photo critiques

[jann1033]

over analyzing as usual, but what do you think the benefit is...

my opinion is:
doesn't poetic license apply somewhat to a photo? so other the the obvious IE out of focus, wrong exposure or something similar, do you think it 's really a benefit to have 3rd parties critique your shots? i guess i am thinking how can someone decide you should portray something you want to portray in a certain way has to be portrayed their way? or decide your view of how you want to compose something not right? i guess i am just wondering unless it's "technical difficulties" is it really worth while having it done. i might think someone could have done a shot a certain way but it's their shot so who am i to say ie rules of composition are good but that doesn't mean you can never center a shot if the subject warrents it( at least that's the way i see it, thinking of a shot tink's dad(wonder where has he been btw) did once of a mission, it looked great centered imo because it really added some stability to this ancient building still standing firm after centuries of time)

i am thinking about this due to the photo critiques on just about every photo forum i have ever seen...i've put a couple things on them and truthfully they have just totally missed the point of what i wanted to accomplish in a creative aspect( not talking technical)..ie i posted a photo here in the pair thread with 2 disks on the ground ( b&w) it was supposed to be an abstract, hello it's not a "landscape"...but i posted it on a critique thread and only one person realized it was an abstract, the rest told me things like i should have widen out to get more of the landscape uhmm the point to me was the curves in the shot, not the field they were in lol . not that it is the greatest photo in the world,( and some made some valid points like it could have been better to not have the one disk thing bisected by the pole, although with the set up of the area that wasn't really possible to do) it just made me wonder if it's even worth trying to get critiques since i'm not really interested in portraying things "accurately" and it seems like a lot of photographers are determined that is the only way to play the game. maybe that is where the problem lies...

probably no one gets what i am talking about here either

 

[DueyDooDah]

I think the point of getting critiques is to help you get better. It allows you to get feedback that you can use in future work. None of us knows it all but all of us know something. Kinda like a collective (i.e., the Borg). If someone gives you a pointer that you can use, then the posting was worth the effort. You can now use an idea that you may have overlooked without aid.

The problem with critiques is you have to have a thick skin. You can't let others dictate your creative work. And, the real hard part, you can't let it discourage you.

If you only want people to tell you if they like it or not, don't ask for a critique, just post it. If you get positive response, you did good. If not, then if you like it, you did good. If you don't like it, well, it probably should not have been posted.

If you want critiques, put on the armor and look pick out the helpful tips. It can only help your photog work.

BTW: There are snobs out there. Ignore me (ehem, them).

 

[MarkBarbieri]

Twice a year, my photo club has a big photo contest. They bring in a couple of judges - typically academics, studio owners, or other people that essentially critique photographs professionally. A big benefit to the contest is that the judges critique many of the entrants, explaining why some shots were chosen over others, what they liked, what they didn't, etc.

Each time, I'm amazed at how often I disagree with the judges and how often I'm disappointed with the thought process behind their choices. The main thing that I've learned is, beyond some basic technical issues, photography is extremely subjective. I'm more interested in the critiques and observation of random people that like pictures than I am in the critiques of artists. And no, that's not sour grapes. I've never bothered to enter the club contests, so I've never had my pride wounded by someone who just didn't happen to like my subject.

I get PM'd on occasion with requests to critique photos. I'm not sure why. I hate doing critiques of anyone else's work. Heck, I feel awkward processing my wife's pictures because I'm never sure what she's trying to accomplish.

If we get into critiquing here, I'd like to make a suggestion. I'd like to see people follow up contests with comments about why they voted for the pictures they voted for. That pretty much forces the critiques to be positive, so people won't feel threatened. It also provides useful feedback to others as to why people liked a particular picture.

probably no one gets what i am talking about here either

I never know what you're talking about, but then, I never pay much attention to what people write anyway. Don't worry, it's not just you. People confuse me.

 

[jann1033]

You can't let others dictate your creative work. .

i think this is the hard part for me since i figure they must be right and i must obey

I'd like to see people follow up contests with comments about why they voted for the pictures they voted for. That pretty much forces the critiques to be positive, so people won't feel threatened. It also provides useful feedback to others as to why people liked a particular picture.


I never know what you're talking about, .

so is that a crititque of my posts?

actually i think that would be a good idea with the contests, at least for the winners or top so many....of course i never ever vote for the winner since a vote by me seems to be the kiss of death to whomever i vote for( be very afraid if i vote for your photo, muwhaaa)..., but that's ok, i like it here in my own little world, shut off from normal society in general