Captivating images

misty
©Mia Salminen

I’m amazed how many great photographers there are in the world. All those captivating images make me feel a little jealous. It’s quite difficult for me to judge my own images. It feels like I’m not as good as I think I am. At least when it comes to making money off it. I thought I would have become a pro but then I realised I didn’t like taking photos that much. I still take them but not as much as before. At least not with my camera. If I took photos for a living, it would take all the fun out of it. It’s much more fun now that I don’t necessarily need to get better. There’s less pressure because I can photograph when I feel like it. A lot of people make it for a living so the competition is hard. Having photography as a hobby is much better because then you don’t need to impress anyone. It feels more relaxing to post them online too.

It’s looking more likely that I would start my own business. I’m studying about that at the moment. I thought about adding photography to my services. But it can cause problems since I don’t have driver’s license and I also don’t photograph portraits. But then again, you don’t really need those things to take photos. There’s a lot of different things to photograph. I was thinking more about taking event photos or photos of people’s workplaces. I don’t know if people want that service from me since my business would be about web design. But at least photography would make me stand out. I don’t even know why I even want to be in the web design business. It’s the same like with photography, the competition. But what else could I do? It’s rather that or a slave of well-fare.

Whatever I do, photography will always be part of me. You learn to look at the world in a different way. I have moments when I see something outside but I don’t have a camera with me. I don’t have a mobile with a good one and the same with my tablet. It’s a bummer but I don’t cry about it. Some situation you just can’t capture. You almost need to take your camera everywhere you go. All these smartphone cameras are only for online photos. I prefer a real camera anyway. I only have Instagram because of the tablet. It takes forever to post anything from it so I don’t do it very often. I can’t stand touch screens. I rather post photos from the computer. It’s easier and a little less irritating.

If any of you would like to see my photos (or maybe you already have) you can see them in the links.

GuruShots
500px
MiaPhotolio

Some of them can be the same but you get a general idea. I’ve had a comment from someone once that they could take photos like mine. Sure, go ahead. It’s so easy, some think. Besides, it’s the thought that counts. So what if anyone could have taken it. Photos don’t need to look perfect. There’s always someone who finds your photos captivating. They don’t even need to be focused. You only need to use your imagination and find the beauty in it. If people only see photos as one than they don’t get the idea of photography at all.

My worst critic is me

water drops

Have you ever thought you can’t do something no matter how hard you try? When things don’t go the way you plan it, you give up. No? Then it’s just me then. I’m my worst critic. My mother used to say I can do it but I’m haven’t been that confident. I know I can do things if I put my mind to it but I’m too critical of myself. Maybe I’m a bit of a perfectionist. You don’t see that in my daily life though. My flat is a mess. It’s more in my mind. Everything doesn’t need to be perfect. Except for paintings on the wall. A crooked picture is really disturbing.

Sometimes when I write fan fiction I feel satisfied with my work. But other people don’t give any criticism so I don’t know how to get better. I get likes and all that but I never get any real feedback. Not even any reactions. If I read my stories as another person, I would have a lot to say about the stories. People never think the same I do. I shouldn’t compare myself with other fan fiction writers but they seem to get more comments than I do. I wouldn’t even say they’re better at it. It depends on what you write about and who. I still will write and post my stories despite that. When I read my old stories, I do see I’ve got better. That’s what matters the most, that you see it yourself. Other people don’t need to tell me. Writing is probably the only thing I’m not critical of myself.

The same goes with photography. I hardly get any deep analysis online. A like or two but hardly any comments. Am I suppose to notice it myself if I got better? It makes me think if my photography is even any good or are they the same as any other. I should be satisfied with what I think about my skills and not about what other think. Once I got feedback but the person wasn’t even an expert on photography. They said they could have taken a photo like that. But it does take out the excitement out of photography when you hear a negative comment like that. I wanted to become a pro but now my thoughts have changed so I’m less critical of myself in that field. I’m torturing myself sometimes that I can’t get the photo I want. I’m the worst critic and I’m never satisfied with the outcome. If someone likes a photo, it’s only then I’m happy.

Once you get that “I can’t do it” you start to think you can’t. How would you know if you don’t try it? What I’ve learned through the years is when you fail, you try again. If that doesn’t work, try something else. Being critical of yourself helps you trying harder to get better at what you do. You’re never ready and learning new things keeps life interesting.

Tallenna

Tallenna