What Do You Think Is Your Worst Image

Oh, I don't know. I see it. It's from the top looking down, a woman whiffing her skirt. And the pink area on top of the red is her arm, right? If correct, and if others can see, interpret, and enjoy your vision, can it really be that bad?

if i had a worst, it wouldn't be here. and i wouldn't be selling it.


---Mike Savad

Mike, great point! I totally agree. I often remove images which I am not satisfied with.

My "worst" is not necessarily bad, it's just that it causes me the most humiliation. It's an image I never wanted to publish because I thought it crap, but was told to by somebody to post it. As it turns out, it's a top seller. I printed two more large (30") of it today that will be mailed monday. And every time a print sells, I get my nose rubbed in it for days.

Depends on the day of the week. As with most of us, I think, I am my own worst critic. Most of the time, I hate just about everything I do. But I keep plugging away because, once in a while, I actually see something I like. And it never ceases to amaze me when someone comments, unsolicited, on something of mine and says it's good. Almost without fail, what I think is crap, other people like; and what I think is at least passable, nobody else seems to like. People do buy what I have to offer, so I keep uploading it and going to shows to sell it. But I can't judge my own work worth a damn!

My worst is from 2009. There is no way, no how my 2009 paintings are going up here.

@Mike,

But then how do you reconcile this: see my post above. I never wanted to publish it. I did so just to stop somebody nagging at me about it. Over the years, It's just about purchased the DSLR it was taken with.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

I don't hate it - he just doesn't get any views.
He is getting re-painted because I no longer have the original to re photograph. I can only print small copies of this one.

@Janine

And this is why I think Mike's philosophy of "don't post it" falls apart.

I posted an image I thought was bad just to appease another. And it sold well.

You post an image that gets no views and I think it's great.

The final point being that there is no way to tell what this or that person will like and if it will sell.

So if you cannot guarantee the fate of any given piece, is it not logical to post them all?

Why Thank you Dan.
& I had to laugh at your post. Don't chya just hate it when you're wrong......as you grumble your way to the bank ?

Some of my worst images, or at least they were the ones I thought the least of, are the ones that sell. I don't know that this one is really my worst image - but it's the one I like least. But they all cannot be number one. My dear mom always said she loved ALL her children the same - THAT was not true - she loved ME best. Hah! to the others.

I keep this one up - because - I like the color - but IF "I" had to choose and could only keep one up - it would never be this.

My worst images are usually deleted in camera prior to downloading to my PC, or that night, as I am tagging and reviewing and evaluating my photographs.
My worst published images are probably the ones I keep because they show a rare species of bird, but are the merely the best I have of that particular species, but are not very good. Or the analogous situation with a location photo.
I've sold some photos I thought were NOT publication-worthy, but were merely my best shot of a particular famous or iconic locations, included for that reason.

Then, of course, there is a category of images where their "badness" is intentional, and is actually part of their "goodness".

I have to agree with Mike and say I'd never upload an image I considered to be my worst, to any site.

Not because viewers or buyers might not be satisfied with it, but because I wouldn't be satisfied with it. I only offer what I love and am proud of for public view -- the others are relegated to the 'WTH was I trying to do here?!?' file. ;-)

I usually run things by a family member before posting, and sometimes the one they like the least is the one that gets the most views and comments. Go figure....the first one I sold here still has hardly any views and I don't think it has any comments. There's no telling what someone will like, so unless it's really crummy technically, I usually throw it up here.

That said, I just got a huge new high-resolution monitor at work and I've been looking at some of my scanned film shots on that monitor.....oops - when I have time, I might weed out some of those.

I think the term "worst" is a bit tough to use on an art for sale site. We have to have a basic quality control over our work before we post it. But it brings up a tricky issue.
I am really trying to learn how to decide what is technically good vs. what I really like vs.what others will like. Obviously, if there are major technical flaws with a photo, I either fix them if possible, reshoot them if possible or in the trash they go. But I do have photos that I feel pass those basic tests and have merit but are also flawed in some way. Some of my best(and favorite) shots were taken with a small point and shoot so although composition, color are good...they can only be printed small and so they are flawed. Some of those shots are also the reason I am spending more and more time on my photography! They got me here in the first place! I also have some that are in locations that I will probably never get back to...I've fixed what I could on the technical end and I feel they add to my overall portfolio by giving variety and showing a different side to my photography. If they add to my overall portfolio and pass the technical requirements, even if I am unsure, I will post it here because you really don't know what everyone else likes. I've only been on FAA for a few months and the one sale I have made was a collage I had made up of drum parts (called "keeping time" in my music gallery if you really want to see it). I had the idea, created it, was happy with the concept and the overall look, it passed my technical criteria...but was very unsure about it I am still not sure if I "Like" it because it is very different from my norm but it sold...so who really knows?

Just my 2 cents!
-Matt

family members should never be the final vote, because they will say yes to everything. you should be the final vote. it should be good in your eyes. if it's not, then it's not. it's always best to put your best work up, and never to remove old stuff, because you know that when you sent it here, it was your very best. as they say, only show your best stuff. people will look at you like a pro because they don't see your flaws. if they see your flaws, they will associate you with terrible images - maybe for the rest of your life. i have an aunt like that.


---Mike Savad

Ha, what I thought was my worst image is not on here! I think I ripped it up. Hmmmmm now maybe it was worth a fortune and I'll never know! LOL

I have images over on Redbubble that I liked well enough at one time, but I go thru my RB portfolio to see what do I want to put up on FAA and some are no brainers and others I think twice or more about including them here. This is like a fresh start. Try not to put up anything that I do not feel drawn to or by, but other people's reactions still surprise me, particularly when something gets a lot of attention that I did not expect. So if I were to pick a worst, I would have to go to redbubble to find it.