In this day and age, most of us take lightly how powerful the internet is. We post status updates to Facebook, tweet all day long, and display our cherished photos quite literally for the world to see. It’s easy to fall into a trap and expose your entire life online without thinking twice. I’ll leave the status updates for another time, but I want to discuss the act of posting image after image on a blog or photo sharing web site. This article isn’t meant to be a guide on when to post and what to post. Rather, I want to get as many people out there to stop and think about the process of selectively (or not so selectively) posting images.
We are our biggest critics – I may have taken three photographs I completely and unconditionally love in my life, if that. It’s human nature to be harder on ourselves than other people. The problem with working on your own image is that you spend a good deal of time analyzing it and looking for mistakes you may have to correct. You were also there when the shutter was pressed so it’s easy to say, “If I just waited 5 more minutes the light would have been that much better!” The thing is this: no one else knows that. Viewers look at your image for what it is, not what it could or should have been. It’s much easier for outsiders to appreciate a photograph by you than it is for you to do the same. What I’m trying to have you think about is that you may have taken a lot more worthy photographs than you think. Don’t be afraid to post a shot you may be unsure of. Constructive feedback and criticism is the best way to grow in this field and you just never know when someone out there could love the image so much they want it on their wall.
We tend to overrate ourselves – Wait, I just said we are our biggest critics and now I’m saying we think we are better than we are? The human psyche is a powerful thing. Often times it’s misguided but in completely different directions. Just as I want you to think more about posting questionable shots, I want you to also think about why you love a shot so much. Is it that good or can it be better? People tend to be emotionally tied to an image not only because it may be beautiful, but because of your mood at the time it was taken. Were you having the best time ever on your vacation that every image conjures up that emotion? If so, you may think you have a whole slew of can’t miss shots. Not that this is a bad thing, especially for a family album, but if you are posting these as landscape masterpieces take a step back and think about it. Can I improve it by cropping? Is the exposure slightly off? Don’t rush it just because you loved the scene.
Think, think, think. That’s all I want you to do before you post a shot on the internet. The more you think about your own work, the more you will grow as a photographer
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Jesse Pafundi is a photographer hailing from Long Island, New York. A lover of all things photography, he enjoys traveling and capturing the world around him as much as possible. In addition to shooting landscapes, he has a major affection for New York City architecture and urban exploration. Whether it’s HDR, lens filters, or iPhoneography, he enjoys dabbling in and learning as many techniques as he can consume. Jesse believes strongly in the use of social media and blogging as a tool to further his knowledge and share his passion with anyone who wants to listen.
Company: Pafundi Images
Website: http://dudewithcamera.com
Twitter: @dude_withcamera
Facebook: http://facebook.com/pafundiimages
Photo Credit: © 2011 Jesse Pafundi
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Until recently, I posted nearly everything to my Flickr profile. I’ve been shooting with a DSLR for over 2 years and I’m having the time of my life!
I requested feedback on my photography and a comment message I got was that less is more, which has forced me to slow down and actually choose 1 or 2 photos instead of 10 – 15.
I agree with you; this will make me a better photographer.