Just Getting Started: Feedback?

Welcome to FAA your photography looks pretty awesome to me, but I'm not a photographer.

Thanks, Susan! Non-photographer feedback is just as valuable as photographer feedback in my book!

Alex, I think you've done a great job so far. I love your Iceland shots! If you haven't already, join some groups, follow others, comment, tweet, etc. There is also now a group on pinterest created for FAA artists. If you'd like to join it, you need to follow it first. Good luck!

https://www.pinterest.com/hauserfoto/fine-art-america-art-prints-and-canvas-prints-for-/

Looking great!!! Keep uploading, looking forward to seeing more!!

Welcome Alex and WOW. I don't go to places like you photograph and I don't take pictures like you do, since I am a total amateur in photos and only take pictures as references for my paintings, so when I Look at your photos, my jaw just dropped. Amazing, you take me right there to these places.

Astonishing vistas, Alex! Be sure to include the word "Iceland" in your keywords - that's something unique that might help you stand out here.

Wow, thank you so much Sharon, Clare, Ginette, and JL Meadows! I'll have to have my wife give me a hand with the Pinterest stuff since that's all new to me. :) I'll be sure to go back through my Iceland shots and do a better job tagging them. I put a lot more work into my Glacier images. The Iceland shots definitely deserve the same treatment!

many of your images seem to lack contrast and punch. they all look kind of bluish and rather flat. the background should have more bokeh, it's too sharp, it's hard to keep them apart.


this lacks punch and seems crooked to me, the trees on the corner makes it look like you were hiding. it adds too much shadow. i'd use more depth of field and a polarizer. its not that sharp up close. the focus is on the mid trees and not the setting.


this is pretty but you have white balance issues, the white is blue. if you make it white the sky will look more orange, or it should anyway.


i'd punch the contrast in this (a UV filter may help too), and also make a black and white of this, it should work well - but with a high bold contrast. however a lot of these shots just aren't that sharp up close. be sure to shoot in raw and sharpen it there. depending on camera, there may be a noise removing part that is blurring these.

try to add some more keywords.

you've mentioned theology too many times in your bio. its also very wordy, just outline what you do and what we will see. that will help google out as well.

---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

Hi Alex, first let me say welcome, you are in the right place, as this has a fantastic online community. Join in the conversations, feel free to ask questions, and let people get to know you. You will learn so much here.

I have to say, as a man of faith myself, I don't know what is more impressive: Being a candidate for a doctorate program in theology while being a fine art student... or your majestic photos! Regardless, your beliefs are loud and clear in your captures. The art and sacredness of creativity. I won't bother everyone else with all of the my thoughts about that topic, so I will message you. But all that to say, your work speaks my man!

Welcome!!!

I love the nature and panoramic images (though I am a fractal artist).
It will be excellent as a triptych in a living room (you might consider that).

Best of luck to you.

Solomon Barroa
Published Author and Digital Artist

Ah! Mike, I was hoping you'd chime in. I've seen your incisive input in other threads. Great to-the-point feedback as always. I agree with pretty much all of it. Much appreciated.

Gregory, thanks much for the kind words. I'll look forward to hearing from you!

Solomon, Nice thinking on the triptych idea! Thanks!

Alex, you have some beautiful scenes! I think one of the best things you and I have going for us is the mountain locations we shoot. Hiking or climbing to unique locations can set you apart from other photographers. I'd also suggest shooting some of these areas around sunrise/sunset for better lighting.

Hello Alex,

I am Certain that you are doing great!

I am a long-time pro. Most of my work was done in 70s/80s/90s on film. Was hired by U.S. Corporations and the NFL for 22 years. Recently I have regained my passion.

As I became immersed in photography I realized that the process and experience was far beyond the mechanical and "Art" of pictures. For me, all of it is derived from a deep connection with people/objects, etc. in a "spiritual" context. i.e. my relationship with what is in front of the lens encompasses all of Who I Am. (footnote: I am not a "practicing" religious man in the formal sense. Yet I have a deep faith in my connection to something much bigger and, I am sure, this is reflective in my photographic experience). With all of this, I sense that same quality in your pictures and your convictions. It can only grow from there.

