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The question of no critique…
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Martin wrote:
Have to admit I get very little from the critique sections anymore, find them quite boring.
You’re one of the many here that I appreciate posting images up. They’re normally beyond the usual posts and frequently have the natural look that you spoke of on the Messy post. OK, it’s in C&C but an appreciation of your stuff is enough for me and I don’t have to go to individual sites to see them. C&C as Mick says in cases like yours is frequently unnecessary as the style holds its own.
Maybe a non-critique section might be useful…along with the other 64 sections.
OK folks. Lets get back to the discussion, which has plenty of value
and interesting points.Thanks
:arrow: :arrow: https://www.photographyireland.net/viewtopic.php?t=1 8) 8)
As a newcomer to the realm of DSLR photography I Voted in the “I’d like to help but doubt the validity of my own opinions” category.
I did this for two reasons, 1 – I am still only learning all the different aspects of taking a good image and 2 – I dont have the technical expertise of post processing to say what would improve an image.For what it’s worth I believe that a comments/critique section is vital to a beginner like me to be able to understand both how and why a camera does what it does using certain settings, what makes a good composition and what post processing can be done to turn the “good” image into a “great” image.
However I also fully understand where the more experienced would get frustrated from taking the time to C&C something only to see their advice not taken on board, but on the other hand patience is a virtue and us beginners will probably make the same mistakes a few times until it sinks in what we are doing wrong.I have submitted a few images in the C&C sections, and I am thankful for those that have taken the time to comment and provide valuable advice, the fact that some have not been commented on doesn’t bother me (yet!), to me that means those images just didn’t either “make the grade” or just didn’t appeal to anyone. But isn’t that the thing with photography? Like other arts they are subjective, beauty or beast is in the eye of the beholder.
As I get more experience and confidence then I will no doubt feel that my opinions would become more valid, then I will post C&C on images, otherwise how will others learn?
I don’t know much about the software for hosting this type of forum, but would there be any way of adding some sort of selection boxes similar to a thanks button on other forums maybe to allow a quick “like” or “dont like” and if someone wants to make a full C&C they do a reply as normal.
Just my thoughts and suggestions.
Sean
This seems a bit of a difficult question to answer now, as so many issues have been raised…
But, I don’t buy the ‘I’m a beginner so I don’t critique’ thing.
Giving some sort of critique on pictures is a really valuable learning tool. I don’t think it’s enough to say, I like or I don’t like. How is that helping anyone?
People need to think why they like it, why they don’t like it… It’s a reasonable way of finding out what you’d like from yourself.I’ll accept that it can be difficult to articulate at times, maybe especially here, where so much emphasis is placed on technical ability, it seems at times that’s all people are looking for,
like they have a list and their ticking the boxes as they go along.Things like…
Highlights
Horizons
Shadow Detail
Sharpness
Post Processing
Exposure
Etc
Blah Blah…In many cases all these things are spot on, but the post may go still go unanswered…
Personally, I like pictures where the photographer has something to say, I’m much less interested in the other things, so I find in many cases I’m unmoved to say anything about them.
I’d imagine I’m not the only one here that thinks that way.I think a bit more discussion in the critique forum might be helpful, although some people don’t seem to like this, did someone say earlier they avoided comments on some peoples pictures for exactly this reason?
Critique is not for everyone and that’s okay there is a lot more to this site than critique. I don’t really think people should feel pressured to offer critique, I mean each to their own, right?
But, I do think it’s useful, especially in the beginning, especially to offer critique and not just post pictures for it.Also, those who offer critique have to accept that it is all just subjective and there may be times when they may be wrong.
That’s what I think anyway…
Sinead
Can someone show us an example of what they consider a ‘good critique’ and preferably not a jb7 post because that would be too easy.
