What on Earth is that header image??
That, my dear Steemit friends, is what I use to think was a good photo back in 2012. I feel very dirty showing everyone my dark past, but at the same time I hope it provides some encouragement that wherever you are on your photography journey, you will constantly improve. I hope.
That is Jajce, Bosnia. Taken in June 2012. When I moved to London in 2011, I decided I needed to learn how to take better photos if I was going to be travelling around Europe. This was one of the many "misses" in my learning process. Let's see some more shall we??
This is going to hurt me more than it hurts you
Hey... that's not so bad...
I did say "Hits" and misses. While this shot is taken from a Canon 550D back in 2011, I can at least say I was on to something. It's not perfect and wouldn't end up on my website today but I still kind of like it. I needed something a little more pleasing after that horror show of a first image.
No! Just, no! If you think this is a creative approach to photography by leaving one colour in and making everything else black and white then stop it. The only colour where it possibly might look passable is Red and even then when it's on a London bus or phone booth. Better to be on the safe side and just don't. Taken in April 2011. Canon DIGITAL IXUS 100 IS
What's going on here? I have no idea. And if I have no idea, then whoever I show it to will have even less of an idea. It's not abstract, it's not tranquil, it's just a mess of tones and composition. I'm sure it looked better when I was in Plitvice Lakes back in 2012, but it's a nothing shot now.
I'm starting to find my wings! I've put that terrible learning period in Europe behind me and at least I can tell what's going on in the photo. Unfortunately I appear to have slipped on the clarity slider and pushed it way way WAY too far. This shot of Kathmandu in 2013 with my 550D was my journey home from London. I had grand plans to become a professional photographer as soon as I touched down back in Melbourne.
Hmmm...maybe I won't be quite ready. Thailand 2013 still had some kinks to work out. Australia was next. I might have to find a real job before my dreams can be realised.
Let's skip the rest of 2013 because there wasn't anything to show for it. Let's jump to 2014 and my honeymoon in Japan. When I first started to take photos that would end up for sale on my website. I had a Canon 5D mkiii here, but don't let the camera gear upgrade fool you. This improvement is all in study and self criticism. Understanding post processing and training my eye took a long time. 3 years of a lot of photography and improvements and I've got maybe a couple of photos I believe to be worth selling to people. That is no where near enough to make me a professional. This is just a beginning.
Another shot from 2014 and one from a local beach. I'm happy with how I can shoot something that to me isn't exotic. More progress...
2015... My style is developing into my own. My photos are being recognised and applauded on social media. I'm starting to build up a name for myself. But unless I can maintain quality and keep improving...I'm not a professional.
2016... This is the year I quit my full time job and went "pro". I had enough images I was happy with to sell. I was well known enough locally and studied enough to start running workshops to supplement print sales. I was able to dedicate my time to photography more, with the support of my wife as well. My attention to detail was much better than the year before and I even took my first cover photo (Hopetoun Falls).
2017... A big year of solid photography and podcasting and workshopping... Improving is getting harder and harder. It gets very easy to stick to what you know and do what is easy. I have to start taking risks and branching out if I'm going to grow.
2018...over 3 months into the year and I haven't been out taking photos nearly as much as I did last year. I'll be having a baby soon and teaching photography and talking about photography takes up more time than actual photography. I'm no where near the end of my photography journey.
I hope this insight into what my photos use to look like is encouragement to keep learning and not compare your work to those photographers you admire too much. Use them as I do, as aspiration and inspiration. Not a hurdle that you are falling short of.
This is just 7 years of my photography journey. I probably could start earlier as I always liked taking photos. But I started from when I decided this could be a career path.
This is quite difficult for me to post these images. I'd rather they never see the light of day. It's like seeing yourself in a photo when you weighed a lot more than you do now, and you've spent the last few years working hard at the gym to get fit and look good. These are my "Before" photos, I can't believe I use to look like that...
Intro Post
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