Photographers Are Not Magicians

"Victorious Secret" (victorioussecret)
12/08/2013 at 21:07 • Filed to: None

We all have humble if not humiliating beginnings. One of my first shots for you all, with my latest after the jump.

Luck, improvement, deals with the devil; in over 2 years I think I've finally found the path to taking consistently good shots and know when to back the hell off the Lightroom/Photoshop freight train. I think. It is always a work in progress.

This is why I like criticism. Anything that helps, anything that shows flaws; end result is me being better. I don't take it personally, it seems silly to. I just think that more than a few people in general seem shocked to think that photographers ever took a bad shot.

We've taken several bad shots. I've taken several tens of thousands of bad shots. Arguably I still take bad shots. But I've developed this sense of knowing what works, what doesn't and what should be left alone.

My reasoning has never changed as to why I do it, I simply like having cool desktop wallpapers. Whatever I sell in-between is a big fat bonus, you could give me a camera and no pay and I'd still go out and capture as much awesome as the memory cards allowed.

No Ferraris were burned in the making of this article and no Vipers were involved in murder either. I think. I haven't talked to the owner in a few weeks though...

DISCUSSION (32)

A3R0 > Victorious Secret
12/08/2013 at 21:12

Very cool shots! The first is not even close to bad in my standards.

Victorious Secret > A3R0
12/08/2013 at 21:13

Kinja no more

RMudkips > Victorious Secret
12/08/2013 at 21:13

Hey, you gotta start somewhere to get there.

The photography quotes that I use for the Photog blog explain the concept all the time. No one can possibly fill their film and cards with pure gold; it's insane to think that.

I recall insisting to buy a Leica when I was 12 years old. I'm still plenty young, but you do learn over time what you can do with anything.

E30Joe drives a Subaru > Victorious Secret
12/08/2013 at 21:14

I take at least 400 photos if I'm shooting a car and I use like 15 of them.

A3R0 > Victorious Secret
12/08/2013 at 21:15

The second I posted that it fixed, I tried to edit in time.

oldirtybootz > Victorious Secret
12/08/2013 at 21:18

Those last two are stunning. The first isn't bad, but obviously the latter pictures show more detail and other technical sounding photography words.

desertdog5051 > Victorious Secret
12/08/2013 at 21:23

Great stuff.

dogisbadob > Victorious Secret
12/08/2013 at 21:32

Awesome shots

twinturbobmw > Victorious Secret
12/08/2013 at 21:55

One of my better first shots:

Kinja'd!!!

One of my best shots:

Kinja'd!!!

I've been taking pictures for just under a year now, and recently got my second camera.

aquila121 > Victorious Secret
12/08/2013 at 22:05

Nice work. Also, Viper ACRs are pretty (intimidating).

twinturbobmw > E30Joe drives a Subaru
12/08/2013 at 22:18

With my C&C posts, I only use about half my photos. The post still has 50-75 pictures though.

Bubbles22 > E30Joe drives a Subaru
12/08/2013 at 22:47

Oh, so that is not just me.

abphoto > Victorious Secret
12/09/2013 at 00:50

All I can say is wow! It's really pretty amazing to see your progression from beginner level to amateur. Like, you started with that Audi in what looks like the same general location as those other two exotics, but the way you made them feel so different is jaw-dropping! From composition to portrayed motion... also, having the rich dad and his spoiled son with their thumbs up evokes such... emotion! Truly riveting stuff. Surprised you're still just an avid poster on Jalopnik and not getting big gigs for Ford.. I'd love to see what you could do with the new Mustang. Tell me if I'm wrong, but if you put it in your favorite location shot above, stuffed it with enthusiasts and had their erect thumbs out the windows while rolling at speed. UGH! You'd kill it. Again, great work. I can only hope to see such improvement in my own.

Victorious Secret > abphoto
12/09/2013 at 08:59

That kid is actually a terminally ill cancer patient who was being given a ride in a car as part of a charity event, but congrats. Now you sound like a douchebag!

imadeaburner > Victorious Secret
12/09/2013 at 09:05

What a fucking cunt.

