I’ve always regarded myself as a pretty decent photographer, having some experience in front of it, I’ve learned quite a bit about composition and looking at the whole image to take the best possible shot. I also play around with lights and colors to get “creative” but I am in no means a professional. What I love about photography is that one simple subject can take on limitless meanings just based on the angles, coloring, and the photographer’s vision. I feel that a photograph provides the viewer a glimpse into the photographer’s soul and emotion at that particular moment. And how, without words, a lot can be conveyed and yet, still be unknowable.
Recently, I’ve found that art helps me with my anxiety and stress so I got more and more into rediscovering it and reinventing it in various ways. I took my work and submitted it to a few sites, mostly to get some critique and feedback. I would be lying if I said it didn’t actually make my anxiety worse in the beginning. See, I’ve always been my worst critic and I was worried that what I thought were some of my best work actually didn’t even come close to being any good.
I first got a rude awakening from Shutterstock https://www.shutterstock.com/g/kimbuhay808?rid=381435199&utm_medium=nativeapp&utm_source=ctrbreferral-link. I spent time editing a bunch of my photos and every single one of them got rejected for focus or noise or pixelation and I got a rude awakening. But then, I persevered. I read up and learned and constantly tried to refine my skills until finally, I got my first photo approved! I was ecstatic! I guess it feel better and more rewarding when you know you’ve worked really hard and earned the validation.
Sakura Blooms, Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, NY
This was the first photo I got approved for. After that, it clicked. I understood what was wrong in the prior submissions and tweaked and fixed until I felt more confident in my work. After that, I started submitting to other photo apps:
Foap: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/foap/id521142420
EyEm: https://www.eyeem.com/u/33924951
And, the latest one, Getty/iStock: http://www.istockphoto.com/portfolio/KimberlyGibu
This last one was particularly nerve-wracking because they have you submit samples of your best work and they review them to see if you’re good enough to be a contributor. I didn’t hear back right away so I figured I didn’t make the cut. Well, I GOT IN!!! This made me super happy and validated and even more inspired to create.
I find that I do well with close-up shots best and portraiture, likely because I use my smartphone a lot and not a professional camera:
Dreamy flight
Fall basket
Although I’ve also allowed myself to revisit other work to learn and improve from them and see if I can make them better:
Fushimi Inarii
Manhattan skyline: a perspective
I am excited for the future and what else I can find that I can put my own stamp on through photographs! I would love any feedback and critiques you may have so I can co tiniest to learn and improve. Thank you all!
