Do you learn from Critique posts?

 

The Ghost said, 1731331723

Afrofilmviewer said

Perception "I think the best critiques need to be a conversation too."

I like this. For me it speaks to the issue of critique here. So much critique here are closed questions.

"Here's my work do you like it?"

"Yes/No"

*List of points*

It so often needs to be a dialogue. If the critique was more open ended, then a person could build from it.

I'm not sure people realise how closed off this space can be.

Critique that isn't a dialogue is less than useful - there are lots of choices I make in terms of lighting, lens selection, camera position etc. that are deliberately intended to provoke a negative emotional response in certain people. A well intentioned critic might notice all of them (if they have the skill/understanding) but actually have nothing useful to say if they don't recognise the intent.

Afrofilmviewer said, 1731331996

The Ghost and said critics ask don't ask about that intent. (Although posters often don't help themselves).

Gerry99111 said, 1731332238

I used Portfolio review many moons ago, not because I wanted my whole port reviewed, but because I wanted to ask MODELS specifically a particular question about it, which I said very clearly. So to get photographers ignore that and give a review or to get ignorant arses who were blocked coming on the thread and posting "I cannot review your port as it appears you have blocked me", thereby demonstrating to anyone else why they were blocked by me.

Seen that happened so many times.

I have seen other sites allow you to tick which account type can comment, so if you only want comments from models, you set it so they are the only ones with a posting box, everyone else is read over. Anyone who is blocked just should not be allowed to post as the poster clearly does not want them doing so.

The point that get missed a lot is that a lot of members use the site for booking shoots NOT FOR SUBMITTING WORK FOR THE APPROVAL OF OTHER MEMBERS they will not be shooting with. 

I stopped offering critiques because in the main, people do not say what they are hoping to achieve and if they don't even know that, then they probably need to look more fundamentally as to why they are doing model photography.

It also doesn't help that the forums are riddled with camera club types and 40 year washed out pro [who doesn't even realise it] producing stuff by some old book of mediocre photography standard and I want bugger all to do with that, so most of what is posted should be ignored.

Not forgetting the photographer who had such a limited view on what model photography should be and was very disparaging about a lot of posters being allowed free rein by the site to pile in on every thread when clearly they could not understand why the person had posted in the first place in looking for a review.

Anyway, I know where I am going, am able to analyse my own work and only I know what I really want to achieve. I am not afraid to ask models on my shoots about specific images and lighting / outfit / colours etc as we go, I can select and edit images as I want and anything I do post you can assume I am happy with.

Back to my original point that I would use it again if I could ask models specific questions and EXCLUDE photographers and people I have blocked completely as at the moment, portfolio review is the wrong tool to help me find people to shoot with, that I want to work with

MaristarOxley said, 1731337534

Sensual Art

It's as if they were expecting an argument and when you didn't respond negatively, they had to go with the script they had written beforehand.

MaristarOxley said, 1731337702

ANDY00

Quote: When an artist, photographer, or model publishes their creations, they’re ultimately saying, 'I’m happy with this; this is my creation.' When they ask on the same public forum for critique, they open themselves up to negative reviews, which is always a risk.

This is how I see it. I post images that I personally think are good enough for me.

If I chose to post a full shoot, pre editing then I could find myself asking for people's opinions on their favourites and perhaps help me to choose a selection.

MaristarOxley said, 1731337756

ANDY00

Quote: And ultimately, isn’t art 100% subjective anyway?

I thought so...

MaristarOxley said, 1731338059

Afrofilmviewer

Quote: Perception "I think the best critiques need to be a conversation too."

I like this. For me it speaks to the issue of critique here. So much critique here are closed questions.

"Here's my work do you like it?"

"Yes/No"

*List of points*

It so often needs to be a dialogue. If the critique was more open ended, then a person could build from it.

I'm not sure people realise how closed off this space can be

You have brought up a great thing.

Asking someone (especially a stranger on here) to say whether they like your work or not is mostly useless. All you can say is yes or no.

I agree totally, that critique should be a conversation that I would add, starts from a neutral standpoint.

Unfocussed Mike said, 1731357269

Gerry99111 said

Back to my original point that I would use it again if I could ask models specific questions and EXCLUDE photographers and people I have blocked completely as at the moment, portfolio review is the wrong tool to help me find people to shoot with, that I want to work with

Yeah.

Sometimes it feels like it would be nice if there was a little multi-choice dropdown thing when you create a post where you can limit the types of accounts who can reply, perhaps for just the first day or two. But a special case (models/photographers) of this would be specifically useful here.

MaristarOxley said, 1731444736

Maybe there should not be a Critique section in the first place. I would rather there be a group where there are chosen people who would become mentors or something like that, who would be there to give practical advice.

W A L L Y said, 1731447311

God no !

MidgePhoto said, 1731456551

MaristarOxley said

Maybe there should not be a Critique section in the first place. I would rather there be a group where there are chosen people who would become mentors or something like that, who would be there to give practical advice.


There is some provision for that built in to the site. And existing features could be used to set up a group for it, if it has not already happened.  Indeed, such a group should perhaps be small and closed, so there might be several.

It is also somewhat of a club activity, and physical meetings may be an important part of such work.


Unfocussed Mike said

...

Sometimes it feels like it would be nice if there was a little multi-choice dropdown thing when you create a post where you can limit the types of accounts who can reply, perhaps for just the first day or two. But a special case (models/photographers) of this would be specifically useful here.


Interesting.  So others can look, but not publicly respond. ---> there's a forum for that.

Unfocussed Mike said, 1731463854

MidgePhoto said

MaristarOxley said

Maybe there should not be a Critique section in the first place. I would rather there be a group where there are chosen people who would become mentors or something like that, who would be there to give practical advice.


There is some provision for that built in to the site. And existing features could be used to set up a group for it, if it has not already happened.  Indeed, such a group should perhaps be small and closed, so there might be several.

It is also somewhat of a club activity, and physical meetings may be an important part of such work.


Unfocussed Mike said

...

Sometimes it feels like it would be nice if there was a little multi-choice dropdown thing when you create a post where you can limit the types of accounts who can reply, perhaps for just the first day or two. But a special case (models/photographers) of this would be specifically useful here.


Interesting.  So others can look, but not publicly respond. ---> there's a forum for that.

There isn't a forum that allows photographers to solicit specifically model opinions and vice versa (except by being modeltographers). 

A time-limited way to initially get only models answering a photographer's "Models: ...?" questions could have some merit, for example.

Just an offhand idea. Someone else can champion it as a suggestion if they want it, though. Nie mój cyrk etc.

Edited by Unfocussed Mike

MaristarOxley said, 1731482306

W A L L Y

I say mentors and if one does not need or want the advice, then they need not participate. It does exist already in a loose fashion, but it's got to be better than the critique groups that are at worst, just a shredding of someone's work, whether good or not.

MaristarOxley said, 1731482447

Unfocussed Mike

Quote: A time-limited way to initially get only models answering a photographer's "Models: ...?" questions could have some merit, for example

It's been so difficult to get photographers not to chip in, when a group post specifies that the OP wants only models to respond.

Edited by MaristarOxley

MaristarOxley said, 1731482652

Gerry99111

Quote: I have seen other sites allow you to tick which account type can comment, so if you only want comments from models, you set it so they are the only ones with a posting box, everyone else is read over. Anyone who is blocked just should not be allowed to post as the poster clearly does not want them doing so.

This would be so helpful on here. I've always been confused why someone who has blocked me , or I have blocked, can still get involved in my group posts.