Gallery Critiques

[Doug]

Brooks Jensen, Editor of Lenswork magazine, in issue #58, suggested, “See your composition in terms of its large masses first, and let the film reveal the details. Learn that composition is about shapes and that texture is about details.”

This reminded me of a time in the late ‘60’s when my aunt admired the textures of some enlargements I’d made; I believe there was wood, rock, and so forth. I had great respect for this aunt...

It strikes me that positive comments can have their hazards. Due to my aunt’s praising the textures in my photos, I was motivated to pay more attention to textures and make more photos where textures were important. But, considering Jensen’s comment above, in finding something positive to say my aunt might have encouraged me in the wrong direction! Perhaps my compositional shapes were lacking...

When I post a comment for a photo in the RFF gallery I try to be positive. I struggle to avoid making negative comments, and work to phrase a suggestion for improvement in positive terms. Negative comments can be discouraging, may be discounted, or evoke annoyance.

But I like to see something more than “great shot!”, nice as that is; it does take more work and thought to go beyond that... and when we do, we still risk praising something of little significance. Maybe that’s ok? Lord knows there are plenty of dull photos in the gallery, likely some of them mine, some with comments and a lot without! When a photo just strikes me as “blah” I don’t know what there is to say... “How about shooting something more interesting; use your eyes”; etc etc? Read Jensen’s 21 suggestions on improving your photos? 🙂

I’d like to see more comments in the gallery, useful comments that while emphasizing the positive still help the poster see his shot from a different perspective, and in the effort we all can learn.

 

[lubitel]

I think real critique is very important. I want to hear some negative things about my work, because then I know what to work on, or concentrate on. Good critique makes one want to improve.

“See your composition in terms of its large masses first, and let the film reveal the details. Learn that composition is about shapes and that texture is about details.”

This is just the same what I learned about painting. Large shapes and forms are the basis of a good composition/painting, and the details are then painted within.

 

[jaapv]

I'm with you Doug, I would like to see more comments on the gallery and would appreciate criticism on mine. Lets not turn this forum into a mutual admiration society.

 

[Swann]

The people I owe most in my photography are those that criticised my work in a very destructive way. It did hurt, the more because some of these had my full respect, but somehow this criticism brought me ahead. Considering this, every sort of comment to my photographs is welcome, destructive is ok at least it's honest.

 

[taffer]

Doug this makes me want to subscribe to Lenswork mag 😀

BTW as far as I know there's a photo critique section in the board, but it doesn't seem to be a very populated one.

If I'm asked a critique I like to be as honest as possible but point both the good and bad things, the ones I consider a success and which ones don't convince me, that's why I've NEVER liked the rating system. As brief as it is, I very much prefer to leave a 'great shot' (sometimes time doesn't allow for more or a shot strikes me but I can't really think on a constructive critique yet I want to reflect how much I liked that shot) than a void 8/10 🙂

My 0.02, which with luck and today's inflation will buy you a minimini chewing gum or a 5mm nut.

Oscar

 

[RayPA]

The gallery has a "Rate My Photograph" folder (which, IIRC, Jorge created in response to the numerical rating system). That's the closest thing RFF has right now to a critiquing space. I think to have a constructive criticism of the sort you describe would require a moderated folder with some rules for posting and criticism. In absence of that, people have created threads in the forum asking for a critique of images.

Initially I liked the Rate My Photo folder, because everyone seemed to understand that by placing an image there, they were looking for some sort of critique; however, the folder quickly grew very big (there's over 400 images in there now).

There really should be some kind of time and image limitation/requirement (e.g., 5 photographers, 4 images each [whatever one page holds] for one week), and a schedule for posting/submission to the folder. Also, the numerical rating scale that accompanied the comments meant different things to different people. If that's going to be used it probably should have some meaning behind it. I've always thought it ws too long of a scale to be meaningful.

Of course, all of the above would require some degree of moderation...I nominate, Doug! Hehe!


🙂

 

[JimG]

Good point Doug. As for myself I want to hear suggestions re. how I can improve my technique. When it's our own work it's hard sometimes to evaluate the good or bad of an image. As for other peoples photos, if I really like the photo but I see a problem with it I have a hard time making any comment because I don't really know if they want to hear what's wrong along with what's right.

 

[VinceC]

It might be useful to have a separate gallery/forum/thread expressly aimed at genuine criticism/discussion of merits and problems with photos. That way the photographer can specifically request a hard, honest assessment.

