How hard are you on yourself?

I was looking through older pics yesterday, and I was really cringing at the ones I first took and posted when I first got my Oly
Now, I know I have a long way to go yet,but I was shocked at the fact I thought a lot of them were really good at the time

I try to be objective when looking at pics I have shot, and try to see the faults etc, and try my hardest.

But I can honestly say I have only got about a handful I am really proud of, that I am like.... Wow! I did that! ( in a years time, I will probably be cringing at them )

Is anybody else like this?

Yep i'm like it all the time... i used to be able to just take snap shots but i am now critical of them... the ones i took of Lu in the snow the other day were just snaps lol but i still played with a couple before posting LOL

I hate looking back at my first shots (well thats a bit of a lie as all my early shots are of Lupo so i love looking at them)... but you get what i mean

Yes, there are times when you find something that you really liked at the time and now you can't see why. On the other hand I find images from years ago that I overlooked then but now really like.

To some extent I think it is the improvement in my editing skills and I now look at the images possibilities than the actual image as it is.

Also think just as your abilities and skill improve with time, and help, you also develop an eye for what pleases you when you are actually taking the shot and the older you get the more you shoot for yourself and the less you care what others think.

Glad I am not the only one.

It is strange though, as pics I was delighted with then, all I can now see, is the faultsespecially pics of the dogs, I thought were great in the summer, now, I am wincing at blown highlights, especially on pics of Meg, where she almost glows
Christmas morning I wanted to take pics of the kids opening presents etc, but I had to stop myself binning a lot as all I could see was composition is wrong, not sharp etc. and it is silly in that respect as they were just family snaps, for me and the family. the funny thing is, all the family were saying what nice pictures they were

I'm exactly the same.

To me snaps 'then' are still snaps 'now' and I often love tyhem because of the subject or the moment rather than for it's technical merrit.

For my 'proper' photographs there a loads which I used to think were good but I'll now view with a more critical eye. That said, I often stumble accross old 'discarded' pictures that I now think have some potential.

Whilst it helps you improve I guess the downside of becoming more self critical is you don't love all your shots LOL

I say that too, I have snaps and "proper" photos

Also, have you ever taken a pic you loved, and then you suddenly see something you missed, but everybody seems to like it, but you always see that imperfection whenever you look at it. I have that with one of lighthouse pics, loved it, got it printed for my OH and framed for Christmas, as he really loved, it. But... everytime I walk past it in the hall, I can see something that annoys the hell out of me!

Oh, yes and it drives you nuts

Yep, wish I could retake it I am not saying what it is either, and no one else has noticed it

BUT I KNOW IT'S THERE

Do you mean the wonky one

No. I straightened it before I got it printed it was only slightly wonky anyway well the horizon was

Don't go and find it either!!!