Weekly Competition #19 The Monochrome Landscape

Brass monkeys spring to mind...

Dan

Dear air colleague,

The “human error” (the mistakes all we daily do) is one of the most common and outstanding characteristic of the human behavior. We grow upon our errors when we learn the lesson the error teach us. A person learns much more from his mistakes than from his successes…

Learn to recognize the own error dignifies the man, contrarily, obstinately trying to dissimilate it, makes the man apish fatuous and arrogant.

I ask me what should be the art without the critique. A mere arrogant exhibition of “I did this”. Isn´t perhaps the critique what gives the masterpieces (apart of his intrinsic content) is artistic and economical value? For me, the critique is one of the most important inputs in the motor of an artist formation. Is the feedback that everybody needs for improve the skills. And this is not applicable exclusively to the artistic area; it is valid in all our everyday activities.

I personally think that just saying “oh! ah! what a beautiful image”, contribute very poorly with the creation of the photographer.

And lastly, Chris, “because the competition is in the latter category” I think that just for this reason, is because we need more than everybody an honest and constructive critique. And also think, that when we have doubts about anything that “don´t closes in our mind” is a very healthy habit to say it, and try to get an explanation for it.

I think that is very most constructive for the Forum Weekly Competition to fight for his growing, than simply say “You may not like it, but you don´t have to enter it”

“I prefer the critique that causes pain over the adulation or the complacent ones…” -Sebastiao Salgado-



Best regards.
________________
Dirk TROTTEYN.
K10D+ Sigma 18-50 1:2.8 DC Lens.
Image counter: 4258.-

I'm not familiar with this can you post a link?

Ken

George has the link on his post

Thanks, Clarky, I'd missed that. What an exciting and stimulating place this is when we're not looking at wedding web sites.

Are there any nude wedding web sites i wonder :

Probably.

I do very much agree with this.

There is another photography forum where most of the 'critique' consists of little more than 'nice shot', and it drives me mad. I've finally managed to stop reading it, and even deleted my internet browser bookmark to the site.

If you look back through the thread, you'll notice that I didn't at all criticise you for pointing out the lack of realism in Brian's entry. It was very valid to point it out, and if realism had been an explicit criterion by which entries were to be judged, then I'd agree that the lighting should be noted as a mistake.

However, there was no rule that said that any composite would be judged according to its realism. Therefore no rule was broken, and as John pointed out, there are other things which are attractive about the entry, so he was within his rights to grade it how he pleased.

So in summary:

I'm not at all disagreeing with the offering and receiving of critique, and the more honest and specific the critique, the better.

If I'd been judging the competition, my criteria might well have been different from John's, since I value realism very highly. However, I wasn't, so I don't agree with suggestions that Brian's entry should have been marked down, based on imaginary rules that weren't specified in the competition.

Bit late I know, but I took my eye off the ball for five mins! Well Done Lilly, well done everyone else. Thanks John. That was a tough job!

Didn't know you played football for England!

Dan

(That's Association Football, I know you like to differentiate. )

Fair enough, but there are also times when it's nice to know that something you have produced has made a positive impression.

When people just post a picture, without specifically asking for criticism, then I assume that they are not averse to receiving a little praise. So (if it's deserved) I am happy to give it to them. Such a case was my response to a recent pic of Clarky's.

But I agree that non-stop, fawning, platitudes can be rather wearying.

G

I've been tarting up my CV before sending it to the FA. After all I must be able to do a better job than Mr Maclaren



and a £2.5 million pay-off for failing is too tempting to resist!