 

[jaapv]

The gallery has a "Rate My Photograph" folder (which, IIRC, Jorge created in response to the numerical rating system). That's the closest thing RFF has right now to a critiquing space. I think to have a constructive criticism of the sort you describe would require a moderated folder with some rules for posting and criticism. In absence of that, people have created threads in the forum asking for a critique of images.

Initially I liked the Rate My Photo folder, because everyone seemed to understand that by placing an image there, they were looking for some sort of critique; however, the folder quickly grew very big (there's over 400 images in there now).

There really should be some kind of time and image limitation/requirement (e.g., 5 photographers, 4 images each [whatever one page holds] for one week), and a schedule for posting/submission to the folder. Also, the numerical rating scale that accompanied the comments meant different things to different people. If that's going to be used it probably should have some meaning behind it. I've always thought it ws too long of a scale to be meaningful.

Of course, all of the above would require some degree of moderation...I nominate, Doug! Hehe!


🙂

I did suggest that some time age, a time limit and a number limit. Also I don't like the anonymous ratings. If one rates a photograph one should always state why. Second your nomination.

 

[back alley]

i don't know what the answer is really.
i don't like 'rating' photos, a number is lame to me.
i do like honest criticism but many have thin skins and it really is difficult to critique an artistic endevour.

i wish more people would comment when i post a pic. after a while i get demoralized and just start to assume that my stuff is crap and no one likes it.

 

[RayPA]

...Also I don't like the anonymous ratings. If one rates a photograph one should always state why...

Jaapv, I agree with you and Joe on this point. The rating number should only accompany a written comment, and not be the primary critique.

🙂

 

[Doug]

Agreed, a single number can't do justice to the photo, easy to apply but essentially meaningless. I've never put a photo in the Rate My Photo area for that reason (nor have I rated anyone's photo), though I eagerly invite comments. I would assume that any photo put in the gallery is inviting comments. I recall this subject coming up very early in RFF history and for a while we'd add "comments welcome" to the photo description if we wanted comments. That's one answer, but I think it's generally assumed that the comment box is there for a purpose!

One bad side-effect of a special "comment request" gallery section ... it would imply no desire for comments elsewhere. I'd load all my photos into the comments section and if others did likewise we're essentially back to the status quo! On the opposite side, is there any use to having a “no comments wanted” section?

Agree too that the sheer quantity of uploads is such that it's time-consuming simply to view them all, never mind the time for thoughtful comments. I just comment on those that inspire comment of some sort and leave the rest.

Another way that's been done (though not often) in RFF is to use a message board thread to present a particular photo and ask for commentary, and it seems that's been successful.

 

[sbug]

I think I have uploaded one photo to the Rate My Photo gallery. I got some good/constructive comments on it but I haven't felt the desire to upload another. Maybe it's because that section of the gallery seems to get lost and most of the comments (back-slapping compliments or otherwise) appear on the Members Gallery area. Frankly, I forget about the Rate My Photo section 95% of the time I head to the Gallery myself!

 

[Todd.Hanz]

I found that with the number of images being uploaded per day it is near impossible to see them all.
In the old days of this forum, you know a year or two ago 🙂, your upload would be there for at least a day or two and had more of a chance to be seen, now it's gone by the time you hit refresh.

I used to leave comments alot more than I do now, I'll try and do better. I try to justify why I like an image, ie. composition, subject matter, lighting, etc., it forces you to think and improves your own skills as well as bolsters those of the photog.

good post Doug,
Todd

 

[back alley]

it's like we need a club inside the forum for this purpose.

maybe if we had small sets of people or teams.

in a past life i was a poet. we had a writer's group of about 6 or so other poets. we met monthly and shared only new work, looking for a peer critique.
it was a tremendous help to my writing.

i sometimes think that something similar would be a great help to my shooting also. but i don't really know many serious amateurs around here.

 

[wtl]

Doug,

Three words: edit, edit, and edit. (ops, four words I guess)

Some jewels there but they are buried deeply in the mud.

Kindly...

 

[wrenhunter]

Doug, good discussion. I try to view Gallery images every visit to RFF, and comment on photos that I find interesting. There have been a few times lately that I wanted to "go beyond the positive" and add a suggestion or two.

I also have been under the impresssion that fellow RFF'ers who want a more stringent critique upload to "Rate My Photo". I figure I'd save my "suggestions" for this area. Unfortunately, I don't often find the time to go beyond the main Gallery page.

Lastly, I just subscribed to Lenswork myself, and so should everyone else! 🙂