Fashion Photography Homework #2: Project 2

My professor asked that we take a stylized shot and a snapshot. I thought I understood the assignment, but after seeing other people's work, I realized, I didn't.
Here's someone's rough definition:
"A “snapshot” can be taken of anything and of varying quality (composition, exposure, etc.) Usually a “snapshot” is a quick rough capture to document a scene or event. A “photograph” on the other hand is a well thought, composed, exposed and executed art form..."

 Stylized shot by Jill Greenberg (who is known for achieving these shots by enticing children with candy then taking the candy away at just the right time):

 

 

 Here is an example of a snap shot shot by someone else:

Here is my misunderstood version, Stylized:

Snapshot:

 

So essentially, they are very much the same shot as per my professor. I didn't realize the difference until the day I showed this in class.

Luckily, I wasn't the only one who misunderstood and I really felt that if the professor had shown us some examples of what a "stylized" shot was versus a "snapshot" prior to us doing the homework, most of us would have done a better job.

Actually come to think of it, the same goes for the ad vs the editorial. I didn't realize there was a difference until after my blunder. Lesson learned though and hopefully some of you will learn from mistakes as well. =0.)

Life's Ups & Downs...

"If you hear a voice within you say 'you cannot paint,' then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced..." - Van Gogh

This quote is definitely something to live by if you are an artist of some sort, because there always comes a time when you doubt yourself, when people you trust betray you, when you think you won't succeed and when you realize you don't fit anywhere.

It's easy to get discouraged especially when you're starting out, you don't know where your strengths are necessarily and you want to be able to do different things. You want to have that eye, you want to have that focus because it seems that without them, you are just an amateur and no one who is taking their dream serious wants to be considered an amateur. In retrospect, aren't we all just amateurs?

It's easy to want to say I quit, but there will always be that pit in your stomach that weighs heavily. I try not to let that pit succumb me and it does happen. Sometimes I have to talk myself out of it and sometimes someone else has to do it for me. It seems also for me that no matter how many shots I have taken, no matter how many books I read, I still don't know enough. My photos still don't come out the way I envisioned. I do hope that in time, with more experience that they do. It also makes me realize, I still have so much to learn.

And there's where I don't feel as bad because I understand that there's still much to learn. I think on any level- amateur, serious amateur, semi-professional and professional- there is always something to learn. And if you think you've learned everything, how much more could you get from this?

That's when you toss in the towel and pick up a new hobby that could lead to a new profession.