Some guy on Reddit told me my photos were too 'pretty'

I was posting shots of an old textile mill in Lowell, Massachusetts and someone commented that I was making it look too clean and artistic. They said I should show the peeling paint and broken glass more instead of framing around it. Ever since then I make sure to get some close-ups of the decay and trash, not just the cool architecture. Do other people here aim for the gritty look or do you prefer the artistic angle?

2 comments

2 Comments

wrenwilson16d ago

You ever notice how some people just can't let you enjoy a nice shot? I had a friend who took a photo of this old gas station at sunset, perfectly framed with no trash or anything. Someone told him it looked like a postcard, so next time he rolled up with a bag of litter and sprinkled it around just to get that "real" feel. He said it felt wrong but the comments loved it.

richardfox16d ago

Man the "looks like a postcard" comment hits different. I used to be all about finding the cleanest angle, making old buildings look like they were still in their prime. Thought that was the whole point of photography, making things look good. But that Reddit guy got to me too, and now I kinda get it. Showing the peeling paint and the busted windows tells the real story of the place, you know? It's not about making it ugly on purpose, it's about not hiding what's actually there. I still take the pretty shots sometimes, but now I make sure to grab the grit too. That bag of litter story is wild though, that's going way too far for internet points.