Are we too critical . . .

[daveleo]

. . . of other peoples' pictures?

Do we expect too much ?

Do we give a picture the time it deserves before clicking away ?

I am too critical. 90% of what I look at grade a "C". Maybe I just don't get it. Maybe, as a viewer, I expect too much . . . . or I don't try hard enough to see what I am looking at.

 

[dcsang]

Art is a subjective thing; what one person adores another person despises.

Grading something that is subjective seems to be a losing battle.

Just let it be - just because you (or someone else) doesn't "get it" doesn't mean it's "bad" or "good" or that the viewer expects too much or not enough. It just "is".

In the end, the only person that really has to be happy with an image is the person who created it. If it makes any other person feel good/happy or elicits an emotion that the creator intended then the image has more than done its job.

Cheers,
Dave

 

[daveleo]

Yeh . . . I slipped up . . . didn't mean to suggest that I actually grade pictures in my mind. I should have said "If I had to assign grades, 90% would get C's".

 

[haempe]

No problem with being critical with others, if one is even more critical with himself...

 

[jsrockit]

There seems to be a very cynical view about photography in general. It seems sad to me because I'm a fan still and I truly believe there is great work done by every generation during each decade since its inception.

 

[willie_901]

Dave,

Be as critical as you need to be.

At least you aren't spending time evaluating the nature of 10 x 10 pixel segments from a 16 million pixel image.

You may be learning something useful too.

 

[upceci]

I don't have the time to look at my own pictures, secondly by being a baker of confectionery one loses the appetite for confectionery...

 

[hepcat]

People who take images have varying levels of skills. Even really, really talented photographers produce 'blah' images... that's why there are proof sheets! And people take images for many different reasons... mostly are quite utilitarian... family snapshots, vacation snapshots, illustration, and so forth. Once in a while... occasionally, there is an image that just grabs you. Frankly the rest of them probably should be graded "C".

Everything in nature is on a bell curve, and that means that only the +1 standard deviations receive an "A." Given my tastes that's about what I see.

Oh, but of course ALL of MY images get an "A." NOT! <grin>

 

[Clint Troy]

I usually tend to give E notes quite easily. I find a lot if work mediocre. Some of it quite bad, some ok and so on. Probably a mixture of many things, including the face that we've probably seen it all. But there are far too many newbies and unexperienced photographers thinking they are great.

Believe it or not, the best pic I saw on a forum, one that really stroke me, dates from 5 years ago.

 

[Joosep]

Nope.

People are just getting stupider and lazier each year.
More and more people want more and more stuff faster and with less effort.

 

[Godfrey]

. . . of other peoples' pictures?
Do we expect too much ?
Do we give a picture the time it deserves before clicking away ?
...

Qs 1 & 2: Yes, no, maybe.
Q 3: No, for the vast majority.

My rules of critique:

Be as critical as you want, but be constructive and positive about how you present your critique when asked.

Talk about the photos, not to the photographer. Don't presume that you understand the photographer's intent — frame your critique in the context of what you see and how it affects you.

Take enough time to frame your thoughts about a photo rather than blurting out a critique too quickly.

Separate the notions of a photo's content from commentary and critique on its technical merits. Although the two things do have to support one another, sometimes a very fine photo is simply in need of better rendering, and sometimes a beautifully rendered photo simply lacks enough story or intent to be considered good.

Say "thank you" when you get a nice comment, if the situation is apropos.

Say "nice job" if you like what someone did and feel you must add a comment, but haven't much specific in mind.

Don't say anything if all you are going to do is say "that sux!"

NEVER modify and re-distribute someone else's photo without asking them off-line first if it is all right, or unless the person who posted it specifically granted viewers to modify and play with it.​

G

 

[Sparrow]

... lots of rules there then?

 

[daveleo]

When I asked the question, I wasn't thinking of the critical comments we leave on photos in forum galleries. I was thinking about "are you too critical in your mind, as you look at pictures?". . . . I was asking myself . . . "is my 90% are C's" mindset because I expect too much or I don't understand what I'm looking at? I was wondering if others felt they are also too critical (whether or not they comment on pictures.)

 

[L David Tomei]

What's wrong with "C"? It's usually considered to be average. You rightly consider most images to be graded C.

 

[Murchu]

I figure, you like what you like. For me, I usually know what I like pretty quickly, and have no issue consigning the rest of what I see to the visual dustbin in my mind. We're swimming in imagery, and life's too short to waste on mediocre images, in my opinion. I try to give most things in life their fair shake, but I'm not going to get hung up on those things that perhaps I don't, life just ain't fair all the time 🙂

 

[Godfrey]

When I asked the question, I wasn't thinking of the critical comments we leave on photos in forum galleries. I was thinking about "are you too critical in your mind, as you look at pictures?". . . . I was asking myself . . . "is my 90% are C's" mindset because I expect too much or I don't understand what I'm looking at? I was wondering if others felt they are also too critical (whether or not they comment on pictures.)

It's important to look at photos critically whether or not you care to comment on them if you want to push your skills at photographic appreciation and understanding.

I try to look at my own stuff even more critically. It's rare that I see a photo, my own or otherwise, that is wholly without issues technically. And likely just as rare to see photos that trigger the "iconic" visual message flag. Most photos earn a C or passing grade, few are Bs, fewer still are As. And that's how it should be, or you're not being critical enough.

G

 

[Godfrey]

... lots of rules there then?

Yes. Doing critiques in a forum context requires a level of protocol to maintain good relationships, further the work, and continue to develop the forum positively.

Bad relationships cause people to stop hearing, stop listening. When that happens, the work isn't furthered and the forum shrinks, people no longer care to comment. Etc.

G

 

[Thardy]

Qs 1 & 2: Yes, no, maybe.
Q 3: No, for the vast majority.

My rules of critique:

Be as critical as you want, but be constructive and positive about how you present your critique when asked.

Talk about the photos, not to the photographer. Don't presume that you understand the photographer's intent — frame your critique in the context of what you see and how it affects you.

Take enough time to frame your thoughts about a photo rather than blurting out a critique too quickly.

Separate the notions of a photo's content from commentary and critique on its technical merits. Although the two things do have to support one another, sometimes a very fine photo is simply in need of better rendering, and sometimes a beautifully rendered photo simply lacks enough story or intent to be considered good.

Say "thank you" when you get a nice comment, if the situation is apropos.

Say "nice job" if you like what someone did and feel you must add a comment, but haven't much specific in mind.

Don't say anything if all you are going to do is say "that sux!"

NEVER modify and re-distribute someone else's photo without asking them off-line first if it is all right, or unless the person who posted it specifically granted viewers to modify and play with it.​

G

I think we all forget to do that sometimes. It makes it seem as if the photographer thinks everything he/she shoots is really good and expects continual pats on the back.

 

[Chris101]

I hate "constructive" criticism. If I have put the time in to posting a picture, I have already thought about it, and do not want to hear what people on the internet think could have been done better. Tell me instead of what the picture means to you, or tell me it sucques. I can take it.

 

[Clint Troy]

Chris, i like your work quite a bit. It never soqx.