The photos look good, no need for the bullshit above though....

Party-vi > abphoto
12/09/2013 at 09:06

Better than any shot I've seen you take, Alex.

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > abphoto
12/09/2013 at 09:07

Kinja'd!!!

Victorious Secret > imadeaburner
12/09/2013 at 09:07

I made the mistake of calling out Tony Harmer for his so called 'kickass photos' of the 2015 Mustang, he took it personally and got all his internet bros to hunt me down and comment on my posts.

I'm terrified I tell ya, absolutely terrified.

imadeaburner > Victorious Secret
12/09/2013 at 09:09

I'd be shaking in my boots if I were you.

Internet Mafia is srs bsns.

Victorious Secret > imadeaburner
12/09/2013 at 09:10

You have no idea how terrified I am. What if they...what if they found out who I really was? (Not that hard, my username and my real name are so well linked on Google its not even amusing)

But seriously doe, I should go into Witness Protection. Do you think I'll finally know what Willis was talking about?

PS9 > Victorious Secret
12/09/2013 at 09:11

The whole post has a smarmy 'hurr durr not impressed bro' feel to it. The richie rich comment just seals the deal.

So fucking easy to tear down the accomplishments of others, especially when sitting behind a veil of anonymity. I find the same people who do this have zero courage to try to create things and put themselves out there, both on the internet and in real life.

imadeaburner > Victorious Secret
12/09/2013 at 09:12

I'd call local police and demand you be taken into protective custody.

Internet is srs bsns, and should not be taken lightly.

Or call the police for cyber bullying, because its way too hard to just turn a computer off.

Tom McParland > Victorious Secret
12/09/2013 at 09:12

That is some serious butt-hurt..."He doesn't like my pictures...I'll have to get my posse together and settle this." Wow, just wow...

Not that I am concerned about you at all, you can rustle jimmies with the best of them. But if it does get out of hand, we can block these idiots from Oppo.

Victorious Secret > PS9
12/09/2013 at 09:14

I've seen Alex's work, its pretty decent if not great.

But like I've been called out for posting pure pixel shit, I do to others. Some can't handle it and come back like children. He says I'm an amateur like its an insult, it isn't. I'm not a Pro. Likely never will be. I do it as a hobby at best.

I wouldn't have cared, but his rich dad and spoiled son comment was over the line. That kid won't see the end of this year, and that 'rich dad' saves lives on a daily basis.

But hey, the internet. Easy to be a dick to anyone and everyone.

Victorious Secret > imadeaburner
12/09/2013 at 09:15

Its the internet, someone must always be right and someone must be wrong. There can only be one.

One asshat that is. I intend on taking the crown.

imadeaburner > Victorious Secret
12/09/2013 at 09:16

Was that a pun....

The crown bit...

Victorious Secret > Tom McParland
12/09/2013 at 09:19

I disturb shit, I can handle my shit being disturbed.

But you're right, I usually disturb shit solo, I don't get the posse together when someone says my photos suck. The last time someone said that, was actually a few days ago, I asked what was wrong and how I could improve, and I sulked away with some sadness to figure out how to do better.

But hey, the internet. Cause, you know, just walking away and turning off the computer is too difficult and personal grudges are born over a single post.

Victorious Secret > RMudkips
12/09/2013 at 09:36

I still want a Leica. For no real describable reason

Victorious Secret > aquila121
12/09/2013 at 09:36

That one scares me. I refuse to sit in it and pretty much anything associated with it.

I have no shame in saying I lack the balls to drive a ACR.

Victorious Secret > Party-vi
12/09/2013 at 10:56

Kinja'd!!!

Am I doing this right?

abphoto > Victorious Secret
12/09/2013 at 13:10

Alright, alright, I apologize about the rich father and son comment and I hope that little dude makes it. Carry on.

RMudkips > Victorious Secret
12/09/2013 at 19:54

They'd be real fun to use once a while.