you are not a photographer

[Sonnar Brian]

I guess if someone bought gear and never used it take take any photographs, they would be a collector and not a photographer. I used to bring pictures taken with my gear in to the camera shows: dealers that sold Nikon RF gear for years had never seen pictures actually taken with a Nikon SP. One told me, "So that's why people like them."

When I see Internet sites like "You are not a Photographer", makes me think of that "Internet is the Wild West" and you need reputation protector. Also makes me wonder what Idiot of a Photographer would actually pay to advertise on such a site, and what Fool of a Client would be drawn in by that advertisement.

But I never have any strong opinions, and even if I did- would never think of expressing them.

(and to add- no $2000 Black S2's, but a couple of $15 Leica's and a $30 Nikon M)

 

[Field]

Brian I am not even sure I want to read about your scores... just make me sad!

I think we have a responsibility to give feedback to artists, especially our friends, and especially when they are not that good.

 

[seakayaker1]

Looked at the site and it reminded me of the saying, "Mean People Suck."

Nothing good comes out of a situation when an individual places themselves above others and ridicules in a mean spirited way.

The web site serves no purpose. JMHO

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Constructive criticism is beneficial.

Ridicule is only self-serving.


Reminds me on an Old "BC" comic strip. If you don't have any good points, downgrade your competitors good points

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

Brian I am not even sure I want to read about your scores... just make me sad!

I think we have a responsibility to give feedback to artists, especially our friends, and especially when they are not that good.

The crudest teachers I had are the ones I thank God the most... Self criticism is a difficult task: sometimes it's not enough to hear a photograph could be better... The few times it happened to me I felt shocked, but now I can see I moved, and those who were crude, really loved me and loved great photography...

Obviously I agree with other posters that can be done in private. And that site's intention is different: not too bad in my opinion, but not too constructive either.

Cheers,

Juan

 

[daninjc]

Juan, I agree that critique can be helpful. But one thing is a teacher-student relationship, or a 'peer review' system, another thing is an anonymous website that just seems driven by contempt.

The crudest teachers I had are the ones I thank God the most... Self criticism is a difficult task: sometimes it's not enough to hear a photograph could be better... The few times it happened to me I felt shocked, but now I can see I moved, and those who were crude, really loved me and loved great photography...

Obviously I agree with other posters that can be done in private. And that site's intention is different: not too bad in my opinion, but not too constructive either.

Cheers,

Juan

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

Juan, I agree that critique can be helpful. But one thing is a teacher-student relationship, or a 'peer review' system, another thing is an anonymous website that just seems driven by contempt.

That's what I said exactly. Well, and I added rough criticism can be of great help.

Cheers,

Juan

 

[daninjc]

Juan, we are on the same page. I felt like reiterating that mean spirited critiques don't make people grow. And the site is not even that funny! :bang:

That's what I said exactly. Well, and I added rough criticism can be of great help.

Cheers,

Juan

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

The site is good for nothing, no doubt. But rough and crude criticism can be wonderful instead of mean, and can be full of love and respect even if it is rude. And some people can't understand that. Too soft criticism isn't good.

Cheers,

Juan

 

[Keith]

I think the new speak term is 'tough love!' 😀

 

[redisburning]

if you want to learn about yourself fail at doing something.

it's hard in a subjective field like photography, sometimes, to recognize you really ****ed up. but it's always a good lesson.

I've had to rewrite papers, retake classes and really evaluate whether or not I belonged in university. I graduated after 4 years magna cum laude despite that, because of the lessons I learned by FAILING.

get in someone's face, call them names, do whatever it takes if they really suck to get them to do some real evaluation of the quality of their own work. if someone wants to take the time to go through my flickr to tell me all the ways I suck, I am all ears.

public embarrassment can go a long way, too. photography isnt for everyone. neither is being a professor, or a car salesman or a shoe shiner. no reason to treat people with white gloves; save those for the prints. if you damage that, something of value has been lost. crush an ego and the world's a better place, IMO.

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

I think the new speak term is 'tough love!' 😀

Great! 😀
With a bit of good luck we all discover sometimes we can enjoy a lot after others' tough love... 😛

Cheers,

Juan

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

if you want to learn about yourself fail at doing something.

it's hard in a subjective field like photography, sometimes, to recognize you really ****ed up. but it's always a good lesson.

I've had to rewrite papers, retake classes and really evaluate whether or not I belonged in university. I graduated after 4 years magna cum laude despite that, because of the lessons I learned by FAILING.

get in someone's face, call them names, do whatever it takes if they really suck to get them to do some real evaluation of the quality of their own work. if someone wants to take the time to go through my flickr to tell me all the ways I suck, I am all ears.

public embarrassment can go a long way, too. photography isnt for everyone. neither is being a professor, or a car salesman or a shoe shiner. no reason to treat people with white gloves; save those for the prints. if you damage that, something of value has been lost. crush an ego and the world's a better place, IMO.

Well said.

Cheers,

Juan

 

[wgerrard]

Brian I am not even sure I want to read about your scores... just make me sad!

I think we have a responsibility to give feedback to artists, especially our friends, and especially when they are not that good.

Only if we are asked or hired to provide it. Unsolicited feedback can break any relationship.

Even then, I think we focus too much on this notion of art. Art, at least art worth remembering, is not common. Things made by people with aspirations to make art are very common. For most photographers, feedback on technique is more useful than any attempted artistic critique.

 

[FrankS]

With friends like that, who needs enemies?

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

Sometimes we are in front of people who can't see they need help but as they haven't noticed it, they can't ask or hire anyone to provide some help...

So, in those cases, what matters is how much we love that person. First we don't give any feedback, but if nothing changes and the one we care for is stuck or suffering, then we really need to think a lot and decide... And talking without invitation can be crucial.

Cheers,

Juan

 

[wgerrard]

Agreed, Juan. But, I've never known anyone to be that upset about their photography. In more down to Earth areas, then, yes, obviously, we need to intervene. Timing and finesse are called for.

 

[pakeha]

Any chance that the website is a con? ..mash-up photos pulled from FB that are not actually from any `business'. Yep,every chance.
Smelled bad right from the start.