Saturday 22 October 2016

Critique

A short time ago I had the opportunity to spend some time with an established and successful photographer (Stephen Perry). I wanted to review my photography. To discuss how I had improved over the years. Where I could go in the future.

From my sports photography through the family portraits to the model shoots I have been doing lately.

My family and friends all say they like my pictures, and think they are very good. And I like them too.

But what would an impartial observer say? I don't get the chance to speak to more experienced photographers, so it was good to spend a couple of hours just talking about my work.

We concentrated on the pictures on my website. They are afterall my shop window.

I must admit they were a mixture of mostly older pictures. With a lot of sections. But I liked them and thought they showed what I could do.

At times it was a little difficult to hear. Picking out small imperfections or mistakes I had missed. Or suggesting that they just weren't my best work.

At the end of the review I had a lot to think about.

A change to the website structure was the first action point. I needed to simplify it.

Then I needed to look at the pictures on it, and remove a lot of them. And then pick some new content that would showcase only my best work.

The session gave me a new way to look at my pictures. Not only to be very critical of composition, lighting, posing, but the tools I used.

Could I have used a different lens to achieve a better result or effect?

Was the lighting right for the style, and mood I wanted to achieve?

Could I have changed the pose a little?

Did it flatter the subject, show them in the best possible way?

How could I have produced an image that stood out?

I had to look at each scene. Pull together all the elements and tools. And produce a picture that would draw the viewer in, tell a story or display a product at it's very best.

Overall it was a good and needed experience that I hope will improve my photography.

Please checkout my website and facebook page. And leave a comment on this post. I would really appreciate your thoughts on this or any blog post. And my website.


For more of my work, go to my Facebook page.
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