pounce upon the opportunity to explain what I'm seeing and why it is important. Instead of scoffing at this question- I need to realize that those asking are generally interested in how I see the world and what I'm photographing. I need to embrace the question and give answers like - "you know, this is just an incredible place to be, so much is going on here, beautiful light, beautiful people, beautiful photographic subjects, that I just feel compelled to explore and express my experiences with the camera".
It is only that when I begin to embrace the question "did you get any good pictures?" that I will ever become truly successful in sharing my vision with others.
-Tom
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Tom, I get that a lot. Some are truly interested and others just seem to want to make some comment after noticing my expensive looking camera gear ;-) I've been saying the same "won't know until I look at them on the computer", but I like your "isn't this just an incredible place..." reply much better. I think I start replying something along those lines. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteBill- I'm glad that I'm not alone- Let me know how it goes- I'll share my experiences here as well too.
DeleteIt reminds me of Rosenthal's surprise at the reaction to his iconic shot of the flag-raising at Iwo Jima. There is an entire context beyond the frame, or something.
ReplyDeleteFor action shots, definitely, sometimes you just don't know how good your photos will be, because the moments are blowing by almost imperceptible to the human eye. I had this experience when photographing dozens of wood storks as the flew by. It was really fun to burn off a few hundred frames, but I really didn't know how many "keepers" I had, and in the end, I was dissapointed with the low number of keepers I In the case of Rosenthal, he didn't have the luxury of a digital display on the back of the camera. And yes, some photos become great because they stand the test of time, proving once again, it's almost impossible to truly know after you click the shutter if you captured a "good" photography.
DeleteI'm a bit of a beginner, but as head photog on my high school's yearbook staff, I am at a lot of events with a lot of people I know. And I am asked this question a ridiculous amount. It is annoying, as you said! And my answer has evolved to be, "Nope!" *smile and walk away*. It's rude, I know, and I need to change it. It's honestly to the point now that my little brother, if he's with me, will answer with my official answer before I get to it. I will come up with something that kind of deflects positively, thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThat's hilarious. So, since I've written this, I've come to realize that when people ask if I've gotten any good pictures, what they're really wanting to ask is "can I see your pictures". Or, at least, that's what I do- and it works. So, bottom line, I was taking my photographic self just a little to seriously. Ultimately, it's not for me to decide if the pictures are good, but by judging the reaction of the person that I show my photos to on the back of the camera. They're usually impressed with things that I wouldn't normally be impressed with. Good luck in the camera world colloquial bunny!
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