[Laminar]

I know someone who wants to start selling their photography. I'm personally of the opinion that she thinks taking a picture (with her cheap point-and-shoot) close up or at an odd angle and then making it black and white is artsy. Any real opinions?










(OMG lens flare!)

[Mithras]

Well, let her give it a try and see how it goes. You certainly don't need to tell her, "i think your photos suck and you shouldn't try that"

[Laminar]

I've kept my opinions to myself so far, I just wanted to see what people with actual training in the field think.

[Rumor]

I actually like the second and third quite a bit. The first isn't too bad, nor the fourth. The fifth is meh.

[phantomdragonz]

those look like prime suspects for stock photography.. you can sell your stuff on those sites...

I dont know squat about the process though, just that it's possible...


Zach

[design219]

I guess I've mellowed over the years. Ten years ago I would have said she needs to learn her craft, develop film in a dark room, etc., etc.

If she wants to try it, fine, but don't encourage her to ignore the craft.

The pictures honestly look very cliche. Encourage her to look at some of the master of photography work.

[andi*pandi]

they need tweaking. piano keys is too dark. but if she wants to try it, hey.

[CMYKid]

of course they're just onscreen by as a whole they're pretty flat, definitely dont pop at all. While using a point and shoot is a pretty good way to level a playing field to let people practice their composition its still pretty important to learn the basics of the craft, including the way images are actually created. There's not much substitute for the understanding you develop by developing and printing your own.

I dont mind the second one at all. I have a "photographer" friend who's certainly sold FAR worse pieces.

[::maroma::]

Never discourage an artistic endeavor, no matter what your opinions are. Always let the person explore it on their own. Offer up some sage advice if you can, but never offer the kind of advice that would discourage an exploration of an art form. Of course, you don't want to fill the person with a false sense of accomplishment (as parents often do).

[invisibleX]

There's something very profound about the three tennis balls.

Not sure exactly what...

[pixelbaker]

I know someone exactly the same. She has asked me if I like her stuff and quite frankly, I don't. I point out ones that I like more than others and offer polite constructive criticism without being harsh at all, but she just doesn't seem to understand that an interesting scene doesn't necessarily make a good photo. By this I mean, she tends to take a snap dead on with no thought to composition. An example:

As with your friend, she thinks b/w or a white border makes it artsy. More at preciseambivalence's deviantART Gallery

She does have some quality ones, but mostly... meh.

[vmarks]

Since she's thinking black and white, I might introduce her to Light Crafts which will help her get the most out of her black and white photos.

[Laminar]

Well she said she doesn't have any money for stuff like that. Her dad bought her a Toshiba laptop to replace the Mac she had so she also no longer even has iPhoto. Sucks for her.

[imitchellg5]

I think that they look nice.... I can for sure see some people buying the one of the roses.

[iMOTOR]

Originally Posted by Laminar 

I know someone who wants to start selling their photography.

Selling her photography on a stock website or in the gallery scene?

It will be hard for anyone to make a living off stock photography alone because the business has changed a lot, sites selling hi-res royalty-free images for a buck is an example.

If she wants to sell prints in a gallery, then she needs to plan on being a big name in photography. Buyers treat prints as a investment, like trading on wall street, buyers wont be interested unless they see you going places.

My best advice from a purely aesthetic point of view; she needs to concentrate on telling a story in her images. Art is a matter communicating something, and not just simply snapping random shots like the next guy. If she can express herself though still images without using cliches, she will be successful.

[Railroader]

Originally Posted by Laminar 

I know someone who wants to start selling their photography. I'm personally of the opinion that she thinks taking a picture (with her cheap point-and-shoot) close up or at an odd angle and then making it black and white is artsy. Any real opinions?

It is pretty easy to get your work on stock photo sites. istockphoto.com comes to mind.

You would be amazed at what people can create with cheap point and shoot cameras. Some of my best pictures were with a 2 megapixel camera.

The door picture is the only one I think is above average. And even that one has a bad aspect ratio. It is too narrow, and the door frame being cut off and not parallel with the frame is distracting. The piano keys have too much contrast and the perspective is boring. The flowers could be nice if a more interesting background were included.

Turning a picture black and white is a nice way of making a boring picture, or one with poor color balance, a little more interesting.

If I were to speak to here directly I would certainly offer constructive criticism.

[OldManMac]

Originally Posted by CMYKid 

of course they're just onscreen by as a whole they're pretty flat, definitely dont pop at all. While using a point and shoot is a pretty good way to level a playing field to let people practice their composition its still pretty important to learn the basics of the craft, including the way images are actually created. There's not much substitute for the understanding you develop by developing and printing your own.

