Comments on: Become a Better Photographer Through the Critique of Others http://digital-photography-school.com/become-a-better-photographer-through-the-critique-of-others Discover how to use your digital camera with our Digital Photography Tips. We are a community of photographers of all experience levels who come together to learn, share and grow in our understanding of photography. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:37:20 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: beyond bluestockings http://digital-photography-school.com/become-a-better-photographer-through-the-critique-of-others/comment-page-1#comment-55273 beyond bluestockings Tue, 30 Jun 2009 03:19:38 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=6793#comment-55273 I find it difficult to find people who will give you an honest critique of photographs. The statement about waiting a few months is very true for me. Sometimes I love a shot to bits, but if I wait a few months so I am not so wound up in the event/person/subject, I can see the photograph a lot more objectively. I find it difficult to find people who will give you an honest critique of photographs.

The statement about waiting a few months is very true for me. Sometimes I love a shot to bits, but if I wait a few months so I am not so wound up in the event/person/subject, I can see the photograph a lot more objectively.

]]> By: Bridget Casas http://digital-photography-school.com/become-a-better-photographer-through-the-critique-of-others/comment-page-1#comment-55188 Bridget Casas Sun, 28 Jun 2009 20:05:00 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=6793#comment-55188 I am always willing to listen to what other's have to say about my photography. I appreciate it very much. Sometimes you need some fresh, new eyes to look at something. If I have been working on an image for a long time, I can't really "see" it anymore. That is why I like to save my images with all the layers. When I look at them days, weeks or months later, I have somewhat of a fresh eye. But it is still not like having someone else look at it. Just keep in mind, I also listen, but I do not always agree! I am always willing to listen to what other’s have to say about my photography. I appreciate it very much. Sometimes you need some fresh, new eyes to look at something. If I have been working on an image for a long time, I can’t really “see” it anymore. That is why I like to save my images with all the layers. When I look at them days, weeks or months later, I have somewhat of a fresh eye. But it is still not like having someone else look at it. Just keep in mind, I also listen, but I do not always agree!

]]> By: Chris David http://digital-photography-school.com/become-a-better-photographer-through-the-critique-of-others/comment-page-1#comment-55151 Chris David Sun, 28 Jun 2009 05:25:36 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=6793#comment-55151 I think that this advice is dead on. Over and over I find myself choosing an image that is technically flawed because of some detail that I am personally emotionally attached to. Often the photos I grow to like the most are those with details that others pointed out to me. The person who commented about looking at photos 3 months later was right. when time has passed I am a better judge of my photos. I believe individual vision grows out of a strong understanding of your craft , and that understanding grows out of the feedback that the author of this article described. I think that this advice is dead on. Over and over I find myself choosing an image that is technically flawed because of some detail that I am personally emotionally attached to. Often the photos I grow to like the most are those with details that others pointed out to me. The person who commented about looking at photos 3 months later was right. when time has passed I am a better judge of my photos. I believe individual vision grows out of a strong understanding of your craft , and that understanding grows out of the feedback that the author of this article described.

]]> By: Tanny http://digital-photography-school.com/become-a-better-photographer-through-the-critique-of-others/comment-page-1#comment-55147 Tanny Sun, 28 Jun 2009 04:38:33 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=6793#comment-55147 My gallery is wide open to everybody critiques. My gallery is wide open to everybody critiques.

]]> By: Paul Jackson http://digital-photography-school.com/become-a-better-photographer-through-the-critique-of-others/comment-page-1#comment-54872 Paul Jackson Thu, 25 Jun 2009 23:17:05 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=6793#comment-54872 I am a member of a camera club in the suburb of Fairfield, in Sydney NSW Australia. We have two meetings per month, one an evaluation/critique by an independent judge and the other usually a workshop on a variety of photography hints. We also have a couple of field trips and outdoor portraiture workshops on some weekends outside of the usual twice monthly (Wednesday evening) meetings. This in my opinion proves better than any formal qualification training in photography as, at the end of the day, it's all about the quality of the photo one can produce NOT the piece of paper one holds that says "Diploma in Photography" or similar. Even though I take on board some of the constructive criticism from our judges, most of the time I brush it aside in silent disagreement because it is ultimately MY PHOTO. No disrespect intended towards anyone providing such criticism, I am just saying that a photographer should decide upon a balance between advice and their own personal vision. Enjoy photography, it's the absolute best artistic activity!! Paul I am a member of a camera club in the suburb of Fairfield, in Sydney NSW Australia. We have two meetings per month, one an evaluation/critique by an independent judge and the other usually a workshop on a variety of photography hints. We also have a couple of field trips and outdoor portraiture workshops on some weekends outside of the usual twice monthly (Wednesday evening) meetings. This in my opinion proves better than any formal qualification training in photography as, at the end of the day, it’s all about the quality of the photo one can produce NOT the piece of paper one holds that says “Diploma in Photography” or similar.

