The Numbers Game

The "Numbers Game" is a losing game. I spend way too much time looking for a virtual pat on the head, and not as much time as I need to improve my photos. I want to share my photos, but why? Is it some competitive streak in me to be better without really working harder?

I put a photo up, hoping for numbers--some kind of positive feedback. Then, disappointed with my results, I post another photo that requires the same effort, hoping for different results. When the results are the same, I try a different social network--or perhaps more social networks.

If I spent more time making my photos better and less time posting them and checking the stats, I would progress more quickly. I know that.

I think that I don't feel that my photos have any worth unless they're recognized. If I felt more secure about my photography, I would probably just quietly go about with improving, and let the chips fall where they may.

Here is a video by Matthew Coughlin that sums it up quite nicely:

Learning Architectural Photography

I have a confession to make. I'm a serial blog creator. That may not seem like much of a confession, but if you only knew what that represented in "great ideas" and abortive efforts--the loneliness of the inconsistent blogger. I've started blogs on writing, on library science, on research, on local sites, and on a variety of photography topics.

Well, here's another one.

*****

I took up photography in August of 2010. It's easy to pin that date down, because it was the occasion of a big family trip out to Colorado. I'd been trying for about 30 years to do something creative. I tried my hand at art, landscape design, music, and writing, but I found that I either stunk at these pursuits, or I lacked the passion to maintain them. Writing is one I kept coming back to, only problem was I didn't like to write.

Anyhow, in August of 2010, I picked up a camera on our family vacation, and I couldn't put it down. I found myself getting out of bed early to go and shoot, and that's highly unusual for me. I researched and read everything I could get my hands on. I started a pro account with Flickr. I began to add lenses and light modifiers to my collection. I shot everything that did or didn't move.

So here I am now, trying to learn architectural photography. I work in downtown Cincinnati and I have plenty of opportunities to work on this. I keep running into problems though--problems with access to buildings, converging vertical lines, ignorance of architectural history and trends, the elements, crowds, security, gear limitations, etc. I research and ask questions, but the progress is slow.

That's why I'm starting this blog. I want a place where I can direct and share my education as it happens. If I have to struggle to learn some of this, I hope it helps some of you. I look forward to sharing this journey, and seeing some really cool photography.

Good luck,

Rob