As far as gripes about C & Cs, I've gotta say... it's tough sometimes.
Probably 50% of the C & C's I open aren't bad photographs, technically speaking... neither do I consider them good, though. The technical proficiency may be there, but I find the subject matter to simply be rather boring. There's no real critique to make in that case because it's not bad for any technical reasons, really. There aren't many ways to really make it better without me saying," Take pictures of stuff more interesting.... these are putting me to sleep." That's the truth, but it's not constructive or even all that helpful. And, hey, who says that the measure of what is or isn't interesting begins and ends with me, you know?
I have that reaction on many of the C/C threads I open... and those are cases in which I don't reply. I have a feeling that this is the same for many other forum members, too. The C/C threads that seem to ramp up many views but get no comments... you can likely bet this is why. The photos aren't technically all that flawed (usually), but they just lack any real appeal whatsoever... they don't interest people, and so people don't feel compelled to add their two cents about how they could be improved.
Being able to self-critique is a HUGE part of growing in the craft of photography... as in most other artistic crafts. People need to at least be able to "self-filter" to some degree. Sure, many individuals are very new to the craft (days or weeks, sometimes)... but we all look at photography all day long in magazines, newspapers, advertising, etc, etc. Many people here that might give C/Cs expect at least some rudimentary ability on the part of the posters to honestly ask themselves "Is this really a good photo, at all?" and "Is this even worth posting?"
Just another thought: a way to illustrate my last point.
Everyone here has inevitably seen American Idol at some point in the past few years.... even if you can't stand the show, chances are you've still managed to be sucked into seeing an episode or at least a clip or two of it... whether on TV or YouTube or the news, or whatever.
Anyhow, you know those people that Simon is so famous for crapping all over? You know why? Because they were literally so terrible that they truly, truly, truly shouldn't have needed a panel of judges to tell them so.
I mean, everyone here... we are all reasonably intelligent people. We've got a clue or two. Now really... when you see people get onto American Idol and they are so bad that it is laughable... aren't you moved to say," Are you kidding me? Why are they even there?" Forget trying to be an "american idol"... they haven't even escalated to the level of a bad singer yet... what they do could barely even be passed off as singing, at all. They are so bad that even an experienced singer couldn't set them straight, or even begin to, without a bare minimum of a one month course concerning the absolute, bare-bones basics of voice and
learning to listen to one's self.
Well, the same thing applies to many posts that ask for C&C. Sometimes viewers take a look at the pics and think," Seriously???? Are you really posting these for critique?"
Look, I'm not saying it happens all the time... I'm really not. I've posted my share of replies to C&C threads and been happy to do so in those situations... whether I was just sayin "Nice shots" or doing my best to constructively inform. But sometimes I open C&C threads and my reaction is no different than yours when a terrible singer at the American Idol try-outs belts out a blood-curdling cover of a Janet Jackson song that makes you want to shoot yourself. And here's the thing: Most people that watch American Idol aren't singers themselves (neither am I)... yet we can both sit there on the couch and say," R u f-ing kidding me?" It's not a superiority complex at work, guys!
They really are verifiably terrible and anyone with half a brain can tell that. They are bad on such a fundamental level that a person with no experience whatsoever should be able to identify them as terrible. The same applies to soooo many photographs posted for C&C.
When you're at that level, you don't have to get a panel of forum reviewers to tell you that.... when we are talking about some of the most fundamental flaws of photography that can possibly exist... which anyone from me, to my point-and-shooting Mom, to my 90-year-old grandmother could tell just by looking at any given photograph that is set in front of them.
Yet, so often, when people post here for C&C... these very basic principles of a good photo -principles which we ought to be able to identify simply by looking at good photos in our everyday life- are somehow entirely ignored.
"What do you think of these?", the post asks. The bigger question I sometimes think to myself is," What do
you think of these... honestly???"
So much of the ignored C&Cs are a result of posters not self-filtering their own work. That's what I'm really trying to articulate here.
So for all future members... before you post a C&C.... before you ask the forum "What do you think of these?"...
ask yourself that question. See if, all by yourself, you're capable of generating enough critique to hit the drawing board and do better. You'd be amazed how little help you need from the forum... and how much attention you'll get with your C&C posts if you post material that really deserves a look... that really deserves someone's time and insight.
EDIT*****
And btw... if you ignore this advice and go posting a photographic version of William Hung's "She Bangs"... don't be surprised if some people can't resist giving a "Simon"-like response. Not that it's not mean... but honestly... just like Will Hung.... you should've seen it coming a mile away... in which case, you could've easily avoided the entire scenario.
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