Advice on posting in the Critique forum

[Ian]

It's best to limit your post to contain one image in the Critique forum so that the focus can be concentrated on that image.

If you aren't prepared to face negative (but polite and truthful and, hopefully, useful and informative) feedback on your image, please don't post an image in this forum. Try the Eye of the Camera board instead. Please don't remove your image just because the feedback isn't as good as you had hoped.

Without reference to the image it's very difficult for anyone else reading the thread later to understand what's going on.

Thanks for your attention!

Ian

[Graham_of_Rainham]

Re: Advice on posting in the Critique forum

I have noticed an increase in "Other Images" being posted in these threads, which also distracts from the subject under disussion...

[Stephen]

Re: Advice on posting in the Critique forum

I have noticed an increase in "Other Images" being posted in these threads, which also distracts from the subject under disussion...

I can think of one occasion on recent Critique threads Graham........ from me!

I felt it was simply to illustrate a point I was making. I did acknowledge the need to get back on topic though

[Stephen]

Re: Advice on posting in the Critique forum

I must add however that I agree if several images are in the original post and critique is being asked on them all, this is not to be recommended. IMHO Critique should be asked for on a single image only. Perhaps this is what you were referring to Graham

[Graham_of_Rainham]

Re: Advice on posting in the Critique forum

I can think of one occasion on recent Critique threads Graham........ from me!...

Stephen,

Your absolutly right to point out that it's not as common as I implied. I visit several forums, see it happening there and would hope that we are spared the "Oh yes yours is ok, But look at my one"

I must add however that I agree if several images are in the original post and critique is being asked on them all, this is not to be recommended. IMHO Critique should be asked for on a single image only. Perhaps this is what you were referring to Graham

Totally agree. I value the comments that people take the time and effort to compose and very much want this part of the forum to follow the guidelines that Ian has set out.

[Ian]

Re: Advice on posting in the Critique forum

This is an old thread but as relevant as it was way back when. We have some very experienced and talented photographers on the DPNow forum and they would like nothing better than to respond to photographers placing examples of their work here on the Critique board for scrutiny.

It's a brave thing to do, but it will improve your work if you get high quality feedback. There is so much to be learned from others.

While I don't recommend posting here unless you feel you are ready, I also ask anyone who wishes to post critique to be respectful and sympathetic.

Ian

[kennykodak]

Re: Advice on posting in the Critique forum

the first and foremost criteria for a great print:
IMPACT

a print can be technically perfect but...clinically dead.

on a positive note, when critiquing be positive and polite. please, thank you.

[ash]

Re: Advice on posting in the Critique forum

Likewise if you think your image is not technically perfect, SO WHAT! I doubt many of mine are Personally I think if its too perfect it usually lacks something like individuality!
Im a think outside the box/boundaries kind of photographer, sometimes you don't get it right but when you do its awsome and you end up with a unique image rather than an image that everyone else would have taken.
Just my penneth

[Graham_of_Rainham]

Re: Advice on posting in the Critique forum

the first and foremost criteria for a great print:
IMPACT

a print can be technically perfect but...clinically dead.

on a positive note, when critiquing be positive and polite. please, thank you.

There are so many opinions on this, which is why it is such an interesting topic for discussion.

Subjective assessment is always biased by personal preference. My favorite example is the way the avarage quality picture of a red squirrel sitting up eating a nut, will score higher than the technically excellent image of a Rat eating a dead pigeon...

The variety of assessment criteria is huge, with emphasis on what is the most important, varying from place to place and even changing with time as various aspects gain and lose popularity.

For me originality is something I enjoy and when judging competitions will often reward this above technical quality.

This for me is what makes photography so interesting. I've had a judge score my images with top marks only to have another dismiss them as below avarage. But that's all part of the game, and as long as I'm happy with what I've done, if someone else likes it that's the bonus...

Just in case anyone is interested, here are a few ways to judge a picture.

http://www.jea.org/curriculum/photography/eval3.pdf

http://www.elrose.org/PDFs/photo-evaluation.pdf

http://www.rcrca.com/photo%20contest%20judging%20criteria.htm

http://www.rps.org/resources/downloads/Distinctions_Handbook_Issue_4_Sep2010.pdf

[Ian]

Re: Advice on posting in the Critique forum

Likewise if you think your image is not technically perfect, SO WHAT! I doubt many of mine are Personally I think if its too perfect it usually lacks something like individuality!
Im a think outside the box/boundaries kind of photographer, sometimes you don't get it right but when you do its awsome and you end up with a unique image rather than an image that everyone else would have taken.
Just my penneth

This is a good point that I often repeat - catching the moment is the priority. Then once you have mastered that you can concentrate on the technical perfection.

The picture of Stephen in the tribute thread is just out of focus but a) on the Web it's not too noticeable, and b) everyone likes it because it's a lovely photograph.

There is no doubt that a slightly blurred shot of a great scene is much better than a technically stunning picture of a boring one.

Ian

[Ian]

Re: Advice on posting in the Critique forum

the first and foremost criteria for a great print:
IMPACT

a print can be technically perfect but...clinically dead.

on a positive note, when critiquing be positive and polite. please, thank you.

I love the way you have put this

Ian

[Ian]

Re: Advice on posting in the Critique forum

One other thing that I must admit that I am sometimes guilty of is providing simplistic and too brief a critique on the critique board. In fact this often means the comments are hardly worthy of the word 'critique'

Note to self: will try harder!

Ian

[kennykodak]

Re: Advice on posting in the Critique forum

There are so many opinions on this, which is why it is such an interesting topic for discussion.

Subjective assessment is always biased by personal preference. My favorite example is the way the avarage quality picture of a red squirrel sitting up eating a nut, will score higher than the technically excellent image of a Rat eating a dead pigeon...

The variety of assessment criteria is huge, with emphasis on what is the most important, varying from place to place and even changing with time as various aspects gain and lose popularity.

For me originality is something I enjoy and when judging competitions will often reward this above technical quality.

This for me is what makes photography so interesting. I've had a judge score my images with top marks only to have another dismiss them as below avarage. But that's all part of the game, and as long as I'm happy with what I've done, if someone else likes it that's the bonus...

we are in agreement in the definition of "impact" which is up there with the definition of "what is art?" i have set on juries for the PPA enough to know the likes and dislikes of some of the other jurors before prints were presented. a panel in one room would score a piece higher than a panel across the hall, same print - different personalities. your analogy of the Rat is a valid point. war casualties would score high on "impact" but disgust the jury. my point is consider impact as "wow factor" which could be your red squirrel if presented with some drama be it color depth or something other making stand above and beyond a good capture.