Photo Critique

I think you have a lot of nice images in your flicker account...
I shoot for money. The only person whose opinion matters (even more so than mine) is the guy writing the cheque. I'm sure some of my work got published here this week..link... If they criticize, I listen.

You think my professional work is my favourite? gotta be honest.. it too can be mundane depending on what a client wants.. I just don't see any upsides to trying one up anybody on a area that is so highly subjective.

I shoot for fun. Since nobody is paying there is nobody to tell me what I should be doing or how I should be doing it.

However, if I post pictures on here, or in the competitions, then I have a warm glow if they are generally liked. That means the image is reaching people in some way. If they suggest things that will make the images better then I'll try and use those suggestions in future - that's how the skills and techniques get developed. Likewise posters on here have shown techniques like the use of welding glass that I'll be trying out soon.

Developing the art is much harder but again a lot of it comes from people's reactions to the image. What worked and what didn't? Why did they like it (or not)? It is true that many posters don't want to say what they don't like. Especially when it is subjective rather than technical. With tact it should still be ok though - e.g. 'It would work better for me if that tatty tree/bush/car/person was cropped out' rather than 'the composition sucks'

To all those who bother to say nice things about any of my pictures, thank you! It is appreciated.

To anyone who offers me advice and criticism, thank you! It is also appreciated.

Sometimes I see an image on here that makes me think, 'Wow' and I say so. I hope the recipient appreciates my reply because It's their work that has caused my response. If they find my reaction banal I'm sorry but it is the reaction they caused in me. If someone else feels upset with my reaction I'm also sorry you feel that way but you have no right to feel upset about my feelings for someone else's work. You can put your own views forward if you like.

Thank goodness there are sensible people like Northgrain and doingthebobs.
I might be a bit overly reactionary.

Don. Your english has always been more than adequate. What this newbe poster is missing is an understanding of your style, which is always direct and covered with humour. Don't bite.


Put ten photographers together and you will be lucky to find two who are in complete agreement. If you give and take comments bearing this in mind you won't go far wrong.


Nearly all of my postings on the Gallery have already been through the Photo Club comp, been commented on by a judge and also fellow members. It then interests me on any comments made by fellow posters.

If we take ourselves too seriously then this will be reflected in our approach to our photos. If we set about taking photos to please others rather than ourselves we are liable to react to comments by others.

As for comments, what is said will reflect our abilities to express how and what we feel. Some will put down the first thing that comes to mind. Others will pause and think.

We should stop focusing on the comments and look closer at the picture. It is someones effort and the least we can do is to appreciate that effort

But surely it only needs a little common sense to realise that those who offer constructive C&C are the more experienced aongst us, whereas to those who make the comments you talk about are less experienced and in their opinion the images may well appear to be "LOVELY, GREAT, BEAUTIFUL, STUNNING"

fangs retracted..

I think the only peopleI've seen, that ever came and went from this forum (over the years I've been here) that didn't leave as better photographers and happier for the experience were the ones that couldn't handle criticism at all; constructive or otherwise.

Perhaps the Gumpisms forced them to leave.

you're still here?

The thing is, of course, what we're offering whenever we commnet are only opinions, not statements of fact. Usually.

One man's much admired artistic blur is another man's irritating sloppy technique.

Horses for courses really. I think some people want no holds barred critique, some want a bit of encouragement. I personally take a different approach to different sections. I will give an honest assessment as a competition judge. In Your Photos I will play it by ear, maybe with a bit of knowledge of the individual posting. In the gallery section I think there are too many uploads now (why post several similar versions of the same thing in one day? - less is more) so I only comment on the photos which really attract my attention, which are invariably the ones I like and hence a lack of critique there.

I personally welcome criticism of my own submissions as it helps me improve, so please free Nanhi to give frank appraisal of my photos and I will return the compliment when you post some. I always though appreciate someone taking the time to comment.

I appreciate comments but all too often it's "wow!, some great shots there!" - How can this help me to get better as a 'tog?

If you're going to comment:
- specify the pic
- specify the comment

that's it. "nice set" is also good as it means you appreciate the shots but don't want to be specific.

I'm a lot more specific at dishing out on other forums, where I'll try and be positively critical on anything that's good but could be bettered in my eyes. Having said that, it's not always easy....

Bret

I get your point. of course if you're a singer and you sing and no one in the audience is clapping or cheering, that tells you something in and of itself.... vice versa as well.

But others sometimes get a lil too hostile and to them I say:

The trouble is simply this... 15 people all making the exact same comment (eg "you could have cloned out the seagull in the lower left corner" is no more helpful than just hearing it once. I look at it this way... if you go into a restaurant and order breakfast, by all means feel free to be specific and expect to get your order done your way. You show up at somebodies home, asking for free breakfast, you should be polite and take what they're kind enough to give. Either way be polite, it is never a good idea to anger the people that handle your food. So when one person points out my spelling, I accept THEM and politely ignore the criticism. I'm dyslexic... spell checkers have limitations (esp when spell checkers can and sometimes DO learn your mistakes and start making them for you, or swapping similar words to what you've mis-typed) I make mistakes. People don't like my spelling are free to pass my posts. Me going on and hurling insults to or about those people is more likely to bring backlash on me than anybody else. If I do that, I should expect that. Reasonable. When somebody comes into my house and I offer them food, and they start getting picky and or telling me what, how or when I should cook for them, my first two thoughts are... well... Starts with an F and ends with a U. So two different people have opposing pet peeves walk into the same public forum... doesn't have to end in name calling.

I have never noticed anything wrong with your spelling Don! I don't think that was the point that was being made, although it was a bit over-the-line... it's possible to express a disagreement without throwing all the toys out of the pram....

BUT when these little blow ups do occur, the way I see it, it's best just to move one rather than 'reheat' them on other threads, or continue bitching about the person who was seen as 'out of order', or be all unnecessarily 'grovelling' to the person who was 'wronged'