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Here's the bad news: If you do become a great photographer some day, that doesn't go away. It never goes away.

Here's the good news: You never want it to go away. The day it does, is the day you stop getting better.

This is a well known phenomena. It's commonly referred to as "The Artist's curse." As an artist, it's just not possible to look on your own work with the same kind of eyes that you look on the work of others. When you look at other photographer's work, you see everything their work is. When you look on your own, you see everything it is, and everything it could be. Practically all good artists deal with this.

Think of the absolutely most amazing, incredible photographers you've ever seen. I'll guarantee there's no shortage of times when they look at the work of a number of other photographers and say to themselves "Damn! I suck! Why can't I get my pictures to look like that?" If they didn't do that, they would have stopped trying to improve a long time ago, and their work would be garbage.

So, the trick isn't learning how to make that go away. The trick is learning how to deal with it. And, how to use it to motivate you to improve. The true definition of courage isn't not being afraid, right? The true definition, instead, is possessing the will and determination to overcome your fear. This is the same thing. The key isn't so much to gain confidence -- it's to overcome your lack of it. It's to recognize that even though you may lack confidence, you will not let that impede you.

A lack of confidence is just another term for fear. Accept your fear and conquer it.

The best way to do that is to expose yourself to what it is you fear. How does your lack of confidence manifest itself? Figure that out, and when you do, confront it head-on. Throw yourself into situations that you fear the most -- force yourself to do it.

Do that, and shoot, shoot, shoot -- as much as you can. Every day, ALL day if you can.

There's a great artist by the name of Derek R. Audette who has a couple of good quotes on this very subject:

"No matter how substandard you feel your skill or talent may be, If you never produce your art, the world will always remain deprived of it."

And,

"A lack of confidence in one's own work is like a thief. It steals from the world that which might be worthy."

I think that I'm at a similar level? I have no problem with being an 'amateur' - photography is an interest, a pastime, something that I enjoy doing. Like yourself, I used point and shoots from around the age of ten (I'm fifty now), took lots of photographs for years before I eventually bought a DSLR.

I've never joined a camera club, nor taken any courses, but I can see the benefits of doing so. I worry a little that they'll just concentrate on the basics such as how to operate an SLR, but maybe not. Anyway, being a shift worker in a rural area, it's not really an option for myself, but sure, if you can, do it.

A few things that inspire me - 1) I've been an avid member of the Flickr online community for several years. Make lots of contacts (link below to my account), spend lots of time browsing other people's work - comment and fave, get to know what you like, where you would like to develop, what others do. 2) set yourself targets long term and short term. I set myself a target of photographing more people some years ago - I suddenly realised that 'people' are interesting subjects. Protests, fairs, expos are good venues. Short term - set yourself targets such as capturing the weather, or setting up a themed photoshoot.

Sometimes I feel stuck, but then again, I can feel myself gaining experience. The past year, I've been playing with 35mm film and old cameras. Next year maybe I'll try something else.

Im not a photographer, but I do work in finish carpentry. I love doing it and was doing it when I was a teen with my father who is a master carpenter. My dad is a perfectionist and can be a little egotistical at times, saying things like "That would have only taken me a few hours" or "You missed a spot here, give me the brush and Ill show you how its done". I hated it and stopped working with him because of it ( I also had acne at the time and had really low self esteem).

Im doing it again at 24 and whenever he critiques me like that, I just shrug it off and try to exceed my own standards. I know Im not a master at it because I dont have the experience, so I only try to exceed my own standards. Maybe I didnt use enough caulk on trim, maybe my cope on a piece of trim didnt fit terribly well, maybe I cut a stud a little too short. Its ok, because I know next time my work will be better or Ill take the time to correct it. Practice makes perfect.

People tend to look for the negatives in others work instead of applauding the positives. They do this because it keeps their ego and pride high instead of being humble and acknowledging good but not perfect work.

Keep at it- Rome wasnt built in a day!

Be self critical. You are actually on your way to being an better photographer, but you have to be self critical in a constructive way.

No one starts off shooting amazing photos. We all start taking mediocre photos, at best. If you want to get better, you need to self edit, self critique, and learn from the process by doing it in a structured and constructive way. Don't take one photo of something, take 10. Think about how you want something to look in your photo and try and execute that vision. Then look at the images you took and figure out what makes the best one better than the others. Look at the details and see what missed at the time of the shoot. Then think about these things when you go to your next shoot.

Another thing to keep in mind is the difference between going somewhere and taking photos and going somewhere to take photos. Professionals go to places in order to take photos. So they get to sleep early and wake up before dawn in order to set up and catch the best light. They research the area and subject so that they know how to get in the best position to take a photo. If you are not willing to do that, you will never get photos like they do. Live with it. Make your photos as good as they can be, but understand your limitations.

I am a scuba diver. I dive, see an interesting fish, take a bunch of photos, and then move on. A professional photographer will go on a dive to get a specific photo of one fish. He will spend an entire dive trying to get the one photo he wants. I am not willing to do that, so my dive photos will never be as good. I take good photos, and I occasionally get a great photo, but I am not at the level of a pro.

I'm like u, and have freckles. All of my associates are beautiful, and i had a low self worth problem a at the same time again. After I entered center institution tho, i felt higher about my self. I've some rather excellent features i in no way noticed. If u attempt to in finding the high-quality in urself, and flaunt it, folks will seem up to u as a pround man or woman. Remeber, no outfit is entire with no a smile. Excellent good fortune, girly girl!

I found a great website www.worth1000.com

they have a great photography section, and contests for beginers.

take a look around and submit a few photos

the others on the site are very constructive in their critisim.

I have learned a lot as a macro and landscate photographer.

Good luck

Ive been a photographer for 40 years and there are tons of folks better than I am. Always will be. That's my inspiration to grow, and if I ever feel that I am the best ever, what's the fun in doing it?

Join a club or take a class with like minded individuals. Internet's great for information but is also full of shallow vendors that will brow beat a person to try and make a "buck"

Definetely take classes.