Photography: You Are Your Own Worst Critic

Being shocked at the results of a photo contest.

   It seems like it has been forever since I have sat down and written a blog!  Well I guess since the last blog I wrote was around Oct of 2021 it really has been forever.  Hopefully I can find the spark and the energy to create new content, and start blogging more often, after all the content here is really for you my viewers.

  The inspiration behind this blog comes from a couple of events.  One was a photography milestone I achieved almost a year ago.  I finally “officially” won a contest on Pixoto, a free online photography contest site that I have blogged in the past (See: Web Site Review – Pixoto).  I say officially, because I entered the picture below, in a sunset themed contest, but was not happy about the HDR halo’s in the image, I then had the photo color corrected and replaced it on the website, unaware that the original photo had won the contest and by deleting it, removed the award.  OOOPS.

  Last year, I finally officially won a Summer Outdoor Activity picture, with the below picture from Yongwel

  Imagine my surprise when I received notification that I have won another contest on Pixoto, that I do not even remember entering.  For some reason I submitted the photos a year ago, and the contest suddenly came up to be voted on.  Not only did it shock me, that I had won  a contest that I do not even remember entering, but which photo won, as I had submitted two similar photos.  Both taken many years ago from my apartment in Seoul, during the international fireworks festival on the Han River.

  The first one is the photo that won the contest, the second photo was also submitted, and which I actually like better.  In fact, besides the fact that I think it is neat that I clearly captured the nucleus of 3 fireworks,  I do not really think much of the picture AT ALL.

  Why?!  Why am I so harsh?  Why do I want to discard a picture, that was chosen the best out of 300+ images.

  I find the image cluttered, there is no clear identification of a foreground and a background.  Due to telephoto compression, there is no depth separating the fireworks taking place in the foreground, and the Seoul skyline behind the fireworks.   The fireworks obviously is the main focus, but the skyline is a contributor to the overall scene, and the middle firework happens to be blocking it.  It would be like a tree branch obscuring the face of the subject to a portrait.   Yes, it looks “COOL”, but if I was judging this as a photograph, I would cast it aside as a snapshot.

  Now let’s take a look at the similar image submitted in the contest, contrast the criticisms of the first picture, and why I laud this one.

  The main thing, is that the buildings of the skyline are not being blocked by the fireworks, and are being virtually framed.  The skyline is a part of photo.

  The only slightly detracting bit, is the minor buildings in the closer foreground are obviously cut off.  I would have liked to have them cropped out, but I felt b doing so it made the image feel visually awkward.

  I have always looked back in an awkward amazement how hard I can be when judging my own photos, and in turn other people’s work.  It is definitely a tool used to improve one selves over time.  Though it is awkward enough that I do have to tell friends to please never ask me for an opinion of a photo they have taken.  Though I find it equally amusing that my harsh standards may be misplaced or incorrect in this case. 

  It does go to show, that letting other’s judge your work, and photo contests can make you see things in your work that you may have missed, or misjudged.  Sometimes we do take ourselves too seriously.

  What do you think?  Feel free to comment, or head on over to the forums, and share your opinion.  www.catracing.org/hendrb/forum

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