Why are your pictures not as good as you think they are ?

So you just uploaded on Flickr that great shot you took today. And surprise, after a few hours and a hundred views, there is only one comment (and your mother wrote it). What is then happening ? It seems that you are slowly sliding towards the “I am a misunderstood artist” category. Wait, and more seriously, here are a three reasons why your pictures are as not as good as you think:

I) You took it. It might seem obvious but the fact that you are the creator of a picture supposes an immediate bias. The picture is the result of your craft and action, and like a newborn son,  it can only be the prettiest.

The picture has many technical faults. Nevertheless I know what it took to get it and therefore I like it. (click on pictures for high res)

II) A picture depicts a split moment in time. To the opposite of the viewers, you experienced the whole scene with its noises, smells, movement. You also witnessed the context of the picture , what happened before and after, and you probably enjoyed a 360 view of where it was taken. Inconsciously, your mind will take all these elements into account and recreate the full experience of that moment in time. It is not the picture in itself that looks good, but the memory of a moment in time.

The shot below was taken at the San Juan de Ulua in Veracruz. Unless you know the detailed history of this fort (the first built by the Spaniards when they conquest Mexico), the picture will be difficult to understand and appreciate. 

III) The picture creation process emerges from a mix of your education, experiences and tastes. It is a very complex blend that ultimately represent your personal vision of the world. While you obviously abide to this vision, the majority of viewers simply might not.

The picture is how I like to shoot  and depict the world; close, wide open and with a high vantage point. 

Written by Yanidel