As far as business and selling, I, too, am learning the 21st Century and the mechanics and economics. My experience, to date, with FAA is one of connection with many artists and photographers...a "fraternity" to the world in which we live. I have also done some research with many who participate in FAA. For the most part, their sales are very limited. This should not discourage you. Sales of your art are important to your well-being. You will find how to navigate this in your travels over time. There are no secrets.

On my FAA page, you will find a "blog" which you can cut and paste and view. You will see that most of what I talk about is Experience, including a very very human spiritual connection in Africa in 1988 which changed my life with pictures. For now, "Art Is The Vehicle To The Cosmos" was a profound phrase which was given to me about 10 years ago. I hope this helps.

My best to you,
Ross Lewis

Aaron, you're a great role model for me! I just took a look at your work and was really impressed with what I saw. I think you're right about how our tendency to end up in high-elevation wonderlands will help to differentiate our work. I've witnessed a few of my friends follow their passions and become financially successful in-spite of the fact that their passions were not obviously lucrative endeavors. Perhaps I'll yet be able to tell my mom that all my climbing of dangerous things was worth it! :)

Dear Ross,
Thank you so much for that. I tend to find that the most “spiritual” people I know have a complex relationship with formal religious structures. The same goes for the most interesting theologians. In any case, I really appreciate your thoughts here. I’ve also been struck by the fraternal aspect of FAA. I was not expecting that at all! I’ll be sure to check out your blog, but for now, I’m sympathetic to the quote you shared. The most moving art is not technically manipulated into existence… it is waited for, longed for, and received, often in great pain and without expectation, as pure gift.

Gratefully,
Alex

Welcome to the site, Alex! Your photography is amazing! Keep it up and you'll go far.

Welcome aboard Alex. Listen to what these guys have to say and you will do just fine. Enjoy the ride!

This one is my favorite. Welcome!

You have some really cool stuff. I especially like "Sperry Glacier Basin"

My comments, in general, are going to focus on the fact that if you want to be successful at selling photography online, and I define success by money that will pay for at least a portion of a living not just an occasional sale, you are going to not only have compelling art, but also learn to identify markets, and learn how to get your art in front of buyers who have money consistently.

When I look at your portfolio and keywords, I see some cool shots, but I don't see who you are going after to get sales. Is it residents of the area? Mountain climbers? Hikers? Tourists? People who just want pretty shots of mountains for their walls?

Figure out who you art appeals to, figure out what they search for when they look for something for their walls, figure out how to connect with them in person, and online! And above all don't rely on the site to make sales for you, especially at first. That is your job, and once you get the ball rolling, FAA can be a pretty great place.

Welcome, and good luck!

Thanks Julia, Justin, and Jacqueline!

Thomas,
I was having exactly this conversation with my wife this evening. It seems to me that those who "succeed" here are the one's who are capable of doing a quality job of marketing. My wife and I both have worked in the advertising industry, so hopefully we'll be able to bring some of that knowledge to bear on our situation here.

You put some great questions out there for me to consider. I have a few ideas as to how I might answer them, but I think I'll need to experiment with a few things to be sure.

Might you have an example of a body of work that evidences a clear idea of its market and means of connecting with them? I'll have a look at your work since I'd imagine you build this into your own way of operating.

Thanks for the solid advice!

Alex

the idea is this. right now your work is mostly landscape, which doesn't really pop against pros. the pros will take an area, use flowers as a foreground interest, take it on a day with interesting clouds, a sunset, or the like. or they will sit in an unusual area, where others wouldn't bother going to shoot something. others will take a directions and shoot a trail up into the mountains, so they can market it to people that hike, who have adventures, or even have a cabin out there and that's their view.

the idea is the images should for someone, landscape is a tough subject because of that. you create cute kittens in a basket, kittens and yarn, kittens with more kittens - for cat lovers. it's a particular direction. pictures of old gas stations for people that work there, collect gas pumps, have a man cave, own a garage, like old cars, and so on. that's how you market things out. if you shoot blindly - at things that are pretty, you may never make a sale. and that's the biggest mistake people make here. they see pretty colors on vacation and they say - ooooh i'll sell that in my gallery and call it art. no one will tell the difference.... and it just sits there because the image looks like a vacation snap shot. if you have focus in mind, then you could sell things... like people waiting for the bus, eating, walking - all street photography. a landmark in a city, you sell that to the people that live there. the list goes on. you have to be creative on how you can sell things.

