When you create things (like photographs) you become emotionally attached to them. Consequently, you are often not in the best position to judge whether your creations are any good.
Having said that, I’m normally pretty accurate at predicting which of my images will be favourably received.
However, I still get fooled. Sometimes, what I thought was good, you think is, well…
Here are 5 images I posted over the last few years that received minimal or no comments. They were figuratively sucked into a vacuum and left for dead.
I realize that perhaps you may have been away when I first posted them. Or, perhaps you were too pressed for time, and couldn’t leave a friendly comment.
But I am instead going to assume that you disliked these images.
How could you? 🙂
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Top 5 Images that I liked — but you didn’t.
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1. Bajan Tapestry.
This was photographed last month, so I admit I may be biased by the recency of my creation. Yet, I believe this may be one of the best images I’ve ever created.
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2. The Kick.
The proverbial decisive moment. Caught on film, no less. Whimsical, and perfectly composed with a dash of symmetry. Tell me otherwise.
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3. The Kiss.
It’s all about Love. You would have to be heartless to ignore this one. And you did.
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4. The Window, Part 2.
Reflections, connections, and longing gazes. Life as a dream. Works for me.
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5. Portrait of an enigmatic young man.
So enigmatic, it confused you. I guess.
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There are other examples, but I won’t berate you any more.
Thanks,
—Peter.
Prosophos 
“the kiss” is just perfect.
Bajan Tapestry: I would have liked to see the faces more clearly. The focus of the photograph seems to be the palm tree in the distance.
I did not think this was your best work Peter, but I am glad you are happy with it.
Bo
Bajan Tapestry : I agree – dont know if it is one of your best images but I like it very much. It leave perfection behind and produce a strong image. Not a nicely done image that anybody can do with practice and patience – this one have is own signature, but if you’re not a little open minded you can easily miss it. Yes the faces are a bit darker than usual, yes the focus isn’t where it should be as usual, but there is motion, colors, duality, curves mystery and atmosphere .. Strong image vs nice image.
I really love the idea of this post and your comments made me smile, Peter.
“The kick” is fantastic, a perfect snapshot. Nr, 3, 4 and 5 are striking too, but honestly I don’t get why you like the first pic so much… I assume there is an interesting story behind that image, isn’t there?
The Window is surely my favourite: i find it a truly interesting portrait. The Kiss is really a kiss. The Kick strongly hits.
But I would be glad to understand the reason of your love for Bajan Tapestry: looking at it, my eye goes immediately to the palm in the background and the two girls seem to be vignetted.
Anyway, thanks for sharing allvyour delicate daily moments! I do enjoy looking at them!
Ciao.
Umberto
You know what’s funny Peter! I distinctly remember commenting on the kick photo… I guess I did so in my head…I’m really looking forward to come back and read all the reactions later in the evening! Ha!😊
I thought I did as well Alex?! It has your signature all over it Peter!
I was “not around” when “The Kiss” came along but I really do like the moment. However from a gear perspective I’m guessing the Nocti was used and the bokeh is a little bit strong for my liking. Maybe that had something to do with it?? The image though overall is very nice and the expression on your son’s face just very special.
My guess around “Bajan Tapestry” is that it was created in a moment that was special to you. Experiencing the “other side” of Barbados and coinciding with that fresh perspective on photography at the time. Those two school girls making their way to or from school, being very different from how your own children live.
I personally enjoy some of my images in those situations which most others do not really like or appreciate. That’s when photography becomes very much a personal enjoyment. I didn’t connect with it personally…….but that’s not important. I respect the way you see in all of your images and I respect you. That’s what’s important.
Might just be a timing thing, most of your readers who comment might be uncomfortable commenting on everything you post. For example I left a comment on a film shot which I liked, then saw your 2 girl shot with the M9 I liked it just as much but did not comment. Possibly a like button I would have hit it for the M9 shot.
I mean a more promiinent like button
Ha, ha thanks for your thoughts everybody.
However, you are all wrong… I repeat: by all measures, “Bajan Tapestry” is one of the best images I’ve ever created. Look carefully.
Did I mention you are all wrong?
Well it was taken from a bus by the looks of it. Am I getting warmer?
I was on a ladder, and slipped the moment I tripped the shutter.
Lol….and the camera went up as you went down…..:-)!
An interesting pos Peter!
I’m sure we’ve all found this when sharing pictures; those which we personally feel are stronger for whatever reason don’t necessarily evoke those same feelings in others. I’ve been surprised many times that photos I’ve been hesitant to share, those 50/50 cases, have had some of the most positive reactions, and vice-versa! Sometimes I’ve shared that one photo on roll I film I’ve felt stood out only to have a totally silent reception! Interesting isn’t it?
I’d like to hear your own thoughts on why you feel this images is one of your strongest. I know with some of my own, it’s often about how I felt when I was in that place, the memory that is jogged when I see that image. It might be technically off in many ways, and it might not communicate anything in particular to others, but will always be special personally.