I’m not quite sure if it concerns me as to the absolute reasoning behind why someone might like one of my photos… and I’m not even sure if their interpretation of why they like or dislike something would particularly tally up with mine. The photo has been taken, the thought process behind it is history… sure, critique might influence the future, but the past is the past and we are effectively discussing the past. Making any sense am I?
That being said… maybe sometimes people say things and it’s might be that one piece of the jigsaw puzzle that was missing in my head.
I dunno John, that’s like, can someone show us a good photograph?
It’ll be different things to different people, like those things I mentioned, the technical things. Maybe that’s exactly the kind of critique some people are looking for?Hi All,
This thread has been very interesting.
PI has many members.
There are lots of different personalities.The photographic skills of the members probably varies from novice to highly qualified.
The confidence to express opinions probably varies from extremely shy to extremely confident.
The ability to express opinions in writing will also vary a great deal.
What members expect to give to or receive from the site will vary.
How members react to critique will not be uniform.
How members react to no critique will not be uniform.I have been a member of many clubs over the years.
Lions, GAA, Soccer, Union, Social and Camera.
I like to be involved and to contribute.
Some say I have too much to say. :?
I have often ended up as secretary, chairman, treasurer, manager, pitch marker,
quiz master ……..
Some members take part in the clubs activities but never say anything.
Some pay their fees and never do anything.
Some do loads, put loads in and never take anything out.
Some complain that nobody else ever does anything.
Different people with differing lives, expectations, skills and personalities.
Clubs are like that.When you stick your head up it can get shot at. :shock:
Maybe sometimes all a member has to say about an photo is “I like it”.
Maybe later they will learn to know why and to express it.
I wouldn’t like to stop all comment except those that contain articulate and
knowlegdeable critique.I like it when my posts get replies.
I like it better when the reply contains information that I can use to improve my
skills and thus my enjoyment of my photography.
But I still want the simple replies.I like this site.
I hope it continues to thrive.
I hope members of all skill levels continue to contribute by posting images and
commenting on other members posts.I am only new here.
I am learning about photography.
I am also trying to learn how to read and appraise photographs.It’s not a bad thing to be doing. :)
Cheers,
John.
I don’t want to be seen to be hiding behind the “I’m a beginner” argument, what i was trying to put across was that i am not yet confident enough in my own ability to provide what i would consider meaningful c&c yet.
At the moment, i am at the ” By luck rather than by Judgement” stage with my new hobby so confidence in my own ability is low.
But perhaps the only way i can get that confidence and learn more is, as sinead says, to start some c&c now, and that is a valid point and noted.
Sean
Some excellent points raised. Everyone will have their own opinion on whether a photograph is good or not. A thread which was brought up not so long ago discussed the topic of What makes a good photograph? I don’t think there is a definitive answer to this mainly because people think differently and have their own individual values and opinions on what is good/bad and thankfully so. I am often amazed though that from X number of views on a photo, there is nobody with any opinion of whether it is technically good/bad, whether it appeals to them or not. Zilch. I would much prefer to hear that it was rubbish than to not hear any feedback at all, mainly because, I don’t know where I went wrong, I don’t know how to improve etc. I don’t expect a long drawn out explanation on every little detail, but a guideline can really help. If there were vote buttons, as on some sites ie thumbs up/ thumbs down, even without a comment, this would at least tell if the photo has any appeal.
5faythe wrote:
Maybe sometimes all a member has to say about an photo is “I like it”.
Maybe later they will learn to know why and to express it.
I wouldn’t like to stop all comment except those that contain articulate and
knowlegdeable critique.I like it when my posts get replies.
I like it better when the reply contains information that I can use to improve my
skills and thus my enjoyment of my photography.
But I still want the simple replies.I like this site.
I hope it continues to thrive.
I hope members of all skill levels continue to contribute by posting images and
commenting on other members posts.I am only new here.
I am learning about photography.
I am also trying to learn how to read and appraise photographs.It’s not a bad thing to be doing. :)
Cheers,
John.
That sums up what i was trying to say in a much more articulate manner
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