---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

Hi Alex,

I just wanted to say that I think your style is lovely…natural and soft…I don't mean soft in focus but soft in feeling. It gives it a uniqueness, and I would resist the tendency to punch up the color. So much landscape photography is in-your face and overly saturated. Just my 2 cents.

I'm doing pretty well here so far and all I do is market through Facebook,Twitter and a link back here from my website. I have a background in stock so my portfolio is fairly diverse.

Welcome…and good luck to you :)

Alex,

Welcome! Great images and I would second some of the comments from Mike. But I see what looks like a bit of over-sharpening on many images and here, Akaiyan Lake, an issue of one side of the photo that was stitched,slightly out of focus, left side actually. If sold, would not print.

I stopped there,

Rich

My portfolio doesn't have a singular channel, but I can tell you 90% of my sales are agriculture based, I sell to farmers and ranchers mostly.

welcome to FAA, Alex.

basically you shoot what you have. and if you live in a nice area - shoot that. it's been incredible to me to think some people here live in place that i would love to vacation too -- san juan, france, europe and other places that have a lot of potential, then they go out and shoot flowers, bugs, and stuff to their new york vacation. shoot what's in your area first, because you have night and day access. of course if you live in a dull area, that might be harder. i live in suburbia, so i have a bunch of that. i have to visit a farm to see a farm. and landscape like you have up there... nothing like that for many many miles as far as i know.

---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

Mike,
Good words again. Brand focus narrows the field. When brand focus meets the right market one's chances of making a sale improve. Check. Shoot what I have. I have regular trips to Glacier National Park... but so do many others. What I have that they probably do not, is a penchant for ending up ON the mountains that are typically looked AT (and with a giant DSLR clipped to my pack!). This may serve me well over time. My location here in Central Minnesota does not obviously scream "photographic moment," but I'm out "in it" more than anyone else I know. It would be worth my time to be more intentional on that point. Again, thanks.

Diane,
I really appreciate the kind words. I'm still torn on this matter of whether or not to "punch up" my shots further or whether to let them be.

Rich,
Good catch on Akaiyan Lake. I'm going to make a note of it in the description and drop the price. I can't bring myself to take it down... it's a special place for many of us Glacier National Park hikers. :)

Richard,
Thanks for the welcome!

Alex,

If the image is soft or slightly out of focus, the printer won't allow a print to be made. So reducing the price won't help. If you like the image, then use it someplace on your site as a header or something. And don't sharpen images,other in Camera RAW before upload...........

Rich

do keep in mind that people camp out over night in these places, with spots picked out already, bringing their own props to tell a story, using the right gear, your competition is very hard for landscape.

when i think of that area your in, i think flat lands and being able to see the night sky, and or the entire thunderstorm. best thing for you to do is to type in the areas you think you have a unique niche in - and see just how many others have it, and how good they look.

an image that doesn't have contrast is an image anyone can make. if your on a special mountain - show us why its special. if it lacks a positive feel it will just sit here ignored. punch allows people to see it first and not just skip over it. phones don't capture punch usually and that's the level of the contrast here.

always disconnect your feelings of a location with the image you took. we don't have that connection. dropping a price won't really help out a shot. if the image doesn't look good, it shouldn't be posted at all. and if its very special, go back there on a better day and shoot from a better spot and show us why its so special. the image should translate the feeling you have for that spot.


---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

Thanks Rich,
I'm pleased to hear that the printers have such stringent quality control. I'll try to figure out what I want to do with that image in light of that.

Mike,
On keeping it local: Great thoughts again. It's been on my mind since you first mentioned it. I'll definitely do a bit of local recon. On contrast: I'm going to keep playing with it. I just want to be sure I avoid the mistake so many make when the first encounter photo editing... and over saturate the images. But I see what you mean. I've noticed plenty of vibrant work on the site that looks very professional. Aaron Spong's work is a great example.

don't use saturation to adjust an image. use selective color, color balance, etc. saturate will just make the color sweeter, when in reality you want to boost contrast. though often contrast has more to do with the location of the sun then anything else.


---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com