Lucky_Dog wrote:
You must have a guilty conscience. I was pretty careful not to indict you; frankly I have no opinion about your behavior around here… sorry if you thought I was speaking about you.
Your reply is funny, though it hurts my head to get into why.
Wouldn't it be a funny psychological test to have people e-mail you their favorite image from an unposted wedding (or couple) and have you create a thread that posts them without names? No status... no preconceptions. Just images to view and comment on without a name to make us think one way or another.
We'd probably have to do it in April or May to give everyone a chance to have a new wedding to pull from so that the couple isn't recognizable. But I think it would be great fun!
Anonymous critique is a potentially useful tool I've seen implemented on other forums.
My standard for providing critique is to ask myself the question: have I done my best to provide feedback in the best interest of the artist. This goes for both my response and the manner in which the response is presented.
Neither "tough love" nor supreme delicacy are universally appropriate.
Evan you make a lot of good points.
I do think at least here at FM, that a large number of those posting work do want honest feedback that will help them grow. And that a large (I would say the majority) of people offering comments truly want to help.
I know for myself I may have a favorite image in a batch I upload, and am interested if that is the one others comment on.
We all get too close to our work, and these forums provide a way to get more objective viewpoints.
If I listened to my clients and family, I would think I was a genius. I come here to stay humble
Good points by Suzi and Evan. I agree with some, disagree with others.
My main feeling is that what goes on here is generally normal (for better and worse). Overall, I've found this too be a generally happy and community friendly forum. On top of that, it's helped me grow a ton (when I started posting here I got hammered), and more importantly I've made some honestly close friends (both local and across the country) and have experienced a bunch through that.
Bottom line: I like it here. Some people are great, some I could live without, but most people seem to post to be helpful to others, weather psychologically or technically. How they do that varies, but most are goodhearted folks.
unblinkable wrote:
Wouldn't it be a funny psychological test to have people e-mail you their favorite image from an unposted wedding (or couple) and have you create a thread that posts them without names? No status... no preconceptions. Just images to view and comment on without a name to make us think one way or another.
I think I suggested this a few weeks ago. People jumped on me about it. I still think it's a really good idea. I believe they do it on DWF.
I agree with Evan on all points. I find that critiques here are honest, fair, etc. But I, for one, am an auditory and tactile learner and I feel I would learn BEST with a one-on-one mentor. I am working with a photographer now, but I am also looking for someone local to give me honest critique. I wish I had the opportunity to take classes in photography - working on assignments and getting one-on-one critiques from professionals in the business is one of the best ways to grow. It also teaches you how to think about what you do - how to analyze what you've created. It's not for everyone, but I know it would help me immensely.
I'm on a good path now - I have yet to meet a lay person who doesn't ooh and ahh over my photography. But I want to grow and I'm not completely satisfied where I am - and not totally satisfied with internet critiques. It's a learning process.
I still stand by if you're going to tear up someone's work or offer your detailed advice, you should post up your own work/links - certainly, one's ideals about 'good' or 'correct' photography are questionable when their own work doesn't demonstrate their ability to shoot a solid photograph. People are surely entitled to their opinions, but critical, specific analysis has to come from somewhere - it's almost a joke to read the People forums sometimes, where I've seen a professional fashion photographer's work get beatdown by those who couldn't shoot a frame of it or even begin to understand it. 'it's too dark', 'that light isn't correct', 'you might want to fix XXXX in post' - meanwhile, the shot is nearly flawless. If the shooter says 'no, this is actually correct because...' he gets flamed by the masses for not accepting critique - meanwhile, others reading this thread are taking this bad advice at face value, because they critiquers have a high post count and not because they understand the style. Had the 'experts' left some of their own work available for a discerning person to take a look at, one could see if they spoke from experience or out their ###es - just because you can use your Color Picker tool and see an image clipping or not does not mean you know the first thing about why a photograph does or doesn't work.
Wow, was that ever out there. Like, that crazy relative at Christmas dinner.
Tony Hoffer wrote:
Some people are great, some I could live without
I think someone can offer very valid and valuable critique without others knowing their work .. in fact one of the strongest photographers in North America is an anonymous poster here and sometimes offers critique. His concise comments are very valuable. Not often well received, but very valuable.
What bugs me is the anonymous bragging about package pricing and being busy .. sentences like "Well, I'm booked solid at $3,000 +" should be backed up with a website link to have any credibility.
jeremy_clay wrote:
- just because you can use your Color Sample tool and see and image clipping or not does not mean you know the first thing about why a photograph does or doesn't work.
Ray Soemarsono wrote:
I rarely read long posts, but I like this one.
Post this in People forum and let the hilarity ensue!
It's there, and only 1 reply (big shock?). ContagiousIdea cross-posted for him, but if any forum should study it, People Photography would be in the running.
I like social experiments.