Pixtus - Photography Forum, Photographers, Photo Tips

John_A · **Critique -** 06-30-2011, 09:14 PM

I am still kinda a newbie here. Hopefully I have a photog's eye in my own cosmic-cowboy kind of way.

Today a thread popped up with an older established member wanting Critique on the photo. I thought I would either edit it to the left or to the right and the way it stood just did not work for me.

Then I remembered I am just a fan in South Houston looking for a mentor.

Should I just keep my comments to myself????

Kirk · 06-30-2011, 09:43 PM

If I understand you correctly, I think you are asking, "should a newer forum member and relatively inexperienced photographer critique an established member and experienced photographer?"

My answer is, yes you should.

I do photography as a professional only very part time, and I'm a graphic designer as my day trade. In graphic design, there's a heavy emphasis on critique and revision, because design has to convey a message perfectly.

In design, I'm much more experienced than some of my colleagues, but they still critique my work, and I theirs.

In my opinion, critique serves a lot of great purposes, not the least of which is keeping the artist humble. Experience counts for a lot, but fresh eyes do too. Tried and true methods count for a lot, but so does uninhibited, out of the box creativity.

The reality is, your critique might be WAY off and ten people will explain to you why it's not the best advice after all. But you tried, and now you know. But, if you're right on, then you've been a part of someone's creative process and helped everyone watching to see into your own creative thought process and maybe even some unique and amazing talent you didn't even know you had.

Most creatives need just as much practice giving critiques as they do receiving them. So practice!
Give critiques humbly, but honestly, receive them humbly, and respect them as valid, even if you never intend to implement them. That's the only way that critique can ever truly work. Otherwise, we're all just patting each other on the back, and nobody's work gets better that way.

I feel really strongly about open and effective critique, can you tell?

Kalrog · 06-30-2011, 10:01 PM

I understood your question about the same way that Kirk did... and I totally agree with his answer. As long as your critique is honest and respectfully given, right or wrong isn't the point. Opinion and perception are. Yours are just as valid as anyone else's - and will only get better the more you critique and share.

bryanlindsey · 06-30-2011, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kalrog

Yours are just as valid as anyone else's - and will only get better the more you critique and share.

Our clients are not trained photo experts. It is beneficial to receive critique from a wide range of people to help us see how others see our images.

wclavey · 06-30-2011, 10:26 PM

Johnny, I agree with what has already been said. In addition, I will add 2 other points: (1) we were all new on the forum at one time or another, and (2) I saw the pictures you took on our visit to Glenwood last month - - you have every right to stand on solid ground offering criticism. You do not need tyo be an expert to be able to say what, in your opinion, is good or could be improves, as long as you do it honestly and constructively.

groovyone · 06-30-2011, 10:31 PM

The others have said it better than I could have. Do not be afraid to offer your critiques as long as it is in a constructive way. People will often have diferent takes on a shot, regardless of how long they have been shooting.

Snarfy · 07-01-2011, 01:39 AM

We post on forums to get critiques and/or accolades. So yeah, say something. Careful editing other's work (check their "can others" preference before diving in).

John_A · 07-01-2011, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snarfy

We post on forums to get critiques and/or accolades. So yeah, say something. Careful editing other's work (check their "can others" preference before diving in).

It was your shot of the industrial door that I would of added or subtracted from. Great shot - just my way of looking at it.

Don't want hard feelings from the group.....

groovyone · 07-01-2011, 09:16 AM

As long as you offer comments in a constructive way, no one should have hurt feelings. Just make sure the thread is marked CC and not NC.

Snarfy · 07-01-2011, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John_A

It was your shot of the industrial door that I would of added or subtracted from. Great shot - just my way of looking at it.

Don't want hard feelings from the group.....

Haha, wow thats great! Please, post critiques, comments, or questions in that thread (and others that you come across). I'd love to hear what you have to say!

wclavey · 07-01-2011, 01:22 PM

That's an interesting comment, Johnny... I saw that shot , too, and generally liked it, but I thought it would have benefited from a little more space around it... perhaps some un-cropping... or seriously cropping the right side, even if it took out half the dumpster...

donlfaulkner · 07-01-2011, 07:06 PM

Offer your critiques and comments. I, for one, am very grateful for any and all I can get (which is very rare for some reason). This is the way we as photographers grow.

SCone · 07-01-2011, 07:32 PM

Your observation was spot-on, IMO... it can be the most trivial thing that makes a photo go from "a good shot" to "WOW.... "