Do you think this could be the case with your Bajan Tapestry image?
The Kiss and The Kick are both wonderful images, these two are the standout photos in this set, imho!
Almost all of the images you post on your blog are sublime, at least that’s what I think they are. I have to admit though that it doesn’t happen that often that I visit your blog, so there are many I’ve missed such as the ones you reposted now. These are all pure magic too except the “tapestry” one. This one is just bad but I guess you have a reason why you posted it.
Please Eric, don’t hold back… tell me what you really think!
All kidding aside, you have to wonder why somebody like me who has some working knowledge of how to create a decent photograph chooses “Bajan Tapestry” as one of his better ones (and, no, it’s not because of any emotional attachment to that day’s events, as some of you have surmised).
Only one or two of you have asked the simple question, “Why?”. The thing is, I sort of like the fact that most people disagree with me on this… it makes the image even more special in some weird way.
I will say one thing though. When I look at this image, it is like I am pulling back the Curtain of Life and witnessing the underlying symmetry, beauty, and order of things. The rest I leave to you…
—Peter.
There is a certain young blogger that I regularly follow (I won’t name him simply because 1. I assume some of your followers will be able to guess who I mean and 2. I’m not here to advertise someone else’s blog!). Anyways, I think I agree with his philosophy that one should not concern themselves with how many “likes” or comments a photo receives. As the raw number in and of itself might not tell you much. What tells you more is the quality of any comments. Is it more helpful to you to have 20 “nice photo” comments or 2 more detailed, descriptive comments that delve into several reasons why a particular photo is considered good or not so good in the eyes of the commenter?
So in the spirit of that line of thinking, I will offer up a couple of my opinions on some of the photos above.
Bajan Tapestry – There are a couple things that about that photo that have me joining the crowd on not finding it that strong of an image. First, the little branches sticking down from the top in the middle just above the tree that is glowing in the sun seem to be coming from who knows where. Without seeing what they are connected to, they feel out of place and distracting. Second, there seems to be some weird black vertical but slanted line on the left side that I cannot tell if it’s a shadow or you were shooting out of a window or what. And Third, I would like the image more if either the ladies had been the basis for exposure where you can see them better or if maybe they were more of a silhouette.
The Kick – I like this one because you can almost feel the concentration that he had, and his arms and hair give a sense of the energy.
The Window, Part 2 – Here I like how the reflections on the glass frame her face, and the interaction of the boy looking at her while she is looking at you.
But of course the bottom line is it should matter more to you what YOU think of your images, because if they make you happy it is actually irrelevant whether anyone else feels the same. Although it’s always nice if other people agree with you 🙂
James DeArment wrote:
“…the bottom line is it should matter more to you what YOU think of your images…”
Precisely. That’s what this whole post was about.
—Peter.
By the way James, I have no issues with people linking to other blogs from this site.
I do have issues, however, with people from other blogs taking my ideas, titles, format, whole sentences, etc. and passing it off as their own.
Peter,
Since you are ok with it, then I will share. Besides following your blog regularly, I also follow Eric Kim. Although I haven’t actually tried Street Photography myself yet, I do find I enjoy reading some of the philosophical articles that Eric writes. And he wrote a piece titled ‘How Many “Favorites” or “Likes” are Enough?’ ( http://erickimphotography.com/blog/2012/11/05/how-many-favorites-or-likes-are-enough/ ) that I found interesting. I also tend to find references to other photographers books or blogs that he mentions that are worth looking into, similar to how I found your blog from one of your guest postings on Steve Huff’s site.
I hope anytime you find plagiarism of your content or close copy-cats that you post here so we are all aware of who the scoundrels are.
#4 is beautiful. I knew that from the moment you first posted it. But I usually don’t comment unless I have something to say. Though sometimes all I can actually say is “Wow”.
So, Bajan Tapestry, then. Why do you like it? I think I know why. It isn’t as romantic as, say, The Window, Part 2. And it isn’t a clean frame – lots of stuff in it. The clouds are not the most dramatic I’ve seen. But it has a je-ne-sais-quoi.
Yes, there is attractive geometry (should be obvious!). Yes, the colours are nice. There is a beautiful layering – shadow, sunlight, background. The two figures are in shadow – not sad, but mysterious. They are silent, adding to the mystery. The tree, oblivious to them, watches over them at the same time. It’s philosophical but in an intuitive way, not in an academic, intellectual way. It’s not about words.
Bill Henson says that ‘The object of my photographs is not always the subject’. Taking a photo of a cute child might be only that. But photos like this have more dimensions. They project more than just the mere subject, and they let you read more than what you see.
Bajan Tapestry is not the only photograph of yours which I can describe this way. But it’s the most obvious one, from what I’ve seen.