Constructive criticism ?

[jypsee]

(and that would NOT include me...if you want critique of your photos there are plenty of ways to achieve that such as OTHER sites and making a topic or indicating with a "*" next to your photo title, such as the challenge pages here on pbase do)
....then you need to hop over to this thread
http://forum.pbase.com/viewtopic.php?t=19452

Why should she or anyone else have to go to another site to get critique? I think if people just say what they actually feel about a photo whether it is simply well done, good work, or a paragraph, as long as it is their honest opinion then it should be fine. If someone finds fault with a photo and says so they should explain and not just give some passé answer. As long as people are not getting PERSONAL then the comments should be fine.



Duncan

I didn't say anyone should HAVE to go to another site; I said if you WANT critique it's available on other sites; and, your response is why critique is such a problematic....
problematic
Definition:

1. [adj] making great mental demands; hard to comprehend or solve; "a baffling problem"; "I faced the knotty problem of what to have for breakfast"; "a problematic situation at home"
2. [adj] open to doubt or debate; "If you ever get married, which seems to be extremely problematic"

[mesullivan]

Guys I have re up loaded the image I refered to as being loved by this site and slated on another. I have directed Duncan and Rene to the second edit of this foto, but to see what the version I originally posted looks like go to:

http://www.pbase.com/maani/image/57648803.jpg

Open analysis welcome It's been re posted just for that reason x

I can see why you received pros and cons on the photo. I personally like the hand a little cut off and out of focus, but others might like it better with all of the hand showing and being in focus. I think it's a good example of nothing technically wrong with the photo but just personal choices being brought forth.

[leggings]

Now let’s not get cheeky with definitions of words. I have a dictionary at home and can look up the definition to problematic if I feel like it. Capitalising the word OTHER would lead the brain to thinking or understanding that the best way to look for critique would be by going to another site. Hence OTHER.

Duncan

BTW: My reference to Personal would be to another popular thread in this forum.

[juliano]

Thanks for your thoughts on that shot mesullivan. Do you think though that by having those differences of opinion it makes one stand back and look harder at the work one is doing? I do believe that a good range of response is healthy, it staves of complacency. Ultimately it may help one grow and thats all good )

[halesr]

I appreciate differences of opinion on my images. And, YES, I do think it makes me look harder at the image. I think we as the artist ultimately do something with the comments/suggestions or we don't. We make the final decision, but comments set us off in perhaps new/different directions in our thinking and may alter the way we would take a similar shot in the future.

In one f2f workshop the instructor commented that I needed to move in closer and then shoot and he could see that in several images. It did change me and make me think about taking a step or two in before shooting or at least now with digital shooting at one distance, moving closer and shooting again, and then perhaps another step and again.

Rene

[mesullivan]

It is always good to hear different opinions and thoughts on a photograph. It doesn't mean one view is right and all others are wrong, it just helps you to see through another's eyes and perhaps consider things you hadn't considered.

Sometimes a photo we post is just one of a group or string of photos we took of the same subject at the same time. So, maybe a suggestion someone has is one you tried and didn't like so you didn't post it.

As long as it's not mean spirited, I think all thoughts on a photo are good and I like the idea of having a dialogue between the photographer and someone posting comments, it could be a good learning experience for all.

[adalberto_tiburzi]

I once photographed a cigarette butt on the asphalt,
and someone gave me the advice to clone it out.
One munt understand a photo, before speaking.

[leggings]

That is funny .

It is also up to the photographer to either take the advice or not. I guess that is where a person has to be strong in their resolve to do their art and photography their own way.

Duncan

[mesullivan]

I once photographed a cigarette butt on the asphalt,
and someone gave me the advice to clone it out.
One munt understand a photo, before speaking.

That is the best laugh I have had all week.

[jude_53]

Adal brings up something I wanted to point out. I joined another site to get more constructive criticism - they have "groups" for that. I know what my weaknesses are and being technically inept is one of them.

Being in this group was good in many ways. On the technical side I would get advice on exposure, sharpness, distracting parts of images, etc. I need that - how to fine tune my camera work. Then there was the subjective advice - how "this" composition would work better, how a photo was too dark, making it too "moody", how to clone something that was the POINT of the photo out. This taught me a lesson as well.

Confidence.. to have confidence in the outcome of your photo IF it's what you want. Nobody can judge that for you. I know if I've achieved the feeling/mood/essence of my image. I know if I compose something oddly it is for a reason - same goes for most effects I use. I also know that not everyone will understand it or even like it.

And, oh by the way, that's okay.

I don't mind constructive criticism. Ask Rick.. he's sort of my human camera manual and technical advisor. He knows how to critique.. and sorry, but most people do not. I know when he's telling me something about a photo I've done he's being honest about what HE thinks.. There's no baggage involved from a personal standpoint to sway his thoughts (although I've heard money talks )

[pathfindar]

I once photographed a cigarette butt on the asphalt,
and someone gave me the advice to clone it out.
One munt understand a photo, before speaking.

That is funny

I once did a self-portrait and it was suggested I clone me out. There was just me and a plain white backdrop. Hmmm, think they were trying to tell me something

[adalberto_tiburzi]

I guess that is where a person has to be strong in their resolve to do their art and photography their own way.

I chose to clone out the comment in fact
in the commenter's own interest...

[juliano]

This is a related anecdote about views on what makes a good shot
I was talking to another photographer at a cafe in town the other day, who told me about a shot he had seen at his photo society.
It was 2 shots combined to create Angels hovering over a cricket ground! A shot like that could be interpreted a dozen different ways, and I loved the idea, but my friend said that "2 perfectly good shots were ruined" in being merged to make this unconventional scene. We debated about the subjectiveness of art for a while but had to agree to differ over the Cricket Ground Angels shot

[northstar37]

http://www.pbase.com/duncansmith/image/57682731

This was a hard photo for which to provide a critique.

[clickaway]

http://www.pbase.com/duncansmith/image/57682731

This was a hard photo for which to provide a critique.

I can't fault the composition, but I would say he could have used f2.8 instead of 5.6