Comments especially praise, are of course wonderful, and I appreciate looks as much as likes because any sort of engagement is surely at least a small measure of success. But beyond public recognition, I know an image is successful when I review it a year or more later and still see what I saw in it when I made the photo. It continues to work for me on a personal level. This detached recognition after the passage of time is when I acknowledge a photo's success.
This is a very hard place to get to as an artist, but eventually, we all must get there. Bravo for having a healthy perspective! I wrote recently a post about rejection from submission to publications and such. At the end of the day it’s about generating from the heart and letting it be out in the world regardless of the reactions. That to me is true art! Thanks for your post.
is darkrooms a successful publication? in my opinion, it is. why? because it manages to bring together people with same interests, it contributes to building a community on substack and from the responses that i've seen on certain editions i can tell it is a success. all of this aligns very well with what i believe success is - not the likes, not the comments but bringing people together and what one can learn from the others.
I really like the sentiment. And I'd add that I also photograph to explore ideas. Trying different approaches or subjects can bring its own rewards, for me. Sometimes I'll then bring something new into my image-making process or approach going forward, which becomes "me", but not always. That's ok too.
That's a great perspective and so positive! For me, feedback is good but I don't think it determines whether I think my image is a success. I feel an image is successful when I look at the finished article and I'm happy that it conveys what I have seen and felt in the way I intended, that it carries a sense of that moment.
Comments especially praise, are of course wonderful, and I appreciate looks as much as likes because any sort of engagement is surely at least a small measure of success. But beyond public recognition, I know an image is successful when I review it a year or more later and still see what I saw in it when I made the photo. It continues to work for me on a personal level. This detached recognition after the passage of time is when I acknowledge a photo's success.
Success imho is that faint afterglow that hums in my brain when someone tells me they like my picture
This is a very hard place to get to as an artist, but eventually, we all must get there. Bravo for having a healthy perspective! I wrote recently a post about rejection from submission to publications and such. At the end of the day it’s about generating from the heart and letting it be out in the world regardless of the reactions. That to me is true art! Thanks for your post.
Generating from the heart. YES!
is darkrooms a successful publication? in my opinion, it is. why? because it manages to bring together people with same interests, it contributes to building a community on substack and from the responses that i've seen on certain editions i can tell it is a success. all of this aligns very well with what i believe success is - not the likes, not the comments but bringing people together and what one can learn from the others.
True perfectlight. Sharing and learning!
I really like the sentiment. And I'd add that I also photograph to explore ideas. Trying different approaches or subjects can bring its own rewards, for me. Sometimes I'll then bring something new into my image-making process or approach going forward, which becomes "me", but not always. That's ok too.
Thanks Donn
great answer
Thanks Wesley!
That's a great perspective and so positive! For me, feedback is good but I don't think it determines whether I think my image is a success. I feel an image is successful when I look at the finished article and I'm happy that it conveys what I have seen and felt in the way I intended, that it carries a sense of that moment.