William Bay

Photographic Artist | Storyteller | Activist

Photographic Humble Pie

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by

William Bay

I’m feeling a little down this week. I submitted a couple photos in our local PPSDC Print Competition on Tuesday night, and both my images tanked.
I guess I’m just a little unsure of what will actually do well, or if my style of photography can ever do well in competition. It’s a little discouraging when I consider submitting prints to National PPA or WPPI print competitions.

This first image was taken from this really great [intlink id=”san-diego-engagement-photography-imperial-beach-windansea” type=”post”]engagement session here in San Diego[/intlink].
The other image was from a [intlink id=”wedding-ramona-private-estate” type=”post”]wedding in Ramona[/intlink] a few years back.

Another photographer who I really admire gave me some encouraging words after the competition and reminded me that my clients paid me for my creativity, they loved the photographs, and I get to do what I love and grow and stretch my creativity.

I guess that was the best lesson in photography I learned that night.

San Diego Engagement Portrait Photography | William Bay Photographic Arts | Eric + ErinnSan Diego Wedding Photography | William Bay Photographic Arts | John + Cameryn

Comments

16 responses to “Photographic Humble Pie”

  1. Nessa K Avatar
    Nessa K

    That second image is absolutely stunning, William! I could live in that photo.

  2. Daniel Avatar
    Daniel

    Your images are great! Obviously I know nothing about print competition… but I feel like most print competition judges are looking for something completely opposite of what real brides and grooms are looking for…

  3. Brian Kraft Avatar
    Brian Kraft

    Sweet shots, William! Don’t get discouraged- while a few people may not go crazy over each of your photos- there are PLENTY of other people that are sure to love them! Like me! Your use of landscape in your portraiture is very inspiring. Keep it up!

  4. Cathy and David Avatar
    Cathy and David

    These are great! Don’t be down! 😀

  5. Jessica Horton Avatar
    Jessica Horton

    Love the wide landscapes…. those are some of my favorite types of images!!

  6. Phill Avatar
    Phill

    Stunning images William; I’d love to see them printed large. In particular the one on the rock overlooking the hill has always stuck in my mind since I first saw your feature on that wedding. Competitions and judging panels are fickle beasts indeed and one would be driven to distraction trying to pre-empt what exactly is being looked for; I’ve sat as a judge on film-making panels in the past and know that I often wondered what on Earth my fellow judges were thinking! I’m sure they thought likewise of me. It’s a healthy thing to test one’s work through competition but that health maintains a balance by remembering judges can get it wrong ;~)

  7. Sally Watts Avatar
    Sally Watts

    They’re wonderful, William!
    That second photo, in particular, is just perfect. I just want to jump in and stay a while.

  8. Shell Bailey Avatar
    Shell Bailey

    They’re both wonderful, but that second shot is just amazing. You’re great at what you do, and your clients know that. Just trust that and procede with confidence. 🙂

  9. John Patrick Avatar
    John Patrick

    I don’t do comps ever. I don’t like the idea that a small group of people (who I’m not shooting for) will get to tell me if I’m good. Your stuff is awesome and that first B&W is off the charts. Your clients love your work and that is ALL that matters.

  10. Timothy Kaldas Avatar
    Timothy Kaldas

    Beautiful work William. I love the use of the ND filter to get the motion in the water in the first image and I remember that second image from when you first created it and explained the process. It was stunning then and it continues to be a stellar image today.

  11. Nikole Avatar
    Nikole

    These photos are superb. The movement of the shoreline in the first one is stunning.

  12. Johanna Hietanen Avatar
    Johanna Hietanen

    You should be proud of yourself, these images are stunning 🙂

  13. Heather Avatar
    Heather

    I adore the rich colors in that second shot. Gorgeous.

  14. Herbal Vaporizer Avatar
    Herbal Vaporizer

    Very nice nice shot keep blogging .

  15. Tom Hawkins Avatar
    Tom Hawkins

    The photos are eye-catching! Impressive!

  16. custom logo design Avatar
    custom logo design

    They’re wonderful, William!
    That second photo, in particular, is just perfect.These photos are superb.keep up the good work.

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