Even though I take on board some of the constructive criticism from our judges, most of the time I brush it aside in silent disagreement because it is ultimately MY PHOTO. No disrespect intended towards anyone providing such criticism, I am just saying that a photographer should decide upon a balance between advice and their own personal vision.

Enjoy photography, it’s the absolute best artistic activity!!

Paul

]]> By: My Camera World http://digital-photography-school.com/become-a-better-photographer-through-the-critique-of-others/comment-page-1#comment-54726 My Camera World Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:54:45 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=6793#comment-54726 I can't rememger right now who said this but. Seek criticism, not praise to get better Niels I can’t rememger right now who said this but.

Seek criticism, not praise to get better

Niels

]]> By: Ed O'Keeffe http://digital-photography-school.com/become-a-better-photographer-through-the-critique-of-others/comment-page-1#comment-54724 Ed O'Keeffe Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:49:49 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=6793#comment-54724 I am a big fan of photography clubs, my dad and I go every Thursday night to Sale Photographic Society where we regularly enter competitions. I am also a member of the Royal Photographic Society which I get a lot out of in terms of help, advice and lectures. Joining a club was one of my first steps towards becoming a full time professional photographer. I am a big fan of photography clubs, my dad and I go every Thursday night to Sale Photographic Society where we regularly enter competitions. I am also a member of the Royal Photographic Society which I get a lot out of in terms of help, advice and lectures.

Joining a club was one of my first steps towards becoming a full time professional photographer.

]]> By: Danferno http://digital-photography-school.com/become-a-better-photographer-through-the-critique-of-others/comment-page-1#comment-54714 Danferno Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:25:46 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=6793#comment-54714 A good idea is to look at your photo's again, 3 months after you finished them (published on deviantart/flickr or just postprocessed to your liking and stored on the computer). You will look at them with new eyes (flip the image horizontally if you don't) and will see things you didn't notice at first. A good idea is to look at your photo’s again, 3 months after you finished them (published on deviantart/flickr or just postprocessed to your liking and stored on the computer). You will look at them with new eyes (flip the image horizontally if you don’t) and will see things you didn’t notice at first.

]]> By: Jeffrey Kontur http://digital-photography-school.com/become-a-better-photographer-through-the-critique-of-others/comment-page-1#comment-54710 Jeffrey Kontur Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:01:45 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=6793#comment-54710 It's important that critiques come from someone KNOWLEDGEABLE. This should be evidenced by the results they themselves produce. I've also found that many people, especially on Flickr, simply want praise and not a "real" critique. This is usually true even from those who specifically ask for a critique. It's so true that I no longer voluntarily critique others' photos for free. When I charge people for it, they take the feedback much more seriously. And learn from it. It’s important that critiques come from someone KNOWLEDGEABLE. This should be evidenced by the results they themselves produce. I’ve also found that many people, especially on Flickr, simply want praise and not a “real” critique. This is usually true even from those who specifically ask for a critique. It’s so true that I no longer voluntarily critique others’ photos for free. When I charge people for it, they take the feedback much more seriously. And learn from it.

]]> By: Poagao http://digital-photography-school.com/become-a-better-photographer-through-the-critique-of-others/comment-page-1#comment-54693 Poagao Thu, 25 Jun 2009 07:35:53 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=6793#comment-54693 On the other hand, it's also a way to produce completely mediocre photography, as most people don't honestly know what makes a good photograph or are unable to express themselves and are reduced to things like "you cut off the top of her head" and "The horizon seems slightly tilted to me". Critique by the right people is valuable, and difficult to come by. Anyone can critique any photo; remember when someone posted a classic shot by Henri Cartier-bresson onto a Flickr critic group and it got torn to shreds? But once they know it's a "master" then suddenly it's brilliant. Impress yourself first, then others. On the other hand, it’s also a way to produce completely mediocre photography, as most people don’t honestly know what makes a good photograph or are unable to express themselves and are reduced to things like “you cut off the top of her head” and “The horizon seems slightly tilted to me”. Critique by the right people is valuable, and difficult to come by. Anyone can critique any photo; remember when someone posted a classic shot by Henri Cartier-bresson onto a Flickr critic group and it got torn to shreds? But once they know it’s a “master” then suddenly it’s brilliant.

Impress yourself first, then others.

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