Brutally honest critique thread

[FrankS]

Generally on RFF we are a supportive, chummy-chummy group, and polite to a fault in our responses to pictures that are posted. When someone does come along with a harsher than normal for RFF critique, it is somewhat jarring and unexpected. This thread is only for those willing to have their images shredded if they deserve to be; kind of a tough love reality check.

I don't mean that a great picture should be unfairly insulted, the poster should not be personally insulted, just that in this thread, no allowances need to be made to consider a poster's feelings. In fact, if you have thin skin, you probably shouldn't offer a pic to be critiqued here.

I'd like to start by requesting that Ned critique this image of mine: Street Vendor

 

[back alley]

chummy-chummy ?

 

[daveleo]

Pick your own critic ?

 

[FrankS]

Pick your own critic ?

Sure you can make a request. But anyone can comment, as long as stays true to the tough love nature of this thread.

 

[back alley]

Of course it's chummy-chummy. As soon as I give a honest critique it seems you don't like it much. And yet, a place like RFF should be the home of serious photographers that take this photography thing very seriously AS WELL as amateurs, AS WELL as Gear fondlers.

RFF is a fine place with fine people. It wouldn't hurt to give honest critiques without people starting to think they're getting attacked.

it's not what is said.
it's how it's said.
you might be a good photographer but that's not enough...

 

[Jamie Pillers]

Frank, I think you'll find that there'll be no difference in the responses to a "brutally honest" critique thread and a "chummy-chummy" one. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I've found that to be profoundly true here (and anywhere else I've experienced the critique process). Good sailing though. 🙂

 

[MickH]

Have you got another version of this photograph Frank, or a link to it elsewhere? It's very pixelated from where I'm sitting.

 

[KM-25]

I cropped the top out to just get rid of the black bag and it made the guy buried in clothes stand out a *lot* more to me.

Otherwise I had to hunt around to get a feel for it at first glance. A slightly lower angle might have brought more interesting scene setting elements into the background.

Or, a wider shot to give a bit more whimsical context?

 

[daveleo]

Have you got another version of this photograph Frank, or a link to it elsewhere? It's very pixelated from where I'm sitting.

Indeed. Need to see a really large version if we are considering IQ in the mix here.

 

[FrankS]

Hi Jamie. I'm hoping there will be a difference. Who can grow if all they ever hear is that their work is nice/good. People should only offer an image if they want to hear what's wrong/ weak, and due to the introduction, NO HURT FEELINGS. Can't stress this enough!

 

[FrankS]

IQ: sorry, the image is on film and scanned, no larger version. That's a valid criticism, thanks!

Crop the top, yes, I can see that, thanks!

Wider view to give a more street context, yes, I can see that, thanks!

 

[Ranchu]

It's too close, and you blew it by hitting the frame on the right. Maybe crop so it gets abstract, like

 

[jesse1dog]

Tried the cropping of the top that KM-25 suggested and it did help a bit!
I wasn't sure why you had bothered to take this particular view of the vendor because I found it muddling. I have to assume you have others. Does the bike help the picture? Of course it's really a colour shot not b&w! (?)
Quick, give the vendor a shout so that he sticks his head out!

Is this the sort of reaction you are asking for?

 

[furcafe]

I would actually make it an even tighter composition, concentrating on the clothing (?) hanging on the rack, cropping both the top & the left side. For a "do-over" I would also shoot the same scene in color (assuming a film shot).

 

[jky]

I think it's fine without the crop - makes it more top heavy & that's what this guy looks like he's experiencing.

Don't necessarily agree with more breathing space - unless the added space adds some value to what you saw ie: through geometry for instance.

 

[FrankS]

Tried the cropping of the top that KM-25 suggested and it did help a bit!
I wasn't sure why you had bothered to take this particular view of the vendor because I found it muddling. I have to assume you have others. Does the bike help the picture? Of course it's really a colour shot not b&w! (?)
Quick, give the vendor a shout so that he sticks his head out!

Is this the sort of reaction you are asking for?

Yes! Point out whatever is weak. Thanks!

 

[Timmyjoe]

I looked into taking one of those Summit workshops, and one of the draws is that it is run by people in the photo business I respect and there would be an opportunity to have one of these respected individuals critique my portfolio. In my research I found a video of the founder of the Summit series of workshops, and one of the selling points he talks about in his "team teaching" approach to photo workshops is that all three "professionals" who teach a particular section of the workshop, all three of these folks would individually critique your portfolio. And the advantage of this he said, was that even "professionals", when critiquing work, come down to opinion. And he thinks it is better to get three different opinions on each of your photos, because all three may be different and even though one person may really not like the work, the other two might.

After thinking about that for a while, I've decided that one person's opinion of my work is not nearly as valuable as a number of people's opinions of my work.

 

[FrankS]

Frank,

I like your image but a few things come to mind the first moment I look at it.

-The subject is difficult to understand due to the processing. It takes a while until I see clearly what it is about.

-The angle. I think that 45 degree angle shots on the street reveal a passive and scared photographer, generally. I think it would have worked if you were bang on in front, at 180 degrees.

-The bicycle protruding is a bit annoying. Yes I know, it's almost impossible to see and to control. Once you try to get past the bike, the subject has changed position. But still, it's there and I'll mention it.

-The wide angle is too distorted and angle too high. You are a tall man, yes? Sometimes it's good to change perspective, get down a little.
too often we forget to do this. We see everything from where we stand and from our height. If our height shows on all the pictures, it will end up distracting the images. In this case, the combination of proximity to the subject, your height and the wide angle sums up as a bit distracting. Your presence is felt and, to me, overempowers the shot.

I love wide angle photograpghy but it's very, very hard to master. I believe that wide angle works well when one succeeds in making it look like a 50mm shot. And when a 50mm shot is used as a wide angle lens, that's when it becomes magic.

All in all, interesting shot.


Also, it lacks a moment. It's only a salesman burried in his clothes.

---

Wishing you all the best

The deepest insight you offered cuts to the core: I am a timid street photographer! It is difficult to read, the IQ I offered is not good. 35mm lens, standing up straight.

Thank you Ned!

Next image?

 

[daveleo]

Frank, you asked.
Normally I would not comment on this picture if it were posted in the gallery here.
But, again.... you asked.

There is nothing about this picture that I like.
The IQ is horrid, for whatever reason (as a viewer, I don't care what the reason is).
You also missed probably a wonderful riot of color by shooting this in B&W. I'd wager that stuff he's carrying had some punchy punchy colors that you left out.
The composition is almost as bad as the IQ.

If you take this personally, then *I* will be offended. I gave you my honest cold viewer opinion of this one image. That's all I did.

I will end by asking YOU .... what do you think of this picture. Your honest opinion.

 

[FrankS]

I looked into taking one of those Summit workshops, and one of the draws is that it is run by people in the photo business I respect and there would be an opportunity to have one of these respected individuals critique my portfolio. In my research I found a video of the founder of the Summit series of workshops, and one of the selling points he talks about in his "team teaching" approach to photo workshops is that all three "professionals" who teach a particular section of the workshop, all three of these folks would individually critique your portfolio. And the advantage of this he said, was that even "professionals", when critiquing work, come down to opinion. And he thinks it is better to get three different opinions on each of your photos, because all three may be different and even though one person may really not like the work, the other two might.

After thinking about that for a while, I've decided that one person's opinion of my work is not nearly as valuable as a number of people's opinions of my work.

Agreed. I've gotten several opinions here that I really appreciate, and it is devoid of emotion or ego. We need to be honest. Hopefully this thread helps.