Do you learn from Critique posts?

MaristarOxley It is probably still a gamble but I have not seen any nasty stuff for a while.

I just looked at Portfolio Review for the first time in ages. I was pleasantly surprised that it also seems to be a nicer place than it used to be. Nonetheless, I don't feel any need to use it.

I've submitted for Portfolio review and reckon everybody should do so. I'm very aware of my failings in many respects though happy to plod on as I'm the person that needs to be happy, not the person giving the crit, though it is welcomed, and has been useful.

I've not put up images for individual crit on here though do discuss images with others who I have high regard for and sometimes take worthwhile suggestions on board.

The first thing to do when there is ever an opinion sought whether image crit, lighting, which software etc is to take a look at the person giving that crit, in the majority of cases it's worthless. There are very few on here who I would take seriously in respect of crit. Of the few who's opinion I do respect their view has great value.

It's interesting too that some have great technical knowledge but little by way of inspiration and others a wealth of ideas/concept/inspiration but little in technical competence. So some are underrated in their ability and others wrongly believe they are masters of their craft. So some opinions valuable and others worthless....but that's only my opinion.

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I’ve always found them very uninteresting and not of much value. I think what doesn’t help me is I’ve in interest in contemporary art/ fine art where it’s more about intentions rather than just making a good image which isn’t really what most people would want or except on the forums here.

I’ve had informal critiques and read a bit about critiquing art, I forgot who said it, could of been the photographer Robert Adam’s who says there’s less great photography critics than there are great photographers.

If you want to see an absolutely brutal critique watch a “take it or leave it” with Bruce gilden on YouTube. But I think watching that, reading a more critical book on photography or esp a pro critique from an organisation like lensscratch would open your mind , the PP critiques just pale in comparison.I think the best critiques need to be a conversation too.

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MidgePhoto

Quote: Of a well-executed interesting picture it is hard to say much beyond "nice", or "I like it".

I know what you mean.

It's easier to find faults with an image, you may not like...but if I don't like an image on a critique post, I don't offer any critique. If I like the image and can offer something that makes it even better, then, I may do so, if asked for.

They can be very useful for a beginner, whether on PP or at a camera club, if they are lucky with the people offering the critique.

After a while they can become a straight—jacket.

Got to fly the nest sometime.

Other problem when a model puts something up, and you see basic mistakes in the photography, but you aren’t allowed to say anything.

No but a nice feature would be to be able to invite people to. (Yes I know I could message them privately)

Critique can be useful whether you are a beginner or expert photographer - there is nobody who cannot learn more!  

The issue is, for somebody to learn, the critique has to be directed / phrased to what could be done to make the image better and not just being negative or pointing out faults; always remember that just because somebody has given an opinion on your image, doesn't mean it is right or you have to follow their advice, just take it as something to think about and accept if you agree or decline if you don't.

I spend a lot of time deconstructing my own work. It’s alway nice to get something constructive from someone you respect, seems to happen less on here than some previous sites.

I occasionally post requesting feedback on images as it can be interesting to see what other people think. I do so in the expectation that I probably won't agree with much of what's said, but that there might be a nugget of advice that makes sense. The same applies to asking for general advice in other groups. I'm generally thick skinned, so can usualy brush aside anything particularly unhelpful.

One of the best pieces of advice that I have ever seen for photographers included the following paragraph:

"Accept critique, but don't apply it blindly. Just because someone said it does not make it so. Critiques are opinions, nothing more. Consider the advice, consider the perspective of the advice giver, consider your style and what you want to convey in your work. Implement only what makes sense to implement. That doesn't not make you ungrateful, it makes you independent."

I have limited experience of online critique, and very little on this site, but I see that it often focus purely on the technical aspects of an image which, to my mind, are the least important. I expect that this may be a camera club mentality where people spend their lives creating soulless copies of other peoples' photos in order to try and get recognition in some meaningless competition or other.

IMHO if you genuinely want constructive feedback on your work, you should seek it from people whose work you admire and who share many of your beliefs and philosophies about photography. Posting in an online forum for random people to comment on doesn't really appeal.

Categories can be identified in critiques, and critiques could be critiqued by them, meta-criticism.

One category boils down to "you should have taken a different sort of photo (unsaid: like I take)". They are best discarded.

Another category, or part, of a critique is to note that there are various guidelines or things that are widely regarded as mistakes, faults, or things to overdo, and if one of them is lurking in the photo it may be worth eliminating, avoiding next time, or having a very good reason for excepting that guidelines in this picture. Accompanied by a remark on how to lessen it in this image if there is a way.

Critique of craft is one aspect, of art another can of worms, and if camera clubs and judges exclude images on craft, that seems pragmatic.

"I don't like this class of images" is a comment, not a critique, unless there is a /because/ of wider relevance. Making up faults to hide or condemn those is a fault.

bad john I also feel no need to look for critique on here. 🙂

Huw I honestly do not subscribe to there being a proper photograph. The technical side of things are irrelevant if the image conveys whatever it's trying to convey.

The most technically perfect image ( according to who?, by the way) does not always bring any emotion to it.

Allesandro B

How would it be presented? I'm genuinely interested, as it sounds like a good idea.