There are many things that can both help and hinder you on that sometimes ‘questionable’ photography journey, but remember we all have our own style and individuality.

Confidence

I say ‘questionable’ from a purely selfish point of stance as it’s from ‘within’ that any doubts and questions will slowly begin to erode any confidence that you’ve already gained up until this point. More importantly, where, and who, are planting the seeds of doubt?

“Perfection rarely, if ever, exists within an artists mind; opinions are exactly that and subjectivity shouldn’t be scrutinised too deeply – it’ll drive you insane”

Answering the above may not be as straightforward as you first imagined and will definitely require a certain degree of soul searching and narrow mindedness. Sadly, for me and most of the photographic universe, social media has become a valuable ‘tool’ packing a whole host of ‘pros’, but also a breeding ground for those with an almost insatiable appetite for negativity. That doesn’t mean you should lock yourself in a dark cupboard without any negative criticism ever reaching those double lined ear muffs; it means read, listen, question everything and streamline your mindset to believe in ‘you’.

Social Media

Use any criticism offered or even thrown in your direction as a way of fuelling that ‘passion to learn’. Let’s face it, Facebook ‘likes’ can often be misleading with a blurry image shot on an old smartphone with less than half a second’s thought, gaining more traction than your perfectly captured, timed and planned masterpiece, so don’t lose any shut-eye over it. I’ll also guarantee that while 1 or 2 will do their level best at telling you what you shouldn’t be doing, there’ll be queue of honest critiques delivering solid positivity and good vibes.

How many times have you captured what ‘you’ thought to be damn good image, only to be disheartened by some keyboard warrior who happens to believe you can’t use a particular lens, camera, settings, lighting or even location? Your finger might even find its way to the delete button; trust me, we’ve all been there. The truth is, many of the ‘dos and don’ts’ are choices that you make according to your style and the image you wish to capture. Don’t be tempted to bin a technique on some faceless doubter’s say so; if it worked, you enjoyed it and even learned something, then smile and move onwards.

Equipment Snobs

While high-end cameras and equipment can deliver incredible results in the most creative and skilled hands, it can also, as has been witnessed on many occasions, be useless in the wrong hands. I have seen many a smartphone shot image be the centre of much debate on various photography groups, with opinions ranging from ‘outstanding’ to ‘hopeless’ being dished out by anyone and everyone, but why so varied?

The Shooter Not The Shot

The answer is almost as nuanced as the people themselves. Some will never accept that a good or great shot can ever be captured on something less than most expensive cameras on the market, which, of course, is a form of snobbery but also a demonstration of naiveness or even stupidity. The bottom line is always the same; if the image or piece captures an interesting and meaningful thing in an aesthetically pleasing way then, ‘in my opinion’, it’s a banger. Whether it was taken on a shady £100 marketplace clicker or a £7k Leica M11, is irrelevant.

It’s worth remembering that perfection rarely, if ever, exists within an artists mind; opinions are exactly that and subjectivity shouldn’t be scrutinised too deeply – it’ll drive you insane, if it even exists.

Be comfortable with your ability and enjoy the journey while striving towards what ‘you’ believe is the best ‘you’…

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