On more than one occasion I’ve debated with other photographers the subject of “who judges how good your photographs are.”
I am of the fundamental opinion that I, as a photographer, am not the judge of how good my photography is. Take the included landscape photograph for example. I like this photo. I think It’s a pretty good landscape photo. What I can’t do is convince others of its quality beyond giving this photo an audience and letting the audience decide if it’s any good or not. Opinions will vary, of that I have no doubt.
The statement “You are not the judge of how good your photography is” highlights the inherent subjectivity in evaluating art. Here’s a breakdown of the logic behind it.
Being a fairly broad mindset that seemingly states that a photographer isn’t capable of determining which of their photographs are the best, or how good any particular photograph is, but that’s a pretty restrictive assumption. We can look at our own work and make a determination of how good the result is, on many personal levels. What we can’t do is look into the minds of our audience and experience our artwork through their eyes, at least not without feedback from that audience. If we wish to present our art in public, it is the public who will decide. It is your audience that makes the true determination of how good your work is, in my opinion.
Why it isn’t up to ourselves to determine how good our work is.
Creator’s Bias: As the creator, you’re intimately connected to your work. You know the intentions behind it, the struggles you overcame, and the emotions you poured into it. This close connection can cloud your judgment. You might be overly critical of minor flaws or overly attached to certain aspects that others don’t find as significant.
Impact on the Audience: Art exists to be experienced by an audience. The true measure of its impact lies in how it resonates with others. Does it evoke emotions? Does it spark conversation? Does it offer a new perspective? These are things you, as the creator, can’t fully gauge on your own.
Subjectivity of Art: Art appreciation is deeply personal. What one person finds beautiful, moving, or thought-provoking, another might find uninteresting or even distasteful. There’s no objective, universally agreed-upon standard for measuring artistic “goodness.”
Value of External Feedback: Seeking feedback from others provides valuable insights. Different people will bring diverse perspectives and interpretations to your work, highlighting strengths you might have overlooked and pointing out areas where you could improve.
Growth and Learning: Accepting that your own judgment is limited opens you up to growth as an artist. It encourages you to experiment, take risks, and learn from the feedback you receive.
In essence, the statement isn’t meant to discourage self-reflection or diminish your artistic vision. Rather, it’s a reminder that art is a form of communication, and the full meaning of your work is only realized when it’s shared and experienced by others.
I’ve generalized this topic to discuss photography as an art, but I believe my take on this applies to all forms of art. There are no rules to art, there are only opinions.
That’s my opinion, and I’m sticking to it.
