The Art of Image Critique Revisited

Some observations and critiquer thought patterns:

1. Oh no not that guy again...does he ever post anything but killer shots? I am so tired of giving him "atta boys".

2. Awful image but if I critique it he will respond by blowing off my suggestions saying it's how he sees things.

3. Shoud I post this image? My shots that I really like don't often seem to be very well received by others. Sometimes the ones I am not sure about get the best response.

4. Whis is THIS shot getting so much attention and praise? I am not that crazy about it. Oh wait, it's a female poster. Sorry girls :)

5. I don't really like it that much but I better say something positive so maybe they will give ME a good review on my next post.

6. Oh and STOP reading the other critiques before you post yours. You are much too easily influenced. If you can't say something that is YOUR own thought don't bother.

Happy New Year kids.

I see a big lump of coal in your future, Doug

Seriously - this is an open community made up of all kinds of people with all kinds of attitudes, experiences, and motivations. You know the old saying: can't please everybody. You can still offer honest critique and take what you find meaningful from what others say about your work. Why worry about the other stuff?

Guy

#4 - Female posters getting undeserved praise?? I certainly don't want that, and have never felt that anyone has done that for my images or any of the other female posters on this site.

I agree with Guy, Doug. Each of us comes here with all the baggage and the good things we have received or learned in our lives. So, it seems to me that if we do our best, are honest with ourselves and others, and not take ourselves seriously; that is a good thing.

Happy New Year to you, as well,

-PB

Was this a cofession, maybe a journal entry?

Preston, you already violated line 6. I have seen way too many "what Guy said" on here.

I'll let you guys decide if I am serious, joking or just plain crazy.

I try hard to do critiques a little differently. I scan at the thumbnails and click on them, then comment before ever seeing who's photo it is or what others are saying. After writing my own thoughts, I then read comments from others and often write a comment in response to them. I am glad you raised the topic though.


Kent in SD

# 4, Really? You think that? Wow.

"Violated" line 6? We can't agree with what others say, but are supposed to abide by your rules? I'll be interested to see if you confess to being serious, joking, or crazy. (Or maybe a combination?)

Mark had to say that. He knows * I * know where he lives, now.

I'm taking this with humour, as i think it's mostly intended.

I can never speak for anyone else, but NPN has been a wonderful place to learn and grow, for me. I WANT and solicit tough critiques and honest thoughts and suggestions - that's how I improve!

The best to all -

Sandy R

Wow - rough day Doug?

Hope you get a good night sleep. Tomorrow is a fresh start full of new possibilities.

Anyone care to add their own thoughts to the list?

I've been looking for an opportunity to direct your attention to a Paul Graham essay entitled How Art Can Be Good. It rambles a bit but I found it interesting and thought provoking. I think it's at least tangentially revelent to the subject at hand.

Just to whet your appetite, Mr. Graham begins his essay thusly:

I grew up believing that taste is just a matter of personal preference. Each person has things they like, but no one's preferences are any better than anyone else's. There is no such thing as good taste.

Like a lot of things I grew up believing, this turns out to be false, and I'm going to try to explain why.

One problem with saying there's no such thing as good taste is that it also means there's no such thing as good art. If there were good art, then people who liked it would have better taste than people who didn't. So if you discard taste, you also have to discard the idea of art being good, and artists being good at making it.

Sorry Doug, I guess I'm adding someone else's thoughts to this list.


Cheers,

4. Thanks for the idea. I may have to employ that tactic in the future.

I must say that I enjoy this site a lot (and yes, I consider becoming a member ). Of course, we're not always happy with the things others have to say. Every now and then, I think one of my images should have received better critique, but I guess I'm always influenced by the experience of taking it, and may over rate my own stuff, and every now and then I think that some image posted by somebody else receiving good critique is utterly boring. But that's how it is, and will always be, right?

I mean, go to the dpreview.com forums and check what kind of images are posted there and get "wow... very nice... yadda, yadda..." critiques (of course, there are also excellent images posted there, don't get me wrong - but the "threshold" for a good critique is significantly lower IMO), and you'll come back entirely satisfied with the quality of critiques, and the knowledge going into them, you get here.

This place is great.

Basil

Hey Doug,
I think you a have some honest observations that I would say does not apply to every one here, be I'm sure some members from time to time will hit one of the six. I'm guilty on occasion, but as there are alot of different stlyes of art , there are also different ways people use to critique images. Its only my opinion, but I think most people are happy with the way NPN works, or this site wouldn't be as successful as it is.

Fun topic Doug. Although I believe it was done tongue in cheek, there's a little truth in some of them, especially #3, at least for me. I've been real surprised at times when a shot I really liked garnered little attention and then a shot I thought was mediocre garnered much praise. Just goes to show you beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Must admit that on occasion I've had a few of those same thoughts, but I do object to #4. Just check out some of the critiques I've gotten in avian and ESS!!

what everybody said above especially thw women

Bill

I get the feeling of a pot being stirred with Doug's post and that's usually a good thing.

I'm guessing that #4 must be in reference to the relative low number of female image posters in ratio to male posters. We aren't considered a novelty are we? You mean the playing field isn't level? I've always felt that it was in photography.

Tsk tsk tsk Doug - you completely forgot to mention "How can I praise an image made on the WRONG brand of camera?!?"



I was going to suggest you try only to be honest but fair but changed my mind. Build a database of who praised your shots and praise them equally. Anyone who "diss'd" you is toast forever and as for the ones who ignored you... hmmm

As for point 4 - maybe it's time to get in touch with your feminine side??



Fun post - happy new year!

I object to #4 also. From my POV, it's the total opposite! We seem to get a lot less comments, not more.

Doug: I'm suspecting that a #2 type incident precipitated this. I kind of like the tongue in cheek tone of the rest. Its tough to tell someone "boring light, even more boorish response." So it goes. Just goes to prove no good deed or suggestion goes unpunished. I sometimes wonder why thin skinned folk post.>=))>

Wow! Geez, I sure HOPE nobody ever gives a positive comment on one of my images just because I'm a female. Please, don't ever do that!

On #6, sorry, but I'm gonna continue reading the other posts as the image downloads !! I've got a slow dial-up connection; what the heck else am I going to do while I wait? I do all kinds of things while I wait, actually, but i do want to read the other comments because that's a good way to learn. It saves time if I read them as the image downloads instead of waiting until after I write my comment.........

On the internet, nobody knows you're a dog.

http://www.lib.unb.ca/instruction/LILT/mod5/18-internet-dog.html


Pete D.

Sooo funny, but pretty true. Especially number 6.

Jon, I'm not asking you to post this in public but I'm sure this is something you can address to Jim Erhardt in a private email. I can testify that Jim is very concerned about NPN's reputation and can help resolve this type of issues.

Guy