Navigating the criticism of Photographic Art

Navigating the criticism of Photographic Art

umbrella

 

So just how do you understand and deal with comments made about your photography, either to your face or on social media accounts you post on?

Here are a few of the comments I have had.

Why are you adding things to your photograph?
Have you changed the colour of that tree?
What is that object you’ve put into that image?
Have you touched that up?
Why have you done that to a perfectly good photograph?
That’s not real?
Have you added that house in?
Was that bird really there?

We can’t take away from the fact that most people believe that a photo should represent the facts exactly as they were seen by the naked eye. That’s after all what cameras were originally designed for. To record an event exactly, for a visual memory of what has gone before.

Along came editing.

Oh the joy of having some control over what the camera has captured. When I discovered editing it was so exhilarating I tried all sorts of colours and techniques

One particular day I was showing my images to some friends. One man looked at a particular photograph, (the surfing image below) and said, “Have you touched that up?” to which I replied, “Only a little.”
He said, “I don’t like that.” and handed my photograph back very quickly not looking at it a moment longer than he had too. He had a most disdainful look on his face.
I was deeply insulted, but found, as time went by, a similar reaction from a few other well meaning humans!

I found myself regularly trying to explain that I was a photographic artist and not a newspaper reporter.

Times have changed and now photography is more accepted as an art form.

However somehow their negative comments influenced my editing process. I would hear their words in my head and try to make my images what people wanted.

Let me tell you “That’s not a good habit.”

How I dealt with these comments:

1. I now edit exactly as I want and I try to understand that the  person firing the comments at me does not not know what I am doing or how I am doing it. (If it is a comment on social media, I delete it.)

2. I try to portray a feeling in my photographs. I am not offended any longer. If I have to …. I just simply say, “I’m an artist and it’s a wonderful privilege to be able to do with my images whatever I dream about.”

3. Discover who you are and what makes your heart sing and be proud of that. Hold your head up high, speak with authority on your subject and if you feel not to respond at all, simply smile and say nothing.

4. Do a little research and discover how to respond to well meaning humans.

5. The bible is full of wonderful quotes about speech and how to treat others. It also teaches us to rise to our full potential and not to allow others to destroy our journey with the abilities, gifts and talents we have.

Proverbs 15.1. A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Proverbs 15.2. The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness. 

 

 

Surfer

The above image is the photograph that I proudly showed to some friends when I first began my journey in the photography world.

Old house in the valleys
West Cape light house

The above two images are the same view but YES I have added an object in to the top image, namely the little white house. On the second image I have darkened the hills and added extra mist in the valleys.

Foggy day
Trees on snowy hill

With both tree images I have lightened and darkened far beyond the original image. In the top tree image I have used Silver Efex and left  dark brown in the lower half of the image.

Motion blur surfer

Motion blur applied to this image of a surfer. Slower shutter speed and higher aperture.

White clouds
Tree in the snow

It is obvious that the tree above is fake, but I dont mind because I liked it that way. It’s about what you enjoy and like, not all art is real!  It was an actual snowy hill but I darkened it in a programme called Silver Efex.

A thought……. I wonder how AI will change art?

Pink sand dunes
vintage yacht

The yacht above had no sails up, so I copied some red sails and edited them in using photoshop. Then added a vintage preset.

Umbrellas
Dust storm
Sunny summer days
White sail and grasses in foreground

All the images above have been altered for my enjoyment. It may seem quite obvious what the alterations are but that is how I like the photo to look. Ummm maybe not the line of umbrellas on the cliff edge. I am working on that image…

Can I reiterate, please create photographic art how you want, put aside negative thoughts and fill your mind with what it is you see with your heart. Your mind is a powerful tool and you have control of it, not someone else.

Facing fear: How to overcome when anxiety strikes

Facing fear: How to overcome when anxiety strikes

Facing the wind seagulls

And when the night descends the birds huddle down and face the winds.

 

When you face the storm you can see what’s coming, you can lean in to it and keep your balance and consequently you are better able to equip yourself and conquer life’s challenges.

It’s time to face the storm and face your fears!

Here’s my story….

When I was in my late twenties I had a full on battle with firstly insomnia followed by fear, until the two merged together and I became very similar to a stuffed, mute, zombie.
I got help from friends, I got help from family members, I got help from the bible, I got help from great non fiction books, I got help from everywhere and anywhere. Sadly nothing seemed to do me any good, I would lie awake for hours at night afraid of fear itself.
Finally after approx two years of this morbid, depressing pattern, one night, I got out of my bed as usual unable to sleep. I felt like I had a soaring temperature, my whole body seemed to be on fire with fear. As I sat simply shaking and tormented, I decided this fear had to end, so why not simply walk into the ocean and then finally a cold, deep sleep would envelop my being. A sure fire way to escape this awful anxiety.

Hmm, I had three children and a great family and home and husband. I think they all wanted and needed me??

Option one: off the list!

Option two: I decided on, after a bit of thought and planning.

I gathered together all my ongoing information, books, counselling, friends advice, tape recordings, (yes.. tape recordings that’s how long ago this was) even the bible was closed and put away.
Every fearful thought I decided must be negated and put to rest.

I went back to bed, took a huge breath

………and in my mind, I went for a walk amongst a most beautiful field of daisies. The centre of each daisy was so yellow it shone like the sun, the white petals gleamed like the Arctic snow.. The simple daisy swished and wavered in the gentle breezes of a spring day.