I dont mind the second one at all. I have a "photographer" friend who's certainly sold FAR worse pieces.

Correct. There are actual rules and guidelines that pros use to compose a picture, rather than just pointing a camera and shooting without considering if the elements fit together. Although a point and shoot camera is a good starting tool, it will also only give point and shoot pictures. The proper tools, combined with a real desire to learn, is what makes a pro. One of the disadvantages of digital cameras is that everybody has one, and everybody thinks that, because the picture they took of Junior on the swing set is labeled as a cute picture by Aunt Vivian, they're a good photgrapher, and that just isn't so. There's no need to discourage her, of course, but she needs to be realistic in that she is going to starve while she's learning about the art of photography. It's no different than any other profession; if you don't put effort into it, you won't get anything out of it.

[Railroader]

Originally Posted by imitchellg5 

I think that they look nice.... I can for sure see some people buying the one of the roses.

Huh?

[Laminar]

She's applying to Vet School for a real job, the pictures are just for fun. Thanks for the comments guys.

[Railroader]

Originally Posted by Laminar 

Here's a quick tune-up I did in iPhoto with this picture. You may not like it, but I think it is a little more expressive. "Grittier" and sligthly better composed.



And here is a picture I took of a customer's piano a few months ago.

[Mastrap]

Istockphoto.com

[ghporter]

Those are nice, "accent" pictures. Good for decorating and breaking up large spaces. They ARE "art," but not with a capital 'A'. They're just nice pictures. As long as she doesn't have huge expectations, she shouldn't be too disappointed.

[Railroader]

It is pretty easy to get your work on stock photo sites. istockphoto.com comes to mind.

Originally Posted by Mastrap 

Istockphoto.com

Great minds...

[Mastrap]

Oh, sorry. Didn't see that.

[Railroader]

Originally Posted by Mastrap 

Oh, sorry. Didn't see that.

Just teasin' ya anyway.

[- - e r i k - -]

I sell my photos on istockphoto.com, none of these would even get through the first screening.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by Railroader 

And here is a picture I took of a customer's piano a few months ago.

Get any of her organ?

[RAILhead]

I wouldn't, no, because I can take my own shots like that.

Typically, people won't buy much of this type of art, and a little research will support this if you don't agree. But, if she wants to, pat her on the back and tell her good luck.

[zro]

Originally Posted by - - e r i k - - 

I sell my photos on istockphoto.com, none of these wouldn't even get through the first screening.

Wha?? So all of them would make it through, right?

[andi*pandi]

Originally Posted by Railroader 

Here's a quick tune-up I did in iPhoto with this picture. You may not like it, but I think it is a little more expressive. "Grittier" and sligthly better composed.

that was what I had in mind, it's worlds better.

[Dakarʒ]

Originally Posted by Laminar 

I know someone who wants to start selling their photography. I'm personally of the opinion that she thinks taking a picture (with her cheap point-and-shoot) close up or at an odd angle and then making it black and white is artsy. Any real opinions?

Yes, keep that thought in check until after you get to second base.

[ajprice]

I'd say go for stock photo sites too. But maybe with a little tuning first, like what Railroader did with the piano keys, it makes it a lot more attention grabbing, and the picture looks sharper too. I studied photography up to A-Level (college), and they do look like something thats been take for a themes project to do with shapes and angles.

I'm not saying its bad, or like a college kids work, but what was said above about it being 'cliche'. A lot of stock photo pictures are similar.

[Laminar]

Originally Posted by Dakarʒ 

Yes, keep that thought in check until after you get to second base.

Been there and back.

[Dakarʒ]

Originally Posted by Laminar 

Been there and back.

[CMYKid]

Push her in the direction of a community college or community arts centers Photo 1 course if she is really interested. People say 'Oh it's just for fun' but there's no reason that you cant have 'fun' and work within the rules of good composition at the same time. A little explanation of the rule of thirds, and especially about triangles and she'll take pictures that'll at the very least be LESS uninspiring.

I'm seeing a big future for those shots on the walls of waiting rooms, or maybe First Watch.

[- - e r i k - -]

Originally Posted by zro 

Wha?? So all of them would make it through, right?

Yeah yeah. Funny. It was late at night.

None of them would make it through at all. iStockphoto is INSANELY picky (as they should be) with what goes through.

