{"id":128214,"date":"2019-02-06T14:30:30","date_gmt":"2019-02-06T22:30:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=128214"},"modified":"2019-02-06T14:30:41","modified_gmt":"2019-02-06T22:30:41","slug":"how-to-impress-others-with-your-photos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2019\/02\/06\/how-to-impress-others-with-your-photos\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Impress Others with Your Photos"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

To impress someone else, means to literally put an indentation on someone else. To make an impact on someone else \u00e2\u20ac\u201d to affect them emotionally, to make your viewer think, or to also puzzle\/confuse your viewer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Impressing others vs impressing yourself <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
London, 2013<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I think in order to impress others with your photos, you must first impress yourself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To impress yourself with a photo means:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You look at your own photo, and the photo affects you. <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The photo affects you emotionally, punches you in the gut, or sparks some sort of idea within you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"erickim-laughing-ladies\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For myself, I am not easily impressed by my own photos. There are a lot of photos that I shoot which I like, but very few photos which have had a lasting impact in myself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Sapa, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Generally speaking, I must let my photos marinate<\/b><\/i> \u00e2\u20ac\u201d photos that have survived the test of time are generally the most impressive photos. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Sapa, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I think the secret is to distance yourself as far from yourself to your own photos, until you forget that you shot them. Then you can judge your photos more objectively<\/strong>, with more scrutiny, and to be less compromising with yourself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Hanoi, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Do you want to impress others with your photos?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Little
Little Saigon, 2019<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Now this is the question which interest me:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why<\/i> impress others with your photos?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Reasons to impress others with your photos:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. To build a legacy: Put your name into art history<\/li>
  2. To build fame: To become recognized as an artist, to gain certain external rewards while you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re still alive (money, influence, power)<\/li>
  3. To build self-esteem: Some people gain more self confidence and esteem when they are praised for their photographs. <\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Ultimately whether you want to impress others with your photos or not is up to you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. Building a legacy <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \"\"
    Saigon, 2017 #cindyproject<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    For myself personally, I would like to build a legacy for my photos. I want my photos to last (preferably for at least 100 years). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"
    Saigon, 2017 #cindyproject<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Obviously I cannot reap the rewards of my legacy after I die. So why have a legacy?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    To me it is simple:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I want to empower and encourage the future generations of photographers and artists. <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

    2. To build fame <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \"Saigon,
    Saigon, 2016 #cindyproject<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Legacy is something after you die. Fame is something when you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re still alive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Now\u00e2\u20ac\u201d is fame good? I think so. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Fame is good because fame is power. Power through influence, and power through your ability to make an impact in the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"
    Saigon, 2016<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    If you make more impressing photos, you will obviously become more famous. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"
    Saigon, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    But the tricky thing with fame is this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    To become more famous is a combination of your hustle and hard work and luck. <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

    \"Saigon,
    Saigon, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    You can be the smartest, most talented, and hard-working photographer \u00e2\u20ac\u201d but if you aren\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t given any opportunities, if you don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t create your own opportunities, and lady luck isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t on your side \u00e2\u20ac\u201d you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re not going to become famous. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"
    Saigon, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Furthermore, I think becoming famous is around 90% marketing skills. And marketing is important. Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t be like Vivian Maier<\/a> \u00e2\u20ac\u201d dying before she was able to become famous. We have John Maloof to thank for promoting her work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Lesson<\/strong>: You must self-promote<\/a> yourself if you desire to achieve fame while you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re still alive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    3. To build self-esteem<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \"Danny\"
    Saigon, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    For myself, I like to build my self-esteem independently of others. But the truth is many of us gain self-esteem when we are praised by others for our photos. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Saigon,
    Saigon, 2018 #cindyproject<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    If you make photos that impress others, this will definitely build your self-esteem and ego\u00e2\u20ac\u201d which might be good if it encourages you to be more productive<\/a> and prolific as a photographer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n\n\n\n

    What makes an impressive photograph?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \"\"
    Singapore, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    There are certain ingredients which make an impressive photo. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. Aesthetics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \"Hollywood,
    Hollywood, 2011<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    First of all is the aesthetics<\/i><\/b> (how the photograph looks). This is determined by the light (temperature of the light, natural or flash), the sensor or film used, the color\/tones\/hues of the photo, and the composition\/framing of the photo. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Aesthetics is also dependent on your post-processing. For example look at my laughing lady photo below (left is the unprocessed RAW photo, the right is processed in Lightroom with a preset):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure><\/div>
    \"\"<\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    I think it is evident that the right (processed) photo is more impressive, because the added contrast adds more punch, impact, and power to the photo. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Thus, remember \u00e2\u20ac\u201d how you process your photo is essential. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    2. Surrealism <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \"Leica
    Downtown LA, 2016<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    The more surreal your photo, the better. Why? Most of us disdain reality (reality is boring). If the camera has the ability to TRANSFORM reality to make it more<\/em> interesting \u00e2\u20ac\u201d then your photos will be more impressive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"
    Istanbul, 2013<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Thus the tip is this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t strive to make your photos \u00e2\u20ac\u0153true to reality\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d strive to make photos that don’t<\/i> look like reality!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"
    Mumbai, 2013<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    3. Open ended photos <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \"Marseille,
    Marseille, 2014<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    When your photos are more open to interpretation, they are more impressive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Pinocchio
    Downtown LA, 2015<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Why? It allows the viewer to use their brain to interpret the photo. This makes them more emotionally invested in the photograph. They will be more likely to remember your photo, and meditate on your photos. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    4. Sensational photos<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \"Reflection
    Detroit, 2013<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Like sensational news, we are attracted to sensational images. A sensational photograph is an image which is uncommon \u00e2\u20ac\u201d we feel strong sensations when looking at these photographs. They might display touchy subjects like race, class, and what we perceive as injustice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"
    Marseille, 2013<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    For example something that upsets us: kids with guns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Kids
    Downtown LA, 2013<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Or photos of people who look uncommon to us \u00e2\u20ac\u201d people who look like \u00e2\u20ac\u0153characters\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (more unique looking human beings):<\/p>\n\n\n\n