Ahhhh fear entered…You won’t get to sleep tonight,

NO, no, ….I’m walking among the fields of flowers, daisies, lilies, dandelions, the sun warms my skin, the clouds like white fluffy balls, float through the sky, the birds swoop and soar in the distance. I walk and breathe in the scent of the flowering field.

Ahhhh you won’t get to sleep…remember me, your old negative thought patterns…

NO, no no…. I’m now going horse, riding, I put my bridle on my horse’s nose, I took the heavy brown leather saddle and threw it over his back. I tied the girth strap and talked gently to my horse telling him I loved him and today we are going to ride over the hill and through the river bed. He snorted softly and looked my way to see if I had another apple in my hand. Of course I did, he ate it closing his big eyes in thankfulness. I got the bridle and led him to the open gate. I put my foot into the stirrup and flung myself up and over, gently prodding his sides I said, “Let’s go!” We began our journey, climbing higher, through dry sandy coloured grass and then reaching the summit where the wind blew stronger and cleared my heart and soul. 

Ahhh remember darkness your old friend, I’ve come to haunt you again!

NO, no, ….I’m off for a swim in the balmy blue ocean waters, towel in hand and straw sun hat on my head. Always the windy breezes, clearing the way, refreshing my thoughts and mind, cleaning away the daily tasks. Oh how I love the wind! I hear and see the seabirds soaring down from their heights, often landing nearby, they are flying from nowhere, heading somewhere. I lay out my towel and take off my hat, the sun indeed is beginning to bring a few beads of sweat to my face and my cheeks are red from walking down the winding beach track……ooohh to cool off will be so very delectable, I saunter into the blue, vivid, sparkling sea. Lowering my hot body into the water and washing away the day’s vibes. I begin to swim along the shoreline and am feeling so cleansed and beautiful. My feet touch the sandy bottom. My mind embraces the distant horizon, where I see a white sail, heading east. My thoughts relax, and slowly start to enjoy the moment….

What I was doing was  replacing all those negative thoughts with new thoughts.

Roms 12.2. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

And by the way it was not easy, it felt like a fight, that I must win. But win I did. I slept soundly that night for the first time in months.

Then the next night the battle began again and again the next night, I was facing the storm front on, and defeat was not an option.

A determination took over my being. In a few weeks I found I had a reasonable control of my thought patterns and it was imperative that it stay that way.

To this day I have never had trouble with those particular thought patterns again. I have faced other issues, and once again have had to be courageous and strong.

One good thought can replace one horrible thought, with Gods help all things are possible.

 

My photographs are of the beautiful ocean birds who either seem to fly high and have fun in a storm or get down low and brace themselves head on to the storm.

Facing the wind seagulls
Spoonbills in the pink sky
Terns facing the wind
Flying in the mist
Spoonbills flying
Seagulls flying past a cliff face
Birds on a stormy day
Two pelicans resting
Seagulls flying away
Osprey
Sea birds sitting
Seabird flying

Think on those things which are good and noble, and rest and trust that everything will be okay.

How I overcame a lifelong habit of rushing

How I overcame a lifelong habit of rushing

Chair on the beach

I do tend to like this idea of slow living.

 

 

For I often find I am in a rush. I have this anxious feeling of rushing through all my daily tasks, to bring them to completion asap.
This anxious, rushing, feeling, I can trace back to my childhood. You see from the age of seven, I have had to deal with migraine headaches. Very debilitating and painful.

From somewhere around my teenage years, I felt I had to rush to get everything completed in case I got sick with a migraine and had to spend hours in bed with a massive headache. This became a very deeply entrenched habit. More especially in the years I was raising children, you see everything had to be perfect and in order in case anything went wrong.
But as I got older, I have had to retrain my brain and remind myself, why the panic? Tomorrow is another day with a new beginning and a little mess is not going to hurt. If I need to rest then I must rest!
SLOW DOWN, and focus on the fact that this is only temporary, soon the events that I am drowning in at the present moment will not last.

A wonderful side note, as I grew older those terrible migraines lost alot of their severity. I no longer vomit for hours and the headache is quite mild. You see, life can change.

Just how do you slow down?

 

*Gather less stuff. We take nothing into this world and we take nothing out when we leave.
*Read the bible and pray. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
*Begin the day with peaceful, positive thoughts. Your self talk will set you in the right direction if it is life giving and positive.
*Retrain your mind to stop and enjoy.
*Be grateful and make an effort to thank God for all the good things in life.

*Find an interest or hobby that you love and enjoy. When I am out photographing, I find my mind and body are totally unaware of worries and lifes distractions. I am fully involved and absolutely loving what I am doing. The peace and fulfilment after the day is over keeps my mind thoughful and certainly has the effect of slowing me down. 

 

 

Below are some images that have brought peace to my heart and soul.

A yacht moored for the night swaying in the breezy evening air.
The pink galahs singing in the trees.
Sipping coffee in a garden.
Children singing in the background,
The  laughs of children climbing the sand dunes.
A moonlit night.
A person bathing in the salty seawater.
Children swimming till dusk.
A blue and white wave crashing on the shoreline……
A pink bedroom to relax in.
A pink sunset
A trip on a boat out to sea.
A sea lion relaxing in the cool waters.

Those are truly the things that will make us slow down a little and become enchanted with the daily simplicity’s of life.

A sunset of soft orange and a yacht
Galahs in the evening light
Waiting for the surf to come up
Wedge island
Walking over sand dunes
Two fishing boats in the moonlight
Children and mother walking
Beautiful beach at sunset
Yacht parked for the night
Children swimming in the twilight
Out at sea, blue towel
pink galahs flying
Sea lion relaxing at sea