[anonymac]

Originally Posted by KarlG 

Correct. There are actual rules and guidelines that pros use to compose a picture, rather than just pointing a camera and shooting without considering if the elements fit together. Although a point and shoot camera is a good starting tool, it will also only give point and shoot pictures. The proper tools, combined with a real desire to learn, is what makes a pro. One of the disadvantages of digital cameras is that everybody has one, and everybody thinks that, because the picture they took of Junior on the swing set is labeled as a cute picture by Aunt Vivian, they're a good photgrapher, and that just isn't so. There's no need to discourage her, of course, but she needs to be realistic in that she is going to starve while she's learning about the art of photography. It's no different than any other profession; if you don't put effort into it, you won't get anything out of it.

i have to disagree. when art becomes guided by rules, it is dead. great art is about giving others a perspective they've never had before. can you imagine if van gough had simply followed the rules of the other established artists in his day?

[- - e r i k - -]

Sorry. While there is something to be said for breaking the rules, you have to know the rules before you break them. Willy nilly "experimenting" gets you sadly nowhere in 99.999% of the cases.

Van Gogh knew the rules before he broke them. He took inspiration from Impressionism and Neo-Impressionism and developed his own style. But he did not break any rules for composition in doing so. We have an innate sense to recognise what is beautiful. Art is not as subjective as you'd like to think.

[greenamp]

Looks like she's got a good eye for framing and such. Just judging by those shots alone she just needs a bit of inspiration and guidance. They show an eye for framing but are all just a wee bit on the cliche side which is pretty normal for people just getting into it. You should get her a book on Brassai or Ansel Adams or something.

[anonymac]

Originally Posted by - - e r i k - - 

Sorry. While there is something to be said for breaking the rules, you have to know the rules before you break them. Willy nilly "experimenting" gets you sadly nowhere in 99.999% of the cases.

Van Gogh knew the rules before he broke them. He took inspiration from Impressionism and Neo-Impressionism and developed his own style. But he did not break any rules for composition in doing so. We have an innate sense to recognise what is beautiful. Art is not as subjective as you'd like to think.

Um...sorry, and how many recognized works of art have you managed to create since you know it all? Oh yeah, that's right....zero.
Ha ha.

[Laminar]

Originally Posted by anonymac 

Um...sorry, and how many recognized works of art have you managed to create since you know it all? Oh yeah, that's right....zero.
Ha ha.

I'd appreciate it if you kept your trolling out of my thread.

[Kerrigan]

i totally get off to stock photos

[Mastrap]

A little bit unfair. The quality of stock photography has changed dramatically in the last five years, for the better. I remember the days of the 'high five businessman' as well, but that's distant history.

[red rocket]

Originally Posted by greenamp

Looks like she's got a good eye for framing and such.

I emphatically disagree.

The picture of the door looks like it's been cropped on the sides, the flowers pic is too stem‑heavy, the bottom tennis ball is partly outside the frame, and the staircase pic should have been horizontally flipped so it's going towards the top right corner, rather than the left.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by - - e r i k - - 

Sorry. While there is something to be said for breaking the rules, you have to know the rules before you break them. Willy nilly "experimenting" gets you sadly nowhere in 99.999% of the cases.

Van Gogh knew the rules before he broke them. He took inspiration from Impressionism and Neo-Impressionism and developed his own style. But he did not break any rules for composition in doing so. We have an innate sense to recognise what is beautiful. Art is not as subjective as you'd like to think.

BING! Even musicians will tell you to learn music and theory before forgetting it all.

[- - e r i k - -]

Originally Posted by anonymac 

Um...sorry, and how many recognized works of art have you managed to create since you know it all? Oh yeah, that's right....zero.
Ha ha.

Have a look at my Flickr profile. A lot of people do consider that art. I've had several images been in the top 500 "most interesting" images (Flickr Explore), even hitting the top 100. (This is out of millions of images posted each week).

I have no lofty ambitions of creating art, but people do appreciate my work.

[centerchannel68]

I wouldn't pay 5 cents. Black and white photos generally just piss me off. Especially if they're of empty park benches, or reflections of something. I generally hate photo majors, because I think anybody with half a brain can take decent photos. I can take pretty ****ing good photos and I've only taken 2 photo classes. It's NOT hard to do.

[Chuckit]

That's true for some people. Other people, not so much. As somebody who's gone through a lot of bad photographers, I know.

[- - e r i k - -]

Originally Posted by centerchannel68 

I generally hate photo majors, because I think anybody with half a brain can take decent photos. I can take pretty ****ing good photos and I've only taken 2 photo classes. It's NOT hard to do.

Money where your mouth is? Show us some. I can only recall seeing crappy pub-shots.

[centerchannel68]

Photo majors are choches.

















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