Where to go to get critiques?

[TXForester]

Besides here. 😀

I was asked a difficult question. I was asked where do you go for critiques without having to deal with "expletive deleteds?"

The guy who asked me this question works in other mediums. One is hand-carved, wooden bowls. He is mostly self taught in most of his hobbies, but knows constructive feedback can help speed things up. However, he has a low tolerance for people who behave like the south end of a north bound mule. He has no problem with honest opinions that harsh to people with thin skins who only want to hear praise.

I could think of only one other photography site where I've seen very little in rude behavior when it comes to critiques. So, where else do you go to avoid @#$% jerks, or on the opposite end of the spectrum, people who fawn over everything (flckr - cough, cough 🙂 )?

 

[Neare]

For honest, useful and constructive critique - don't use the internet.

Find someone well established with some years on them, who's work can be seen to have merit in it itself, or speak to a photographic academic (university professor or so). Do everything face to face.

 

[shimokita]

Street Smarts Marks Out of Ten

http://www.flickr.com/groups/street-smart-crits/

blurb from the home page: "It's a street photography critique group. Peer-to-peer crits with occasional invited, commissioned pro-crits from pros or experts. "

Might be worth a look,
Casey

 

[jky]

For honest, useful and constructive critique - don't use the internet.

Find someone well established with some years on them, who's work can be seen to have merit in it itself, or speak to a photographic academic (university professor or so). Do everything face to face.

I've had good, honest, constructive critique from the internet - yes... flickr. The feedback I received from the net was in the same manner & tone as feedback I received in person - no difference... in other words a crap photo was lambasted & a discussion on how to improve went on from there.

 

[Chris101]

Take your work to a gallery. Ask them what they think. If they don't tell you, find another gallery. Unless they offer to represent your work, then they can keep quiet about it. Once it is on display, hang out in the gallery and listen to what people have to say.

Or go talk to a professor. Unless they are old and full of themselves, they might have something interesting to say. Or take their classes, and then your classmates will gladly tell you wassup!

ps, I am a professor who is old and full of myself, so I can say that. Unless you are, don't say that to them, they will just diss you to everybody they know.

 

[Roger Hicks]

For honest, useful and constructive critique - don't use the internet.

Whaddaya f***ing mean? Just 'cause morons like you can't handle it. People like you make me sick! AND you're a lousy photographer!

(Mind you, humour sometimes falls flat on the internet, too, and I don't like smileys. But I think you may detect in the above an underlying current of agreement with your viewpoint.)

Cheers,

R.

 

[pinkarmy]

Whaddaya f***ing mean? Just 'cause morons like you can't handle it. People like you make me sick! AND you're a lousy photographer!

😀 and how about "why do you care, amateur?"

 

[Turtle]

I think it is best to post on any site you regard as being perused by sensible folk and then screen the responses, giving thought only to those that are earnest and credible.

Unfortunately, getting your portfolio reviewed by 'the expert' at a portfolio review is not always going to be terribly helpful IMO. Some 'experts' are complete ****** idiots 😉 One on one comment is the most useful, but not easy to achieve and finding the right people can take months to years of effort and that assumes there is something about your work that makes them want to pass comment.

However.... making real progress with your work and being sensitive to unpleasant comment is oxymoronic as far as I am concerned. Hearing the good, bad, ugly and offensive is par for the course!

 

[Roger Hicks]

😀 and how about "why do you care, amateur?"

Ah... My apologies for failing to state the obvious!

Cheers,

R.