Photography---is an opinionisitic art form

[TwoTwoLeft]

I'm new here also. This is an interesting topic because I was thinking the same thing as the OP as I was lurking around. One thing I did notice, more often than not, was the lack of instruction in the critiques. I'm a professional and instructor in an unrelated field. I know how to teach, critique & give CONSTRUCTIVE criticism. Just saying the composition is bad, or the lighting was horrid with no farther explanation as to why they think that, or HOW it can be fixed, is NOT a critique.

I realize that I'm new here and you regulars probably see the same mistakes over and over with awful photos that make your eyes bleed. If you feel this way and bring nothing to the table, stay out of the beginners forum. If beginners cant post there and receive instruction then what's the point? If I post in there, I don't give a north end of a south bound rat if you "like" the photo or not. That's purely subjective. I want to know whats wrong with it technically and how I can improve.

I'm totally new to digital photography. I spent a lot of time with film in high school & college. After I graduated, my career got in the way so no more darkroom. I had a couple very good photo instructors and a couple egotistical idiots who were part of the "those who cant do, teach" crowd. I learned from all of them, it just always wasn't about photography....

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

**** it!

We should just have the critique forums shut down.

 

[mishele]

TwoTwoLeft.......I hate this place too. Most of these people are assholes!!

But that aside......If you ask specific questions, most of the time you will get someone to answer them. Don't be afraid to call someone on what they don't like. Get in a dialog w/ the people that post in your thread. If people see that you are eager to learn and listen, they will help. Keep posting!!

 

[Josh66]

**** it!

We should just have the critique forums shut down.

I thought they already were...

 

[Joshonator]

I agree with being respectful and truthful. And I've never seen a picture in which I could not find at least one thing that was done or was at least attempted to be done well, unless it was taken by a camera phone in a dark room.

 

[The_Traveler]

And I've never seen a picture in which I could not find at least one thing that was done or was at least attempted to be done well.

You clearly haven't seen my web site.:lmao:

 

[SNBniko]

I have big girl panties I can hand out, and I've even taken the knot out of them already!

I think people need to evaluate for themselves if they can handle critique. If they google "photography forum," find this site, post without reading any of the other critiques, and then are shocked when we don't say their precious picture is the most beauuuuuuutiful in the world, then they deserved what they got. If they came here to learn, they'll get fantastic information. If they came here to be fawned over, well, don't let the door hit you on the way out.

And the whole 'if someone is a jerk put them on ignore' idea, how about just reading the comment and disregarding it? Why does everyone have to get in such a fluff, and get into a pissing match? Just blow past it if it doesn't have anything to offer, don't take it so seriously.

I'm no photography master... not by any stretch. But these same lessons apply everywhere in life. Horses, for example, are humbling machines. The second you get cocky and aren't paying attention, you'll almost get your arm ripped out of socket or get thrown on your ass. Forgiving horses don't teach good riding, it's the tricky, 'dirty' ones that do. You've got to be spot on, or you'll get your piece of humble pie. And as far as direct riding critiques? My trained gets after me whenever I need it. I've told her countless times that I don't pay her $50 for an hours worth of 'oh you look wonderful!' I pay her so she can tell me I suck, and how to improve. Anything that anyone wants to excel at requires hard work and improvement. How do you improve if there's no one there to tell you where you're going wrong?

Again, pull up your big girl panties, or get off the pot. ....something along those lines. =P

 

[TwoTwoLeft]

TwoTwoLeft.......I hate this place too. Most of these people are assholes!!

But that aside......If you ask specific questions, most of the time you will get someone to answer them. Don't be afraid to call someone on what they don't like. Get in a dialog w/ the people that post in your thread. If people see that you are eager to learn and listen, they will help. Keep posting!!

I don't think the people are assholes. Some just simply don't know how to critique effectively. Just because someone is an expert in their field doesn't make them a good teacher.

I hang around airports a a lot and I thought pilots had big egos... Photographers have them beat by a landslide!

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

:violin:

 

[Overread]

So to summarise:

Some people can give good constructive critique and some can't
and
Some people can take critique and some can't

Where you get those that can together its all good - where you get combinations of those who can't you get problems and when you get both who can't you get a horrible mess.

 

[mishele]

Yeah at this point go fly a kite.....I'm not babying you anymore....lol
BTW.......I was messing around about all of you being assholes....just some of you are......

 

[manaheim]

Yeah at this point go fly a kite.....I'm not babying you anymore....lol
BTW.......I was messing around about all of you being assholes....just some of you are......

*raises hand*

 

[skieur]

Good constructive criticism is only possible when it is basically a good photo without the appropriate attention to details necessary to make it a great photo.

Good constructive criticism is NOT possible when there is NO centre of interest, NO attention to composition and major technical flaws. Perhaps "read the manual", "take courses", "join a camera club", or "sell your camera and find another hobby" would be the most constructive criticism possible.

skieur

 

[mishele]

You also need to know intent. Artistically speaking......unless you know what they want to portray you can't help them......lol

 

[mishele]

Yeah at this point go fly a kite.....I'm not babying you anymore....lol
BTW.......I was messing around about all of you being assholes....just some of you are......

*raises hand*

You were the asshole I was thinking of.......