it’s almost disgusting how much better i feel now that i’ve taken control of my living space. last night, i buckled down and whipped up a fantabulous stir-fry from the dregs of vegetables in the crisper, did the dishes, washed four loads of laundry, took out the trash, and cleaned off most every horizontal surface of unnecessary clutter.
the relief was almost palpable as i sat down at the computer for a evening chat with one of my favourite people. i even had a decent night’s sleep, praise whoever’s in charge of such things!
lately, i’ve been finding myself completely intimidated when i look at other people’s magnificent photography. miss julie, jim, andrea and all those uber-talented people who submit to photojunkie’s contests. i despair of ever having a even a smidgeon of their skill. i worry that my studying their photography will somehow contaminate mine. like webpage designing, it’s difficult not to be influenced by what you see. elements of other’s work infiltrates yours, often without notice.
i don’t want to copy these people, but i definitely want to learn from them. i want to know how julie makes images that are so creamy and rich. i want to know how jim can make the mundane so curious. i want to know how derrick manages to make even the blurriest photo strangely clear.
maybe i look at my photos too much, too closely. i’ve managed to blind myself to their charms by overexposing myself to them. i know i have a long way to go. my ratio of good to crap is still far too large, but i hope i’m getting better. i want to improve. this is something i’ve always enjoyed and have been waiting to get back into for years. i still get giddy when i look at my camera and think of the possibilities it brings.
i don’t think i’ll stop looking at everyone’s photos, but i hope i’ll stop wishing mine could be like theirs. someday i’ll find my own style, my own voice. when that happens, watch out!
I try not to look at too many professional photographers work, cause i always thought i would unconsciously copy it or steal ideas.
At the same time, copying a favorite photograph will force you to thing about, how the photograph was originally taken
my 2 cents…just express. No acquiesce or fear. A wise man once said if you keep singing and singing you’ll find your voice, but stop and listen to some others on the way there.
Hellsfire on all of that, I think your pictures are extraordinary. I’m not analyzing them for composition or lighting or perspective. I’m just sitting at my desk staring at them…letting them take me to a different place…catching the humor in the humorous ones…seeing the irony in the ironic ones…seeing the beauty in the beautiful ones.
I think your photos are magnificent, extraordinary, deep, complex, humorous, and invigorating.
your photos are wonderful, heather. and for what it’s worth, after years and years of doing art of one kind or another, the same feeling you’re having has never gone away for me. i just had to learn to keep working in spite of it.
honestly, i like your photos too ;)
perhaps you’re being too hard on yourself…too critical. there’s always room for improvement, but you’re still great!