To ask what you think of these photos?

[WannabePhotographer]

My username says it all, I love photography and would love to be one one day. Please give them a second to
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Honestly? Nothing special.

You need a new attitude!

Photography is a skill. It's something you can - and need to - learn how to do well. You can't just pick up a camera and expect to create something that will actually make people take notice without putting the effort in to learn what makes a good photograph and how to create one.

It's also a pretty brutal business to get into. For a good few years I had a little photography business as a side project - just selling online, exibiting from time to time and selling at art fairs. I made a bit of money out of it but realised that to go anywhere with it required way more time, way more marketing know-how and way more money than I was prepared to throw at it. It also sucked the joy out of it all. My advice would be to not give up so ridiculously easy but to just enjoy it as a hobby for it's own sake.

I agree. Even experts can disagree on which is best out of a selection of photos. If they didn't, judging of competitions would be easy.

Op I'm a photographer studied Fine Art Photography to MFA level and I'm sorry but these photographs are not good and show no eye or flair as of yet. However that doesn't mean to stop but you need to take a lot more photographs. Take an evening class if you can. Borrow a DSLR or even better a film SLR and use that. Look at the work of other photographers online, in galleries and in books.

Photography is a very broad church and while not many can make it a career it's a hobby open to all.

I really admire your honesty. Do it if you enjoy it and get fun out of it, but the core talent isn’t there and that’s ok. You’ll be fabulous at something else.

But you can’t be a master at the start of any journey. Most successful people are not naturals, they practice. I enjoy photography and I get lots of positive comments on my pictures. I don’t feel I have a natural eye for it but I enjoy it. What do you like about your pictures? That’s all that matters. You shouldn't let anyone discourage you. Start with a beginners mind and remember, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

If you went on a course or two you'd learn some technical skills, but also how to observe and see things differently. A teacher would set you practical/experimental/exploratory exercises which are fun and would really get you thinking differently.

Maybe check out some photography exhibitions in galleries and see what's out there, what appeals to you and how you could use some of those ideas. Some galleries also have one day/half-day workshops you could join.

Don't forget that the best camera is the one you enjoy using and can carry with you!

It may not be a future career option, but it's a really enjoyable hobby, so don't give up - if everyone gave up that easily no one would achieve anything!

I'd also recommend watching Grayson Perry's Art Club, which celebrates art for the enjoyment and benefit everyone can get from it. It's art rather than photography, but it may challenge your perception of the concept of 'talent'.

No it doesn't, you are learning all the time and becoming more experienced. They say it takes 10,000 hours of practice to become an expert at anything, so bear that in mind. They are nice photos, I particularly like the one with the bench and flowers in the bottom corner.

Anyone with a keen interest in something can become extremely good with the right training, constant practice, and finding information.

The pics you’ve posted are tbh pretty average shots, the sort of thing I’d expect to get just whipping out my phone somewhere and taking a snap. Sorry to be brutally honest.

I like to have a go at photography myself, only with my phone albeit, but when I do decide I want a good pic of something I’m taking probably dozens of shots from all sorts of angles and zooms in an attempt to strike gold, which I often don’t.

Its an art form as pp have said and takes many years of knowledge, practice and patience before you understand what makes a great shot, I have a few friends really really into it and the levels they go to are quite deep. This all needs learning.

You won’t get there overnight. Stick at it and learn from others however you can.

Thanks

I’m bang average at everything, so that’s not true

I actually think the opposite. I think we’ve been conned into thinking things that bring us joy are only worth pursuing if we can make money from them or if we’re so brilliant others will notice. This is a load of bollocks. I personally don’t think your pictures are crap; I like the vintage feel to them but who cares if they are anyway, if you enjoy it then you should spend time doing it.

Also I the fact that there may be some room for improvement is a good thing. Learning something new is brilliant for our brain and something we don’t do enough of once we leave school. I’m acquaintances with a professional photographer - she’s won awards so I’m assuming she’s good. She still works with a mentor who critiques her photographs and offers constructive criticism. I think searching for ways to improve your skills is part of the fun of any hobby.

I’m crap at gardening but I love it. On my allotment patch I’ve never been made to feel embarrassed by anybody about how crap I am. People give me tips if I mention an issue I’m having and they share their failures if I’m having a whinge but actually everybody is there because they enjoy it and they’re too busy worrying about their own plot to really care about mine and I imagine a photography club would be the same just a group of people who love photography and are genuinely more focused on improving their own skills to think anything bad about you.

Anyway life can be pretty boring, so when you’re not at work you should definitely do things you love.

yours sincerely a shit runner, crap gardener and horrendous singer/dancer!

Good photography is a mix of having a natural good eye, perfecting the skills and techniques (composition, camera settings, editing etc) by practising, hard work/dedication to improvement/development (revisiting locations, going out in all weather, having patience), and little a bit of luck.
Your photos aren't bad, they're just not that memorable either. Nobody is an expert straight away though.

Most people are.
Thats why people take courses, learn and improve.
You could choose to do that. Like everyone else does .

The photos are a lot better than your attitude.

I really like them. Love the vintage feel.

Nobody said they were ‘categorically awful’, OP; you’re being ridiculous.

I actually really like the composition of the first one - yes, it breaks the ‘rule of thirds’ but it does so in an interesting and intentional way. The picture of the houses is also good.

But Mumsnet is not the place to come for supportive feedback - this is the hobby equivalent of those threads where an OP asks other posters to guess how old she is, and the first ten guesses all put her at 65. The 40yo OP, whose friends are always telling her she could pass for 30, slinks away to sob quietly in the corner.

It looks like a nice collection, the yellow from the bus stop mirrors the yellow in the house.

There are lots of 'easy' things you could learn in a photography club, like making sure the horizon is straight (unless of course you have an artistic reason not to).

There are a lot of technical rules with photography and cameras so it would be unreasonable to expect to take amazing photos without any classes/work.

You’re being a tad daft, OP. Why so defeatist?

Enjoy your hobby. No one is good at photography when they start.

Op, no one picks up a camera and is a master, you need to learn and it takes a lot of time, I’m struggling to beleive you took a few snaps, and then as you didn’t get feedback saying they were brilliant threw your toys out the pram and decided to not do it. Honestly that’s just odd, if you want to be a photographer, look for courses, spend time reading uo on it, learning techniques, go to classes, join clubs, that’s how you become good.

I studied photography at a level, I’ve kept it up as a hobby over the last few years and just invested into a camera and been told I’m shit. Not the nicest!

I like the vintage feel and can see what you were aiming for, with a bit of practice you’ll get there. Even top athletes need coaching to get to the top of their game, no matter how talented they are! Everyone has to work hard. If you’re unsure about showing your work to others and aren’t ready for an inperson class you can pick up a book, find tutorials on YouTube etc. But you really shouldn’t, there are lots of amateur clubs about and usually have different levels for beginners/advanced etc. As you progress you’ll move on to SLR cameras which are basically computers in their own right so you’ll need to be taught how to master this as well as things like photoshop to get the most out of your pictures. Keep going!

The photos have potential - especially the one with the house. Take some photography courses to learn about different camera apertures, composition, lighting etc. It’s a wonderful hobby to pursue, and the more you learn about the subject, the more you will improve. You can decide later if you still want to pursue it as a career. Like everything, it requires knowledge and lots of practice.

I don’t think anyone was harsh? Op asked for feedback?